KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Sabah has proposed five governance improvements to the Sabah Ministry of Rural Development (KPLB) following findings that some Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (RMSMJ) houses were left unoccupied or rented out after completion.
Among the key recommendations are stricter eligibility criteria, including requiring applicants to be heads of households, prohibiting ownership transfer except in cases of death, and disqualifying applicants with stable income.
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Approved recipients would also be required to demolish old, dilapidated homes once new houses are completed.
Sabah MACC also proposed a structured monitoring mechanism before, during and after construction, the introduction of a standardised RMSMJ application form, inclusion of a warning under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009 in application documents, and clearer briefings on RMSMJ guidelines for all parties involved.
The proposals were based on preliminary investigations indicating misuse of the housing aid, including beneficiaries not residing in the homes provided.
The recommendations were presented its director Datuk Mohd Fuad Bee Basrah and were welcomed by KPLB permanent secretary Datuk Myrna Jimenez, who said the ministry would take action to address the identified weaknesses.
Also present were Sabah Macc Governance Investigation Branch head Hamsia Abdul Ham and Sabah State Integrity and Governance Division representative Mohd Jamri Ag Damit.
