KPKT to set up fund for DKN activities

PUTRAJAYA (Feb 18): The Housing and Local Government Ministry will set up a fund for those who want to contribute to programmes and activities under the Dasar Komuniti Negara (DKN) or the National Community Policy to enhance the lives of the B40 community.  

Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the ministry targets to collect RM1 million for the fund this year.

Speaking at a town hall meeting with strategic partners of DKN in Putrajaya today, Zuraida said the country needs an empowered community to bring the country to the next level, hence the ministry is working closely with its strategic partners under DKN to empower the B40 community while enhancing their quality of life.

The DKN is a feature of the National Housing Policy or Dasar Perumahan Negara 2018-2025. Since DKN was launched in February 2019, close to 100 programmes and activities have been rolled out by 121 strategic partners, benefiting close to 10,500 people in the B40 segment.

Among the strategic partners are EdgeProp.my, Paramount Property Development Sdn Bhd, Nippon Paint Malaysia, Mah Sing Group Bhd, Gamuda Land, INTI International University and College and Taylor’s University.

One of the programmes under DKN is the Sayangi Rumahku campaign which is a joint effort by EdgeProp.my, Paramount Property and Nippon Paint Malaysia to revitalise the outdoor sports courts of public or people’s housing schemes (PPR) starting with PPR Lembah Subang 1 in Petaling Jaya, PPR Seri Cempaka in Kuala Lumpur and Perumahan Awam Seri Kedah, Gombak also in KL.

With the help of volunteers from the three partners and residents of the respective public housing schemes, the sports courts of PPR Lembah Subang 1 and PPR Seri Cempaka have been completed last year while the refurbishment of the sports court at Seri Kedah is ongoing.

Zuraida urged the private sector to continue their support for DKN’s objectives as she believes their efforts will yield results in the next five years.

“I believe if we do this [in a more streamlined approach], in five years’ time, all of you will see the difference and change in the mentality and attitude of the B40 community. At least, the place that they are staying in will be cleaner and they will know how to recycle and turn their trash to cash,” she said.

Meanwhile, the ministry also wants public housing schemes to conduct fire drills twice a year with the help of the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba).

“We will train the residents how to conduct fire drills which they will have to conduct twice a year. Now only government buildings and schools have to conduct fire drills but we want PPRs to do it as well so that the residents know how to react in the event of fire.  

“I have requested the Shah Alam City Council and Subang Jaya Municipal Council to identify PPRs in their jurisdiction that can start the fire drills in the next two months,” Zuraida said.