Published:
Friday August 8, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated:
Friday August 8, 2014 MYT 2:30:10 PM
Affordable housing projects in state will start before end of year, says minister
by stephen then
<div><p>MIRI: The Housing Ministry is
taking urgent steps to ensure that all proposed affordable housing
projects earmarked for construction in Miri and other parts of Sarawak
will have their work started before end of this year.
Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan told The Star yesterday that his ministry was rushing to get the ground work started as soon as possible.
He said eight new affordable housing projects would be started in the
state before Dec 31 this year and their planning and design were already
in progress.
Rahman was responding to concerns raised by SUPP
over the prolonged delays in the construction of low-cost and
medium-cost houses in cities and towns in Sarawak.
SUPP information chief Datuk Sebastian Ting, who is also Piasau SUPP chairman, had recently raised the matter, saying that folk were disappointed that until today, the promised projects that had been launched by the Government had not even started yet despite grand launching ceremonies.
Ting said folk were getting frustrated with the constant surge in prices of houses built by private developers, noting that such houses were priced way beyond the reach of those in the low-income group.
Rahman explained that the implementation of low and affordable housing schemes required comprehensive planning and design.
Until June 2014, the Federal Government had completed and handed over management of five PPR projects (Project Perumahan Rakyat) numbering 3,016 units for the whole of Sarawak.
Another PPR project involving 500 units is still in progress while eight new projects involving 1,553 units are under planning and will be constructed starting before end of this year.
In Miri, there is one PPR scheme in Lambir numbering 500 units which is under construction now and will be finished before end of 2015, he said.
The one in Permyjaya (in Kuala Baram district north of Miri city with 279 units) has been approved by the Federal Government for construction and actual construction will start before end of 2014.
Rahman said that in Sarawak, federal housing projects were undertaken together with the state Housing Ministry and Sarawak Housing Development Commission.
My ministry has discussed these projects (with the state ministry and commission) and we are finalising the design for these projects, he stressed.
Touching on SUPPs concerns, he said every project needed to be carefully planned and designed together with the state housing authorities.
Rahman said his ministry was getting good cooperation from the state government and he was confident that once construction kicked off, these projects would be completed on time.
He understood the urgent need for more affordable houses in Sarawak, saying: The new projects will help the state government fulfil the need for more affordable houses either for rental or sale to low-income people and also squatters living in Miri and other urban areas.
Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2014/08/08/Ministry-to-take-urgent-steps-Affordable-housing-projects-in-state-will-start-before-end-of-year-say/