THE Local Government and Housing Ministry has decided to make it compulsory for all private housing projects to comprise at least 30 per cent affordable homes costing below RM25,000 next year.
Its minister Datuk Hajiji Noor said the new ruling would come into force on January 1.
“Realising that the prices of house are going up, making it more difficult for the low income group to own a home, especially in urban areas, my ministry has decided to adopt the 30 per cent rule,” he told the State Assembly sitting in his winding-up speech yesterday.
Hajiji said the ministry, through the House Buyers Tribunal, had handled 23 complaints as of September this year.
He said the total number of cases settled since January 2011 was 81, which involved RM415,170 in compensation or award to aggrieved house buyers.
A total of 18 cases were still awaiting decision, he added.
Hajiji said the Housing and Urban Development Board (LPPB) would continue to open up new townships and provide affordable houses for low or medium income groups.
Under the Second Rolling Plan of the 10th Malaysia Plan (2012-2013), he said 13 new townships and three public housing projects had been approved, involving a ceiling allocation of RM33.25 million.
On another development, Hajiji said anti-litter by-laws would be implemented by local authorities in Sabah by adopting the Government Transformation Programme 2.0 and 2C’s (Communication and Coordination) concept.
He said this involved a more active participation from the business communities, NGOs and the private sector, towards achieving a cleaner environment.
He noted 16 local authorities had launched their anti-litter campaigns so far and the ministry was hoping to have the campaign adopted in at least 23 local authorities before next year.