Johor bahru: For over thirty years, Hamimah Haris, 64, from Kampung Murni Jaya, has faced the anxiety of monsoon seasons, worrying about her family's safety as their home deteriorated with each flood. However, relief has come with her selection as a beneficiary of the Rumah Kasih Johor (RKJ) programme, a state government initiative offering free housing to those in need.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Hamimah's new home, which she has occupied since 2024, is a three-bedroom structure built on higher ground. It includes a special access walkway, facilitating movement for her husband, Mahat Panot, 69, who is disabled after a stroke. Hamimah expressed gratitude to Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and state Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor for their support.
Residents of Kampung Sungai Siam have similarly benefited from the RKJ programme, receiving safer homes that have alleviated years of flood-related anxiety. Norma S.M Hamid Sultan, 67, a single mother of nine, shared how her previous home was frequently flooded due to its low-lying location. The new house on raised ground has provided much-needed security and relief from the financial burden of replacing damaged furniture.
Norazizah Ismail, 54, and her husband, Ramli Mahat, 59, have also found comfort in their new RKJ home after years of enduring annual floods. Since February, they have lived in a new 600-square-foot house, which they applied for in November 2024. Norazizah expressed deep gratitude for the ease of the application process and the sense of safety the new house provides.
Another beneficiary, Dolmat Dollah, 64, is set to move into a new home built on his wife Fauziah Mat Mali's inherited land in Sedenak. After living in his parents' home on land owned by his brother, Dolmat described the RKJ house as a blessing, offering a sense of relief and ownership he had long desired.
Sedenak subdistrict chief Mohd Amirul Ali Zulkifli highlighted the RKJ initiative's positive impact on low-income groups struggling to own homes. The programme has provided not only shelter but also confidence and dignity to recipients, some of whom had been living with relatives or frequently relocating.
This year, the Johor state government has expanded the RKJ initiative, adding 200 more homes to reach a total of 700 units. To date, 477 homes have been planned and implemented across 10 districts and 26 parliamentary constituencies, with 217 completed, 48 under construction, and 212 in planning stages.
The state government has also revised eligibility criteria, raising the per capita poverty line from RM652 to RM850, allowing more low-income families to qualify for the free housing scheme. The programme now includes provisions for using family-owned land and offers special consideration for cases outside the national poverty database, e-Kasih.