Home sweet home: Chaman (second from left) and his wife Hawa are all smiles after receiving the keys to their new home from Tan (third from left). Also present during the handover is Nambee.
MUADZAM SHAH: Yayasan My First Home (YMFH) will build 100 homes within a year for the Orang Asli community.
The pledge came following the handover of its first home for the community here in Pahang.
Recently, the foundation also completed and presented two houses to the Orang Asli recipients in Tapah, Perak.
In a simple event yesterday, Tan Sri Vincent Tan, founder and advisor of YMFH and Berjaya Corporation Bhd, handed over the key of a house to an Orang Asli family in Kampung Inoi, here.
“This milestone is a major step forward in YMFH’s mission to provide safe and secure housing for underserved communities, including Orang Asli families.
“The newly-completed home, built by the local Orang Asli villagers in Kampung Inoi, represents a life-changing opportunity for Chaman Sinda and his family,” YMFH said in a statement.
Chaman, 50, a rubber tapper and fisherman, said having lived in overcrowded conditions for over 50 years, he never thought his life could take such a good turn.
“I never thought owning a proper home would be possible,” he said while expressing his gratitude to YMFH and Tan for making “his dream a reality”.
According to YMFH, the project not only provides Chaman’s family with a new home but also created job opportunities for the villagers, who were paid for their work in building the house.
Although constructing 100 houses for the underprivileged indigenous community is ambitious, we aim to do more than building houses, Tan told reporters.
“These homes are the foundation for a brighter future, offering stability and dignity for Orang Asli families.
“We invite everyone to join us in this vital mission to make a meaningful difference,” he added.
With over 250 Orang Asli families in need of similar homes, YMFH is appealing for support from government bodies, corporations and individuals.
As each house will have three bedrooms and costing up to RM65,000, there is a need for collective support to expand the effort.
The handover was also attended by YMFH general manager Nambee Ashvin Nambiar, along with members of Tan’s family.
YMFH is a charitable foundation established as a public company limited by guarantee incorporated under the Companies Act on Dec 23, 2021.
The foundation serves as a facilitator to bring together various stakeholders, including developers, financiers, donors, NGOs and relevant government agencies in a holistic effort to meet its goal of promoting the development of affordable housing and home ownership by the B40 group.
For more information on YMFH, visit the website at yayasanmyfirsthome.my.
