SABAK BERNAM: Dilapidated homes in villages in the district were repaired by the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility last Saturday.
The state subsidiary has allocated RM396,000 to repair and upgrade leaking roofs and faulty toilets for 22 homes and the work is scheduled to be completed by April.
"I'm so grateful for this help as without it my brothers and I might not have a roof over our home soon, especially with the frequent thunderstorms," said Bagan Terap villager Zamri Sakiman.
Zamri, 39, said their belongings have also been destroyed by the rain which seeps in through the broken roof almost every night.
Living with his three disabled brothers, Zamri explained the difficulties in supporting them and the hardship of saving money for repairs.
"I earn RM600 a month as a security guard and the money is only enough to feed us. We don't have money for repairs," he said.
He also pointed out that his disabled brothers tried helping by planting palm trees on an empty plot beside their home.
By selling palm oil to a nearby village, they get an additional RM200 a month.
However, this is still insufficient as everything in their home is falling apart one by one, including electrical appliances like lights and ceiling fans.
PKNS will be building them a new roof, constructing a new bathroom with proper facilities, repairing the piping in their kitchen and painting the exterior walls.
"All these repairs will cost about RM18,000 and are scheduled for completion on Tuesday," said PKNS administration and development deputy manager Noraida Mohd Yusof.
She said the 22 families were chosen based on references by the Selangor Zakat Board and village heads from six villages in Sabak Bernam.
Among the villages involved are Tebuk Pulai, Bagan Nira, Sepintas, Kampung Tok Khalifah, Jalan Masjid and Bagan Terap.
"We chose the families who really need help, like the disabled and those with a monthly income of about RM300," she said.
PKNS hopes to improve the lives of these less fortunate families with the repairs.
Noraida pointed out that PKNS will be helping other villagers in other districts to repair their homes after this project in Sabak Bernam is completed.
Also present to launch the event was state executive councillor for housing Iskandar Samad, who was pleased with PKNS' move.
"I will also be pushing for the state to set up a fund to help repair more homes in the other Selangor districts," he said.
During his speech, he explained that there were many more villages in the rural parts of Selangor which needed help.
"I hope PKNS will consider adopting this village and give them the guidance they need to improve their lives and social development." Selangor Times