‘RM230 mln for building affordable homes’
In terms of public sector, we will build about 10,000 to 15,000 units of houses in the areas that had been identified. These are mainly in urban and suburban areas because of our population demography.
KUCHING: The state government has allocated RM230 million to the Housing Ministry for building between 10,000 and 15,000 affordable housing under the 11th Malaysia Plan ( 2016- 2020).
In disclosing this, Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the major affordable housing projects to be developed by Housing Development Corporation ( HDC) would be located at Kemuyang in Sibu that was recently officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem as well as Darul Hana and part of Sg Beduan along Jalan Sultan Tengah here.
“In terms of public sector, we will build about 10,000 to 15,000 units of houses in the areas that had been identified. These are mainly in urban and suburban areas because of our population demography.
“As you know, the ratio of population between the urban and suburban areas is now 50: 50 and by 2020, there is possibility that the ratio will be 55: 45. So there is pressure for us to provide housing facilities,” he told reporters after officiating at the HDC Chinese New Year open house at Wisma Sultan Tengah here yesterday.
Under the 11MP, he said both
Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Housing Minister
the private and public sectors would work together to deliver 40,000 to 50,000 affordable housing that would cost below RM300,000, including middlecost houses.
“We will try to deliver at least 55 per cent middle- cost houses and at least 30 per cent of affordable houses. We have to monitor and neutralise the increasing price of houses because currently, most people especially the first generation can only buy houses that are below RM300,000.”
On the funding for HDC built houses, he said loans could be obtained from commercial banks or Mutiara Mortgage and Finance Sdn Bhd, which is a finance company owned by HDC but managed independently.
“There are (affordable housing) applicants that are rejected by banks. So Mutiara Mortgage and Finance will help to finance these HDC built houses. Our responsibility had increased and we are giving facilities for people to own better houses and longhouses.”
To support the state government’s effort to build houses for the people, he said the federal government also built affordable houses in urban areas through the 1Malaysia People’s Housing Scheme ( PR1MA).
He said a number of areas in Petra Jaya, Padawan and Matang had been identified for the PR1MA housing projects.
“What we are doing is to provide houses to the metropolitan population, mixed population in the state. So PR1MA houses will cater for the needs of all the ethnic groups in the urban areas.”
As for the rural communities, he disclosed that the federal government had increased the quantum of loan to build longhouses to RM50 million this year.
“Previously, we provided loans of RM15,000 per door ( bilik). Under 11MP, the Ibans, Bidayuhs and Orang Ulus who live in the longhouses can get their loans of up to RM50,000 per door.”
On another matter, Abang Johari said the Housing Ministry would be relocated from Wisma Sultan Tengah to Land Custody and Development Authority building at The Isthmus in line with its staff expansion.
“The ministry will move from this building to a new building in The Isthmus. HDC will remain here and maybe PR1MA will be offered office space in this building ( Wisma Sultan Tengah) so that both HDC and PR1MA officers can work together. After all, PR1MA is also looking for office space.”
During his speech, Abang Johari announced an allocation of RM10,000 to HDC recreational club.
Among those present were Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, Pantai Damai assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, HDC chairman Datuk Dr Abang Rauf Abang Zen and the event organising chairman Ong Ah Peng.