Sheda proposes to build 40,000 affordable houses
MIRI: More middle-income families will benefit from Sheda’s proposed affordable housing scheme for 40, 000 houses selling at RM250, 000 to RM300, 000 estimated to be available in the next five years.
President of Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association ( Sheda) Joseph Wong said that the project was in response to Sarawak government’s plan to offer more affordable housing to its people.
“Bank Negara Malaysia has reported that Sarawak ranks highest in affordable housing shortage in the country, just behind Sabah.
“Even though, PR1MA had launched 13 projects in 2016, with a total of 16, 787 houses throughout Sarawak with a selling price capped at RM400, 000 per unit, only four PR1MA projects had kicked off with a total of 4, 120 units.”
He added that Sheda had numerous meetings with the Sarawak government as Sheda believes that all developers, regardless PR1MA, should be given equal treatment and similar planning guidelines.
“More importantly, we believe that Sheda members are able to deliver quality affordable housing without any subsidy from the government. Equal treatment will promote healthy competition and increase supply to the state’s property market,” said Wong when launching the three- day Sheda’s Housing and Property roadshow at Bintang Megamall yesterday. The project which is well-received by the state government already has a list of 32 interested developers with approximately 40, 000 units proposed.
“The 40, 000 units of affordable houses selling between RM250, 000 to RM300, 000 throughout Sarawak over the next five years, is equivalent to more than RM11bilion in Gross Development Value ( GDV) in the Sarawak property sector which not only benefit the middle income families, but also contribute substantially to the state economy,” said Wong.
With an estimated 50 per cent of the households living in urban areas out of a population of 2.6 million, Wong opined that there is a need to build around 120, 000 affordable houses to fill the vacuum for M40 ( Middle Income Group) who were previously disqualified or unable to purchase other houses.
“We believe that Sheda’s proposed affordable housing scheme will complement the government’s effort to ensure every single Sarawakian can own a house in the near future,” he said.
A total of 17 developers with booths are at the road show which will end on My 6, including Green Summit Development Sdn Bhd, RV Group, Shin Yang Group, Miri Housing Group of Companies, Naim Holdings Berhad, Ibraco Berhad, YH Wong Enterprise Sdn Bhd and Kan Jia Development.
Also present were BN candidate for Miri, Datuk Sebastian Ting who is also Piasau assemblyman, Mayor Adam Yii, vice president of Sheda cum Sheda Miri branch chairman Simon Tiong Chee Chin and organising chairman Wong Yew Hui.