The Star's article mentioned about affortable housing to be be built in Selangor. The state will launch about 1,000 units but only 124 in Bandar Baru Bangi. The country needs a lot more of these houses and hope more efforts will be made, not just lip service.
Until the next time, cheers.
The Star, Thursday, 7 July 2011
THE Selangor government is targetting to launch the construction of about 1,000 units of affordable homes this year for first-time house buyers.
The project, undertaken by Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) started with the launch of 124 units in Bandar Baru Bangi last month.
PKNS will then move on to construct 440 apartment units in Kampung Seri Temenggung, Gombak, 150 units at U12 Shah Alam and 300 townhouses in Kota Puteri (formerly called Batu Arang) in Kuala Selangor.
Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the state has been carrying out discussions since 2009 on affordable homes in place of low-cost or medium-cost flats.
“We want to provide three-room homes for families with all the amenities and proper infrastructure for comfort.
“The pricing for affordable homes in the state will be below RM120,000. It is a tall order but we are confident it can be delivered,” said Khalid during the launch of the Selangor Affordable Homes Seminar 2011 at the Shah Alam Convention Centre.
He added that while the Federal Government’s own affordable homes project were outsourced to contract companies, the state’s project was different.
“For one, the state’s power is over land matters where we can take control of land allocation and planning. So we will be closely involved,” he said.
Khalid also said the affordable homes registration was open to first-time house buyers and low-income group families and the Selangor Housing and Property Board would have a database for verification of those who were eligible.
“Priority will be for those without a house,” said Khalid.
Selangor State Housing, Building Development and Squatters Committee chairman Iskandar Abdul Samad said those earning within the middle income bracket had been left out of opportunities to buy a suitable home.
“This is why we are focusing on those earning between RM2,500 and RM5,000.
“Small, narrow homes can be the cause of social problems which is why the state has thought since a long time back about the need to upgrade low-cost units into affordable homes.
“We are building a community and not just another building. These homes will also be built in ‘fair’ locations — not near treatment plants or substation,” said Iskandar.
He added that the state also acknowledged that there would be people who would probably never be able to buy a house and hence the number of council homes would be increased to accommodate them.
Iskandar said the state was actively seeking other developers to develop more affordable homes.
“We are also open in the sense that if there is no demand for low-cost flats in the area, we will relook at options including building affordable homes in lieu of the low-cost,” he said.
Selangor Housing and Property Board chief executive officer Datin Paduka Alinah Ahmad said the Board will be doing the checks and verifications for only genuine buyers who meet the criteria of the affordable homes.
“The individual has to be a first-time buyer. We also allow a low-cost house owner who has been staying in that unit for over five years but wish to move into more comfortable premises to purchase the affordable home.
“Husband-and-wife who do not own any house in Selangor are also eligible, and so are individuals who have family commitments,” said Alinah.
She said buyers would be required to sign a pledge not to rent out or sell within the first five years.
“We will also get their immediate neighbours to inform us if the unit has been misused,” said Alinah.
The state is targetting those within the RM2,500 to RM5,000 income group aged 35 and below, while the Federal Government’s projects are meant for those earning RM3,000 and RM6,000.
A study is being carried out to assess the actual level of affordability among Selangor residents, developers, and financial institutions.
Once the study is completed by end of November, it will determine the homes’ pricing and set a blueprint for the state’s housing policy by 2012.
For now, these affordable homes should be built between 850 sq ft and 1,000 sq ft and to be sold within the range of RM85,000 to RM120,000.
PKNS has also proposed several locations where 11,000 units of these affordable homes will be built.
They are in Antara Gapi and Bernam Jaya in Hulu Selangor, Gombak, Petaling, Bandar Baru Bangi and Taman Sains Selangor 2 in Sepang.
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