LABUAN: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah today launched the "Rumah Asnaf MAIWP" housing programme by the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) for the needy people in the duty-free island here.
The programme involved an allocation of RM30.6 million to purchase 140 units of the 14-storey Ganggarak Permai condominium to be placed under MAIWP's housing assistance scheme (Skim Bantuan Perumahan MAIWP).
This initiative was the first of its kind to be implemented in the three Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan.
In addition, MAIWP also allocated RM3.2 million for installation of utility equipment, deposits, safety grills and kitchen cabinets.
The Ganggarak Permai Rumah Asnaf would be equipped with facilities such as a mosque, a children's playground and a multipurpose hall.
Following the presentation of the condominium units to eligible recipients, the royal couple spent time mingling with the recipients and touring the units.
MAIWP chairman Tan Sri Dr Mohd Daud Bakar said the "Rumah Asnaf" initiative had created a valuable ecosystem that could effectively manage the zakat expenses for the MAIWP housing assistance scheme.
"This is a good ecosystem where MAIWP provides housing facilities to live in, and the zakat will shift and rotate in the same ecosystem," he said to Bernama.
He said the Rumah Asnaf initiative was a good model that could be expanded to Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur to benefit the needy group in the two Federal Territories.
"In the second phase of the Rumah Asnaf programme, we will be looking at suitable land in Labuan to collaborate with Labuan Corporation for the construction of a residential village (perkampungan Asnaf) for the asnaf group," he said.
He said the Rumah Asnaf programme would allow recipients of the 140 condominium units to stay without being charged a monthly rent.
Daud said MAIWP was still the owner of the 140 condominium units and they could be used for other asnaf families in future. Bernama