KUCHING: The quiet and isolated area near Kampung Pasir Pandak, Pasir Panjang and Pulau Salak will soon turn into a new neighbourhood once the nearby Sg Tiram’s affordable housing project (RMR) is completed.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg yesterday performed the earth breaking ceremony for the proposed project to start going.
Speaking to reporters later, he explained that for the start, as usual, the developer will do all the foundation before bringing in electricity and water supplies, adding that the infrastructure was expected to finish in about six months.
“Only then can we start building the houses. There are 502 lots and can be expanded up to 700 lots but the whole project will be implemented in stages,” he said.
He said that the new neighbourhood will be a combination of RMR and a housing scheme for hardcore poor families who could not afford the RMR.
“It will be a combination of both but a majority will be of RMR houses where the cost for each unit is approximately RM79,000 but we are only selling at RM40,000 where one third of the cost is being covered by the government,” he noted.
He said that the government was not only subsidising the price but also giving very low monthly instalment rate at only RM150 per month for a period of over 20 years and can also be extended up to 30 years depending on the age of the purchaser.
“It is cheaper than buying a Kancil car,” said Abang Johari.
He said since the project was a village extension programme for the three villages, 320 families are ready takers for the RMR while the extra of about 200 units would be for those in the area who are interested.
Abang Johari said with the implementation of the project, the area would become part of the Kuching city expansion programme.
“With the completion of this project there will be a new neighbourhood that will supplement the family park that we are building just along Pasir Panjang and this will also further spur the tourism activities in this area.”
“Actually this area has lots of tourism potential especially with the legend of Puteri Santubong.and the Pulau Sejinjang just next door,” he explained.
Meanwhile, deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker and Santubong MP Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar in his speech at the function said the earth breaking ceremony for the proposed RMR project was not an election gimmick.
“This village expansion programme actually had long been planned but we can only implement it now after getting the funding from the federal government.”
“We should thank the state housing minister and the incumbent for Pantai Damai Dr Wan Junaidi for lobbying so hard for the allocation and as acknowledgement of their efforts we should vote for them come April 16,” he said.