New homes bring joy to Orang Asli families in Perak

TAPAH - Yayasan My First Home (YMFH) is continuing its efforts to enrich the lives of underprivileged communities with a transformative initiative by building two houses for the Orang Asli community in Kampung Sungai Bindu, Chenderiang, here.

YMFH and Berjaya Corporation Berhad founder and advisor Tan Sri Vincent Tan said that, over the last two years, they learned about those who did not own a house, with the Orang Asli community being one of the most deserving of the assistance.

"That’s why I wanted to come and see for myself to understand whether we can do more. Of course, the government is doing its part but we also need to realise that the government has a limited budget.

"So, if corporate and other wealthy Malaysians can assist, I think we should help the government build houses for the lower-income people and help them own a house,” he told reporters after the handing-over ceremony recently.

Also present were his wife Puan Sri Esther Tan, and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai and his wife Datin Seri Florence Teh.

Tan said YMFH is also trying to assist the needy, particularly those from the B40 group, to own a house because many of them can't afford to move in despite being allotted a unit and managing to get a 100 per cent loan.

"They try to raise money to move in as they need to pay for the legal fees, stamp fees, (utility) deposits and all these things which can range from RM10,000 to RM15,000. Their house may have been ready for eight months but they can't move in because they can't raise the funds.

"Lower-income folks, the B40s, if you ask them, I don't think they have RM1,000 or RM2,000 in savings. So, what we do is that we lend them RM10,000 to RM15,000 interest-free,” he said.

He added that those who received assistance from YMFH need to make monthly repayments, although no specific amount is stipulated, as it wants the recipients to be committed to (making repayments) so that the money can be used to help others.

"We hope to raise RM50 million. We’re going to have a function, most likely next week, where we may make this announcement,” he said.

Tan said that since the foundation was established two years ago, 55 individuals had received financial aid from YMFH, excluding the four Orang Asli who received direct assistance to build their houses, nationwide.

Meanwhile, Wong said he supported YMFH's efforts as the initiative could be an example to other corporate members because many in the B40 group find it difficult to purchase homes.

"I came because I wanted to see for myself how the B40, including the Orang Asli, live in their houses. It's a lesson learned for me and the bottom line is that he (Vincent Tan) had said that he wants to get the commitment from friendly parties to raise RM50 million.

"So, I urged the affluent to support the efforts of Tan Sri Vincent Tan and Yayasan My First Home. This effort by Tan Sri Vincent Tan can help and supplement the government's efforts as the initiative to build low-cost houses must not only come from the government, but the private sector as well, including corporate bodies,” he said.

YMFH is a charitable foundation established as a public company limited by guarantee incorporated under the Companies Act 2016 on Dec 23, 2021. It serves as a singular touch point and facilitator to bring together all the various stakeholders, including developers, financiers, donors, NGOs, the relevant Federal and state agencies and other interested parties, in a combined and holistic effort to meet its primary goal of promoting and facilitating the development of affordable housing and home ownership by the B40 group.

YMFH said in a statement that it plans to build four more houses in Kampung Sungai Bindu and 16 more homes in four to five other locations to continue its commitment to transforming lives through sustainable housing solutions.

Meanwhile, 39-year-old Bahtian a/l Bahtalin, from the Semai tribe, said that he, his wife and their three daughters would be able to live more comfortably in their new brick house compared to their old abode which had no rooms and was built using bamboo.

"In our old house, if it rained, sometimes water would seep in but I doubt this will happen in our new home, which has three rooms. All of us will be more comfortable,” said the farmer when met at the programme today.

Another recipient from the Semai tribe, 40-year-old Bahjuga a/l Bahchem said that he and his two children (a son and a daughter) did not expect what his late wife would usually say to come true.

"Happy and thankful (to get a new house) because my late wife used to say 'perhaps when I die, you will all get a new home to live in’. Now, it has come true,” he said. - BERNAMA