MIRI: The state government’s ground-breaking approach in building affordable houses and flats for rent in cities and major towns could cost up to RM200 million under the 10th Malaysia Plan.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the ministry, together with the Ministry of Planning and Resource Management would work together to identify the sites and implement the housing projects.
“This is a new approach taken by the government whereby the Ministry of Planning and Resource Management will identify the sites, and my ministry will provide the housing scheme in projects identified with policy adopted to achieve the ‘Zero Squatters’ target by 2020,” he said.
The state, through the Land and Survey Department, has identified 8,774 squatters, with Miri topping the list at 4,052 followed by Bintulu (1,998) and Kuching (1,871).
These (places) would be the main target groups under this initiative. The others are spread in other divisions (Sri Aman, Betong, Samarahan, Sarikei and Limbang) numbering between 60 and 200 with the respective Residents having been instructed to totally eradicate the squatters problem through the village extension programme, affordable housing scheme or housing for hardcore poor programme by August this year.
Johari told the press this after chairing the third squatters settlement task force committee meeting here yesterday.
The meeting was also attended by Assistant Minister of Planning and Resource Management Mohd Naroden Majais, Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz, Assistant Minister of Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Datuk Sebastian Ting (political secretary to Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water), Datuk Affandi Keli (Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Housing and Urban Development), Residents and officials from Housing Development Corporation.
“Miri has the most number of squatters, and we have a road map to mitigate this issue, with three areas already identified – two in Lambir and one in Tudan Permyjaya,” Johari said.
Plans had been submitted to build 3,580 flat unit for rent for the transit population and 2,857 units for sale for those working here (Miri) to overcome this problem under the 10th Malaysia Plan.
“Currently, the demand of 4,052 units and the availability of 6,457 units will solve the squatters problem by 2015, and this would be carried out on one or two years’ time,” he said.
According to the minister, each flat would be rented out at RM150 a month with a RM30 servicing fee, while landed properties (houses) built by the Housing Development Corporation would be priced at RM50,000 each.
“The units for sale would be 700 square feet in size – with three bedrooms and two bathrooms each,” he said.
On the issue of ‘Towkay Squatters’ who rent their houses to others in the respective colonies, the director of Land and Survey Department, Datuk Sudarsono Osman, said the department already had the information gathered from the last census.