KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will use part of the special federal grant of RM125.6mil for building 1,500 units of houses for the poor in all 73 state constituencies.

       Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (pic) said that the housing scheme dubbed Rumah Mesra SMJ, previously known as Hardcore Poor People’s Housing Project or PPRT, would be evenly distributed to all constituencies in Sabah.

       "This decision is in line with the state government’s Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) initiative to ensure the well-being of the people and that they will have access to affordable housing.

       "Excess fund from the allocation would be used to repair roads, suspension bridges and other infrastructures as well as properties damaged by floods," he said at the breaking of fast event with Sabah Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia leaders at the Sabah International Convention Centre here on Wednesday (April 20).

       Last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Hajiji in a joint statement said that the Federal Government agreed to increase the annual special grant for Sabah by 4.7 fold from RM26.7mil to RM125.6mil a year.

       Hajiji said it was a good start for Sabah while assuring that the funds would be put to good use for the benefit of the people and the state.

       At the same time, he said the GRS-BN (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-Barisan Nasional) state government was determined to pursue more thorough negotiations that were still ongoing to get the 40% revenue share as agreed in the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63).

       Hajiji, who is Sabah Bersatu chairman, said this was among the many successes achieved by the GRS-BN state government only after three years in power.