FT ministry spends RM151.3 million through Wilayah Cakna Initiatve

KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Territories (FT) Ministry has spent RM151.3 million through its Wilayah Cakna Initiative which had benefitted 530,000 FT dwellers who were affected by the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) to curb the spread of COVID-19.

FT Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the initiative was part of the government's commitment to intensify efforts to revive the FT economy.

"The objective is mainly to ensure people's wellbeing during this tough time.

"We are always concerned about the problems faced by the people especially during an emerging health threat following the spread of the pandemic and the implementation of the MCO which carry various economic and financial challenges."

Annuar said this at the investiture of the 2021 FT awards, medals and honours graced by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara here today.

ANNUAR-INITIATIVE 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR

Meanwhile, Annuar said based on the e-Kasih system and data from the Laksana Unit of the Finance Ministry, a total of 36,454 heads of households in the three FT of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan were categorised as urban poor.

"Urban poverty is caused by various factors, with the main factor being the issue of house ownership. Therefore, we have worked closely with various quarters to provide comfortable and affordable housing for FT dwellers.

Among the initiatives taken is the construction of council homes or rental houses by the Kuala Lumpur City Council in every parliamentary constituency in Kuala Lumpur," he said.

Other initiatives are the implementation of the Baiti Jannati initiative involving the construction of 6,000 affordable houses in Kuala Lumpur, 3,000 in Putrajaya and 1,000 in Labuan.

-- BERNAMA