‘We always keep our promise’
Najib: Barisan govt will deliver one million affordable homes
KUALA LUMPUR: The Barisan Nasional government is on track to delivering on its pledge to build one million affordable homes, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Prime Minister said of the one million homes promised, 139,338 units had been completed, 311,281 were in various stages of construction while the rest were in the planning or pre-approval phase.
“We have managed to fulfil the Government’s commitment to build one million homes,” Najib told reporters after visiting the country’s largest housing expo for the lower and middle-income groups here yesterday.
“Ekspo Jualan Perumahan – Ke Arah Sejuta Impian” is organised by various federal and state housing agencies, including Perbadanan PR1MA Malaysia, the Government’s housing programme that caters to the lower and middle-income groups.
Najib said the Selangor government was imposing additional conditions on developers, creating extra costs.
“We don’t intend to add more conditions which will lead to higher costs and, God willing, if we are given the trust to lead Selangor, we will re-examine those imposed by the Selangor government – not just on PR1MA but all developers.
“All of them (developers) have voiced their dissatisfaction about the extra conditions and cost increase. In the end, the rakyat become victims as they have to bear the burden,” he added.
While Najib did not specify the additional conditions, critics of the Selangor government recently said that the state government had raised taxes and costs related to property and business premises.
Others have reportedly questioned Selangor’s move to impose charges for the changing of properties’ status from bumiputra to non-bumiputra.
Najib also said the Penang government imposed a “strange” condition on house buyers.
“In Penang, there is one rather strange condition, which states one must be a voter in Penang before the person can buy a house,” he said.
Najib said in Penang, federal agencies had managed to carry out various affordable home projects, which were in various stages of completion.
Among those built are 1,017 units in Permatang Pauh, 1,248 units in Batu Ferringhi and 2,387 units in Bukit Gelugor.
He said the homes were priced at RM300,000 and below on Penang island and RM250,000 and below on the mainland.
“This shows that PR1MA can sell houses well below the market prices so that we can give opportunities to low and middle-income earners to buy their own homes,” said Najib.
PR1MA, he added, had built 16,000 homes nationwide with a gross development value of RM4bil in two years and approved 267,640 homes.
“This reflects the Government’s housing agenda for the rakyat and shows that PR1MA is on track to delivering on its commitment to build 500,000 homes for the rakyat,” he said.
The expo showcasing affordable property projects in the country is being held at the Putra World Trade Centre until April 1. Admission is free.