Malaysian ministry ensures better quality of life in public housing projects

Housing and local government minister says public housing projects must be affordable and livable 

Reezal Merican Naina Merican, housing and local government minister, noted that public housing projects must not only be affordable but also livable with plentiful amenities for residents, reported Free Malaysia Today.  

The minister said this in response to a question regarding actions that will be undertaken by the ministry to address poverty faced by women and children in public housing projects.  

This issue has been highlighted by a UNICEF reported titled “Families on the Edge”.  

The ministry ensures that the needs of the most vulnerable residents will be met, according to Reezal.  

“The government will especially prioritise the housing needs of single mothers with low income, the disabled, and senior citizens. 

“I also believe that our public housing projects must not only be cheap and affordable, but they must also be liveable with amenities like high-speed internet connection in place to cater to the needs of the children who have to undergo online learning. 

“It is pointless if these public housing project units are affordable but not livable,” he said. 

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UNICEF published the “Families on the Edge” report in May 2021, calling attention to the distressing situation faced by 500 low-income families in 16 public housing projects in Kuala Lumpur alone. 

The report states that many single mothers have lost their jobs during the pandemic, while children in such housing projects have little to no access to food with proper nutritional value.