Mohammad (centre) with Beh (left) and other VIPs at the groundbreaking ceremony for the ‘Sayangi Rumahku’ project.

July 29, 2019: A PRIVATE initiative will begin soon to give outdoor sports facilities in three public housing projects (PPR) a brand new look.

The “Sayangi Rumahku”‌ initiative, scheduled to be completed later this year, is set to benefit some 16,000 residents at 4,116 PPR units in Lembah Subang 1, Seri Cempaka and Seri Kedah. It will provide a more suitable space for sporting activities at these flats.

Housing and Local Government Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Mentek said the initiative was an ideal component of the National Community Policy.

“The policy was formulated in conjunction with the National Housing Policy goals for 2018 to 2025.

“By upgrading these outdoor sports arenas, we hope to bring the communities together and that they will become more aware of issues that can impact them,”‌ he said.

The initiative is jointly taken on by Paramount Property Development Sdn Bhd, EdgeProp Malaysia and Nippon Paint Malaysia.

Mohammad said the Housing and Local Government Ministry planned to collaborate with Youth and Sports Ministry to train selected residents to become coaches after the completion of the sports facilities project.

“The idea of producing coaches among residents is to empower them to encourage youths to take up sports such as badminton and futsal.

“Apart from practising a healthy lifestyle, this will also indirectly encourage the spirit of unity among residents as sports is a powerful mechanism that brings people together.”‌

Mohammad hoped that the PPR residents would take care of the new facilities.

“It would be their loss if they vandalise the facilities. I certainly hope the upgraded courts will be preserved by the residents,”‌ he said.

Paramount Property Development chief executive officer Beh Chun Chong said the company expected the refurbishment of the sports facilities in the three areas to cost around RM200,000.

“We will certainly be looking to undertake similar projects in other PPRs as the initiative has the potential to promote community togetherness,”‌ he added.