PR1MA boost

PUTRAJAYA: The 1Malaysia People’s Housing Scheme (PR1MA) has awarded contracts worth RM15 billion to 574 bumiputra firms to date. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said the contracts were awarded for various construction and consultation jobs, and other support services in PR1MA’s development projects nationwide.

Najib said PR1MA’s objective is not only to provide affordable houses to the public but to strengthen the bumiputra economic ecosystem.

He said currently, 61 PR1MA projects involving the building of 53,062 housing units are being developed on Malay reserve land.

Najib, who is also finance minister, stressed that the idea of establishing PR1MA was not merely to build houses, but to ensure that houses owned by the people are of high quality and built at lower than the market price.

Citing an example, Najib said the houses at the PR1MA project in Kuala Ketil, Kedah, cost RM235,000 per unit while houses in the vicinity went for RM295,000, a difference of RM60,000.

“This is the best example of the success of PR1MA. Many can afford to own a home because of PR1MA projects,” he said at a Rakan Bumiputra PR1MA programme at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

Najib also gave an assurance that the bumiputra agenda would remain a significant part of the PR1MA programme.

“To ensure PR1MA is sustainable, the government has approved RM3.9 billion for the projects,” said Najib, adding that the government is committed to building 50,000 housing units through the programme.

“But all of this cannot be done in the blink of an eye, it will take some time to build the houses. But believe me, when the time comes, out target will be achieved,” Najib added.

Meanwhile, PR1MA chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Mutalib Alias said more than 1.47 million Malaysians have applied for PR1MA homes nationwide, of which 166,972 were successful.

He said PR1MA had sold 9,791 units so far, with a sales value estimated at RM2.36 billion.

“Out of the number, 61% has been allocated to bumiputra individuals,” he added.

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