Sabah Welcomes Allocation For Repairs Of Abject Poor's Houses
Wednesday, 14 July 2004 (Source: Bernama)

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has welcomed the Federal Government's move to set aside RM200,000 for repairs of hardcore poor's dwellings in every parliamentary constituency especially in rural areas.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan said the move was timely as there were still many poor people especially in Sabah's rural areas.

"We believe such assistance will help government's efforts to improve standard of living, and reduce poverty level in Sabah," he told Bernama here Wednesday.

Pairin, who is the Sabah Minister for Rural Development, said this when commenting on Tuesday's statement by Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin that the government would provide RM200,000 for each parliamentary constituency for repairs of hardcore poor's houses.

Pairin said the allocation was a shot in the arm for the government's poverty-eradication programme.

"At the least, families who obtain this aid can live in more comfort, enabling them to work harder to improve their livelihood," he said.