JHEV APPROVES RM6.19 MILLION FOR CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR OF VETERANS' HOUSES

BATU PAHAT, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- The Defence Ministry,  through the Department of Veterans Affairs (JHEV) of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), has approved RM6.19 million as of last  Nov 30 for new construction and repair of ATM veterans' houses.

JHEV director-general Datuk Semaon Marjuki said it involved 53 applications for new house construction and 209 applications for house repairs nationwide.

They included five applications for the construction of new houses and eight applications for house repairs in Johor, he added.

He said the allocation for the purpose saw an increase, from RM4.86 million in 2021 to RM6.19 million in 2024.

The increase showed that JHEV is always committed to ensuring the welfare of ATM veterans, he said, adding that the initiative was introduced to help ATM veterans from low-income groups who have land but do not own a house or live in dilapidated houses.

"The total cost of a newly built house is between RM75,000 and RM85,000 with a subsidy of RM20,000 from Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB), while the balance is borne by JHEV," he told reporters at ATM Veterans House Building and Repair Initiative in Kampung Parit Kadir, Senggarang here today.

Meanwhile, the widow of ATM Veteran Saniman Shiri, Rokiah Salleh, 59, said she was happy and grateful to receive the initiative after a year of applying for it.

"My husband was in the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) for 13 years and his last station was in Kuantan. He died in 2020," she said.

Meanwhile, another recipient, Ahmad Othman, 66, formerly with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), also expressed his gratitude for helping him to own a house.

 "Before, I had to rent a house and Alhamdulillah now my house in Felda Lenga in Muar is completed, made possible through the JHEV initiative," he said.

-- BERNAMA