Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) is placing emphasis on maintaining People's Housing Programme (PPR) projects that are over a decade old, with a particular focus on addressing critical defects related to resident safety and comfort.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu announced the ministry's priority areas, which include issues with lifts, roofs, water tanks, reticulation systems, sanitary piping, electrical wiring, and general repairs involving common property. This approach comes in light of limited allocations, prompting a more detailed and targeted focus on defects with a significant impact on residents.

During a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara, Aiman Athirah responded to Senator Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali's inquiry regarding additional measures to expedite maintenance for low-cost housing, PPR projects, and ageing strata buildings. She highlighted that under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), KPKT has allocated RM159.1 million through Rolling Plans One to Five for the maintenance of high-rise strata PPR projects nationwide.

Aiman Athirah further elaborated that in 2026, KPKT received a total of 226 maintenance applications covering ten priority areas, with a collective value of RM79.9 million. However, only RM44.6 million, or 56 percent of the requested total, was approved for allocation. Additionally, she explained the process for maintenance applications submitted by Joint Management Bodies (JMBs) or Management Corporations (MCs), which must be reviewed by the Commissioner of Buildings (COB) or relevant local authorities before reaching the ministry.

Applications are accepted from August to October, followed by a series of meetings for project selection and approval consideration, with final notifications and Letters of Acceptance (LOA) issued by April, allowing projects to commence.