TUTONG

THE Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) yesterday handed over a zakat-funded house to an underprivileged family in Tutong.

Zakat (tithe) recipient Muhd Adnan Abdullah Nangkat @ Adnan Nangkat and his family of 10 moved into the three-bedroom house in Kg Kuala Ungar, Mukim Rambai, nearly a decade after he applied for housing through the Baitulmal welfare assistance under the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA).

Breathing a sigh of relief, the 53-year-old said they were grateful to receive help from the government despite the long wait.

“We are happy to finally move into our own house. Prior to this, we stayed with my in-laws in the district, where it was very crowded,” he said, explaining that he applied for housing in 2006 as he lacked the financial means to build a house.

Muhd Adnan is currently supporting his wife, five children and three grandchildren on a monthly income of $640 as a labourer at the Forestry Department’s Manufacturing Unit in Tutong.

His eldest child, 23-year-old Muhd Shahrul Aswandy, is also supporting the poverty-stricken family with a monthly income of $500 as a private labourer at the Public Works Department’s Layong Water Treatment Plant.

Although modest in size, the Dusun Muslim family was satisfied with the B2 type stilt house built by the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) using the zakat funds.

Overcome with joy, Muhd Adnan’s wife Sarimah Abdullah @ Sari Kintoh was at a loss for words when approached for an interview at the house. “We are happy and grateful,” she said as other family members began making themselves at home.

The house was handed over by Legislative Council (LegCo) member Yang Berhormat Hj Ramli Hj Lahit in a ceremony attended by government officials.

PMO said the zakat-funded housing initiative reflects His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s concern over the welfare of the underprivileged community towards achieving better living standards.

The housing initiative is carried out by PMO together with MoRA, Ministry of Development and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

The Brunei Times