The Federal Territories Ministry has agreed to provide a piece of land in Putrajaya for the construction of affordable houses costing below RM100,000 specially for civil servants, says the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) president Datuk Azih Muda.

The agreement was reached in a meeting between Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Cuepacs at the ministry here today when Cuepacs raised the issue of housing faced by civil servants, he said.

"We are thankful to Tengku Adnan for his readiness to obtain a piece of land for the purpose as soon as possible," he told a media conference after the meeting.

Azih said Cuepacs was targeting to build at least 20,000 units of houses at the site with a minimum area of 800 sq ft for as low as RM80,000 each.

"The housing project will use the rent and buy method, in which a certain period of rent will be considered as desposit for the purchase when a tenant qualifies for a housing loan," he said.

In another development, Azih said Cuepacs would be sending a letter to the Attorney-General's Chambers to propose a legislation to prevent members of the public from disseminating pictures or visuals of government premises with the intention to tarnish the image of the civil service.

He said it was important to stem the actions of irresponsible parties who entered government premises to record videos with certain motives such as the incident of delayed treatment to a patient at Bukit Selambau Health Clinic, Sungai Petani, Kedah which went viral recently.

Meanwhile, Azih also denied media reports and public perception that the congress proposed to the government to raise the retirement age of civil servants from 60 to 65.

He said Cuepacs merely commented and supported the view of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim on a proposal to raise the retirement age to 65.

"I only commented on the statement that we support the view if the proposal involved civil servants in critical areas such a doctors and lawyers.

"Cuepacs is consistent with its stand as the services and expertise of the group is still needed by the people and country," he said. -- Bernama