Army Vet Realises Dream Of Receving New House After Nearly Two-year Wait

KLUANG, Feb 21 (Bernama) -- A retired soldier who served during the Emergency period was happy and grateful when his over two-year wait for a home ended with the receipt of a new house from the Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV) of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), in Kampung Bukit Nyamuk, Simpang Renggam near here.

The retiree, Shamsudin Hamzah, 64, said his original house, which was located about 250 metres away, was categorised as unsafe because it experienced land subsidence and could collapse at any moment.

He said he had to wait longer to get a new house because the soil in the area is peat soil, which requires more time for soil compaction compared to regular house construction.

"Although it was completed a bit late, I am grateful to the MAF JHEV and the appointed contractor, UAC Bhd (a subsidiary of LTAT or Armed Forces Fund Board), for their willingness to undertake the construction after it was delayed several times because previous contractors declined to build it.

"Finally, I can live in a safer house and I am grateful that they (MAF JHEV) still remember me and have helped me," he said to Bernama after the inauguration ceremony of the ‘Newly Built House’ under the Veterans Housing Initiative Project in collaboration with UAC, officiated by MAF JHEV director-general Major General Datuk Semaon Marjuki today.

Meanwhile, according to Semaon, since the initiative for building new houses for MAF veterans was introduced in 2021, the house built in Bukit Nyamuk, Simpang Renggam here is the first to use the Industrialised Building System (IBS) technology.

He said the IBS system needs to be used because it is lighter and has a lower density, and it can enhance the stability of house structures, especially for construction in peat soil areas.

"After seeing the success of this house, we plan to continue our collaboration with UAC because it is seen as more practical due to the shorter time frame to complete the house compared to the usual method," he said.

At the same time, he also stated that his party aims to build around 60 to 70 new houses for these MAF veterans, while 220 houses will be repaired this year.

"Nationwide, in 2024, we successfully completed the construction of 53 new houses and the renovation of 209 houses with an allocation amounting to RM6.19 million. Insyaallah, this amount will be increased this year to help eligible MAF retirees own more comfortable homes," he added.

-- BERNAMA