Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), through the Department of Local Government, has approved 573 development projects in Chinese new villages and 21 projects in Indian villages, with a total cost of RM73 million this year. Deputy Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu shared these developments during question time in the Dewan Rakyat.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, for Chinese new villages, 366 infrastructure development projects have been approved, with 148 completed and 218 still under implementation. In the Housing Repair Assistance Programme, 197 projects have been approved, with 47 completed and 150 ongoing. The New Village Housing Construction Assistance Programme has approved 10 projects, all of which have yet to start.

Aiman Athirah was responding to a question from S. Kesavan (PH-Sungai Siput) regarding the status of development projects and the provision of basic infrastructure in Chinese new villages and Indian traditional villages nationwide. For Indian villages, 18 villages across Johor, Melaka, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, and Negeri Sembilan are involved, focusing on infrastructure development, public amenities, and safety, with a total cost of RM2 million.

Aiman Athirah stated that five projects have been completed, 13 are under construction, two are in the procurement process, and one is still in the planning stage. Since 2023, the government has allocated RM328.9 million for development projects in Chinese new villages, benefiting residents in 613 villages nationwide. For Indian villages, special allocations began in 2025, totaling RM15 million, divided into two main initiatives benefiting 22,144 recipients in 50 Indian villages identified through 87 projects.

The RM15 million allocation includes RM10 million under KPKT's 2025 budget initiative involving 54 projects, and RM5 million under the Indian Community Socioeconomic Development Programme through the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA).