More 1Malaysia Civil Servants Housing projects

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will consider increasing the number of the 1Malaysia Civil Servants Housing (PPA1M) projects costing between RM90,000 and RM120,000 to provide more opportunities for civil servants, especially those in the B40 group, to have their own house.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa said this in response to a call by the Congress of Union of Employees in the Public And Civil Services (CUEPACS) for more PPA1M projects to be built.

“In some places, it has been carried out. The challenge is in the Klang Valley because some issues have to be looked into, such as land and subsidy.

“There are some projects where the government can give up to 30 per cent subsidy, but we have to look at the total cost of construction,” he said when met after the opening of CUEPACS Workers Day celebration yesterday.

Ali said so far, 200,000 applications for PPA1M houses were received, with 147,000 of the applications being processed and more than 10,000 applications had been approved.

On the proposed increased in minimum salary rate, Ali said the matter had to be looked into all aspects, including the country’s economy and revenue.

CUEPACS president Datuk Azih Muda said it was not impossible for the government to increase the minimum salary to RM2,500 based on the country’s economic growth.

“Taking into consideration the minimum salary in China, which is 2,500 yuan (RM1,200) in 2012, now the economic size of China has reached US$55 trillion.

“Malaysia’s economy has also grown during that period, from RM690 billion to RM1.23 trillion in 2017. CUEPACS believes with the growth in the size of Malaysia’s economy, we’ll get the minimum salary as requested,” he said.