SHAH ALAM, 8 April 2023 – Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim today launched the Kita-Untuk-Kita (K2K) programme, a Belanjawan 2023 initiative, that seeks to increase the liveability of public housing among the urban poor.

The K2K programme aims to enhance support to public housing communities and building management to solve social, economic and physical challenges through four critical areas, namely, community empowerment, community co-management, improved income generation and policy reform that will kick-off in Kuala Lumpur and expanded to Selangor.

The programme launch was also attended by Selangor Menteri Besar, YAB Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari; Deputy Minister of Local Government Development, YB Tuan Hj Akmal Nasrullah bin Mohd Nasir; Selangor State Executive Councillor for Housing, Urban Wellbeing and Entrepreneurs Development, YB Puan Rodziah Ismail; Selangor State Secretary, YB Dato’ Haji Haris bin Kasim; Mayor of Shah Alam City Council, YBrs Dr Nor Fuad Ahmad; and representatives from local agencies, foundations, civil society partners, and the community at PPR Hicom Kampung Baru.

Selangor Menteri Besar, YAB Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said, “I'm delighted to see Think City's initiatives, which were meant to help people weather the COVID-19 storm has evolved to something bigger and more long-term, with support from the private sector and non-profit organisations. The K2K programme has stood the test of time in helping to empower communities through building community leaders. This is yet another example of the Selangor State Government's unrelenting commitment to transform the nature of public housing from being viewed as cheap and undesirable, to a place where communities can not only gain access to liveable affordable housing but also live with dignity.”

Managing Director of Think City, Hamdan Abdul Majeed said, “In line with Malaysia Madani, today’s launch emphasises a shared vision for a more equitable, inclusive, resilient and prosperous public housing communities, and a shared responsibility to achieve more equitable outcomes responsive to the needs and aspirations of the communities. As we work to implement these initiatives in the immediate future, we hope to shape a democratic and sustainable path based on trust with the public housing communities, our networks and partnerships to jointly implement comprehensive programmes where it matters most. These efforts are also in tandem with our holding company Khazanah's focus on the Advancing Malaysia strategy, to deliver societal and economic value and impact to the Malaysian community.”

The K2K programme will be led by community leaders and community-based organisations while supported by Think City in collaboration with other participating partners and NGOs. It will also be strengthened by an Intergovernmental Committee that will involve various public and private stakeholders to accelerate coordination and implementation in the spirit of Malaysia Madani, and to benefit the public housing communities.

Noor Hayati Ismail, secretary of the PPR community organisation, Perwacom Prihatin, shared key insights into the real-life challenges and plight of the people at public housing. Perwacom was created during the Covid pandemic to help communities solve immediate problems and reduce the highly stressful environment created by the lockdown and other constraints. The momentum they have created has enabled them to build bridges across the community and to implement development-oriented programs with the help of partner organisations. They expressed their desire not to be a community who seeks handouts from the government but who seeks support to enable them to build a better future for themselves in their older age and for the future of their children. “A comprehensive approach is required in transitioning public housing from a poverty trap into a place of prosperity. We need to jointly reform public housing to progress in tandem with the changing circumstances of urban living and the aspirations of our new generation. Public housing is a home where our children can dream of having a better life for their children and their children’s children,” said Noor Hayati.

Over the last decade, Think City, an impact organisation in making cities more people-friendly, resilient and liveable, has worked on improving Malaysian cities across diverse areas for all urban residents, especially the most vulnerable members of society. Think City has conducted research and intervention programmes surrounding public housing and residential communities in Malaysia, beginning with community housing at George Town, Penang and has since then evolved to expand to public housing projects in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Think City has managed grants and loans, and conducted studies and pilot interventions at these sites, often in partnership with the local community, local authorities, local and international non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, and private sector players. Some of Think City’s successful initiatives were done in partnership with CIMB Foundation, Citi Foundation, Yayasan Hasanah, MARA, Teach for Malaysia, Persatuan Karyawan, Universiti Malaya, PNSB and the World Bank amongst others involving more than 80,000 participants.

For more information about Kita-Untuk-Kita, please visit www.thinkcity.com.my/r2c.