Abg Jo studying affordable housing methods in China
KUCHING: Minister of Housing Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg is leading a high-powered delegation to China to study its housing industry and looking into new and cost-effective construction methods and materials in its efforts to reduce the construction cost of affordable houses in the state.
“The visit is mainly to explore and source for cost- effective construction method and materials for the development of affordable housing projects and to learn from China’s success in the development of affordable housing and urban redevelopment,” Abang Johari said in a press statement received here yesterday.
The 43-member delegation which include key government officials and industry players from the private housing sector, left for China on Sunday.
Their first stop was Tianjin, where they visited Tianjin Eco- City at Binhai to learn from the success of project in the transformation of the area into an environmental- friendly and sustainable community development.
The delegates also visited Forshan CBM Co. Lt. in Guangzhou. CBM is one of the largest steel fabrication companies specialising in standard and customized steel structures with a yearly production capacity of 36,000 tonnes. CBM specializes in handling projects from design, detailing, fabrication and erection.
While in Tianjin, they also visited MCC TianGong Equipment Corporation Limited. MCC TianGong is a wholly- owned subsidiary of MCC TianGong Group Corporation Limited. It is a special steel structure experimental base for China steel structure technology research centre. Their main products are special steel structure, modular house container and tank container.
Later in the day, Abang Johari paid a courtesy call on the vicemayor of Tianjin, Yin Hailin, which was followed by a briefi ng on affordable housing and urban development by the Chinese officials.
Through the visit, the delegates would be able to explore new methods in reducing the cost of building constructions as well as to adopt best practices from China in affordable housing and urban redevelopment.
Accompanying Abang Johari are Assistant Ministers of Housing Datuk Francis Harden Hollis and Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing Wan Lizosman Wan Omar, SHDC chairman Datuk Dr Abang Abdul Rauf Abang Zen, SHDC chief executive officer Wan Mohd Yusof Wan Moss, Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( SCCI) president Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Tun Openg, Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (Sheda) advisor Dato William Wei, businessman Dato Hii King Chiong and LCDA general manager Datu Dr Sulaiman Husaini.