1Malaysia Maintenance Fund guidelines next month

KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Territories and Urban Well-Being Ministry will come up with the guidelines for the distribution of the newly launched 1Malaysia Maintenance Fund (TP1Malaysia) next month.

The government has allocated RM37.6 million for the fund to assist the private sector in maintaining low-cost housing areas, especially flats in Kuala Lumpur and when the projects’ developers are no longer responsible for maintenance works.

“Applications for funding can either be by the joint management body or maybe the residents’ association,” Federal Territories and Urban Well-Being Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin told reporters after officiating the launch of the community and lifestyle mall, Wangsa Walk Mall in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur on Feb 4.

The Ministry is also targeting RM50 million in contributions from private companies to the fund. To date, the ministry has received RM3 million in from the private sector towards the fund.

Nong Chik said some of these low-cost areas have been identified as “problematic areas” but declined to elaborate.

“We have identified the areas. The flat owners in these areas should take the initiative to apply for funding. We are trying to build responsible residents of Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

Nong Chik also lashed out at certain quarters that questioned the effectiveness of the fund and challenged them to come up with ideas on how the government could help the low-income community in the Federal Territory.