JERANTUT: Recipients of Rumah Rakyat Al-Sultan Abdullah (Ru’RASA) have been reminded to be grateful for being chosen to receive a comfortable residence as a shelter for their family.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah said that the house, built with his efforts alongside the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan, should be looked after as best as possible.
“I always say to turn this house (into) heaven for all of us, and let this house be inherited by the family members only. Recipients should not be too quick to think about whether to sell or rent (the house).
“That is not our intention to build this house, on the contrary, we want to provide some comfort to those who are facing difficulties,” His Majesty said when officiating the handover ceremony of the Ru’RASA house keys to the recipients in Kampung Kedondong, here today.
Also in attendance was the Regent of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah.
The UAE Ambassador, Dr Mubarak Saeed Ahmed Burshaid AlDhaher was also present.
Al-Sultan Abdullah also expressed his appreciation to the Pahang government, for trying to speed up the construction of the houses, which cost between RM75,000 and RM100,000 each.
His Majesty also added that the selection of recipients is based on recommendations by the Land and District Office (PTD), according to location, with those prioritised being those who are in areas always hit by floods.
The King also hoped that no one would question the different house designs, as it is part of one’s allotted rezeki (sustenance) from Allah.
In total, there are 22 Ru’RASA recipients for the Jerantut district, and after the ceremony, His Majesty visited Mat Kilau’s tomb, located in the village.
Meanwhile, a recipient, Rozi Yaakob, 57, expressed his gratitude for the stilt house he received, and described it as perfect, because it was impossible for him to build a house with an income of around RM700 a month.
Rozi, who is self-employed and a recipient of assistance from the Social Welfare Department, said that the new house was built on land inherited by his wife’s family in Kampung Kedondong, after the original two-room house made of wood was badly damaged by a big flood in 2014.
“I repaired the (original) house, using the aid money received, but the situation was not the same because the flood that year was too strong... not only was it damaged, but the position of the house also changed. Although it was not perfect, it became a shelter for my family.
“Who would have thought, now we have got a better home, which never crossed my mind. Even sweeter for my family, the (key) presentation ceremony took place at my house. This is a memory for me for the rest of my life, because His Majesty was willing to come here,” he said.
Another recipient, Habita @ Haziqah Mohamed Koya, 47, from Kuala Tembeling, described the Ru’RASA initiative as very helpful in easing the financial burden of her family, who have been renting a house at a cost of RM700 a month for the past 10 years.
The dream to build her own house, according to her, was often discussed with her husband, but priority must be given to the monthly expenses of her six children, aged between four and 18, especially school expenses.
“The children are the happiest when they are told they can now live in their own house. Three or four times a week they would visit the house and look at it from the outside. Finally, we can start packing to move to the new home now,” she said. - Bernama
