One hundred and forty-nine families from three villages in this district who have been facing the problem of floods and high tides, received free new houses at Taman Dato' Hajjah Fatimah Salim, here today.

Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said all the families who will be living in the new houses are from Kampung Nelayan, Kampung Sri Tanjung and Kampung Sungai Sanglang.

"They (residents from the three villages) have been floods victims for decades and today they received a set of house keys. I hope you to take good care of this garden and hopefully this Aidiladha you can celebrate in a new house worth RM150,000," he said when speaking at the House Handover Ceremony and Notice 5A of the house at Benut Multipurpose Hall here today.

Also present were Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, Benut assemblyman Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad and Pontian district officer Zainal Eran.

Onn Hafiz said the land premium of the housing project totalling RM38 million was 80 per cent financed by the state government with 20 per cent by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development.

"Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi requested that the state government considers waiving 80 per cent (payment) on the land premium. As it is not enough, the Deputy Prime Minister as Minister of Rural and Regional Development approved another 20 per cent waiver of the premium.

"So in terms of the land premium, it is 100 per cent free, so it is a relief to all the recipients as not only the land premium is free but the house is also (given) free," he said while appreciating the roles of Ahmad and Hasni who fought for the housing project.

He hoped that all the heads of households (KIR) who received the keys, would vacate the old houses in the three villages and bring their families to move to the new houses from today.

"KIR is expected to cooperate so that their families actually move. Don't move after this but rent the old house to relatives or other people because they want to make more money.

"I have asked for the cooperation of the district officials so that the houses affected by floods are completely demolished soon," he said.

Taman Dato' Hajjah Fatimah Salim, which comprises 170 units of semi-detached houses of 2,450 square feet each, was built on state government land owned by the Johor State Secretary Incorporation with construction commencing on May 16 2017 and was completed in August last year.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency