SPECIAL BODY TO OFFER LOAN FACILITY FOR PPR TENANTS IN FINAL SET-UP STAGE

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- The setting up of the special body that

will offer loan facility for the tenants of Public Housing (PA) and People''s

Housing Project (PPR) to purchase their units is in the final stage.

Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik

Raja Zainal Abidin said the proposal on the matter will be tabled to the Cabinet

for approval in August.

"This is a short-term proposal aimed at helping some 24,000 PA and PPR

tenants who are having problems in getting bank loan to purchase their units.

"Unlike banks, this special body will give leeway, in terms of loan

requirements, to help the applicants, especially those who are above the age of

50, to own a house," he told reporters after opening Setiawangsa Umno divisional

meeting here today.

However, he said if the tenants failed to repay the loan given by the

special body, it would have the right to take further action involving the

asset.

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Prior to this, the minister said government had encouraged the PA and PPR

tenants to purchase their units, but not many had taken up the offer and hence,

continued to cause problems to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall with their rental

arrears.

Raja Nong Chik said about 20 per cent of the PPR tenants in the Federal

Territories had failed to pay their rents.

"For those who really cannot afford it, we will try to help them to pay the

arrears by asking the cooperation and assistance from the Women, Family and

Community Development Ministry.

"However, for those who can afford it, those who can even subscribed to

Astro and owned a car but still refused to pay the rent, we will not compromise

and we will probably take stern action against them," he said.

In a separate event, Raja Nong Chik said the ministry was intensifying its

efforts to promote Federal Territories'' state anthem especially in schools and

educational institutions to inculcate the spirit of patriotism among the people

in the Federal Territories.

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NONG CHIK-HOUSING 3 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR

"Our main objective is to create a more caring society in Federal

Territories as we are all here to earn a living," he told reporters after

presenting Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan''s Excellence Award here today.

Raja Nong Chik said the ministry would also seek the cooperation from the

relevant agencies to promote the state anthem.

"We will convene a meeting with the relevant agencies soon, but the anthem

must be promoted among the schoolchildren first," he said.

The state anthem, entitled "Maju dan Sejahtera" was launch by Deputy Prime

Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during the Federal Territories'' Day 2011 last

February.

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