The Kita-Untuk-Kita (K2K) programme has the potential to transform public housing from a poverty trap into a livable community.

The secretary of the People's Housing Project (PPR) community association Perwacom Prihatin, Noor Hayati Ismail, addressed the real-life hardships and plight of residents in public housing.

Perwacom, she said, was founded during the Covid pandemic to assist communities in solving immediate problems and reducing the highly stressful environment generated by the lockdown and other restraints.

The K2K programme was launched on Saturday as part of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's Budget 2023 objectives and will be spearheaded by Think City, community leaders, community-based organisations, and non-governmental organisations.

K2K intends to increase support for public housing communities and building management to address social, economic, and physical difficulties by focusing on four essential areas: community empowerment, community co-management, enhanced income production, and legislative change.

The plan will begin with public residences in Kuala Lumpur, then move on to Selangor.

According to Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, the initiatives are aimed to help people weather the Covid-19 storm with the help of the private sector and non-profit organisations.

"'The K2K programme has stood the test of time in helping to empower communities by building community leaders. This is yet another example of the Selangor state government's unrelenting commitment to transforming 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," he said in a statement.

Think City managing director Hamdan Abdul Majeed said, "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."

He said that these efforts are in line with Khazanah Nasional Bhd's focus on developing Malaysia's strategy, which aims to provide societal and economic value and impact to Malaysians.