Sepanggar needs more low-cost houses – MP

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KOTA KINABALU: More than 5,000 units of low-cost houses are needed in Sepanggar within the next five years, according to its member of parliament, Datuk Jumat Idris.

He said this was based on the statistics from the Kota Kinabalu City Hall which reported of more than 5,000 squatters in the area at the moment.

“I have asked a quota of 5,000 units from the Chief Minister but only 1,000 units have been agreed to by the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government but it is still not enough. Which is why I have requested for another 4,000 units to be built within the next five years,” he disclosed during a Hari Raya open house organized by the Sepanggar parliamentary and Karambunai state constituency office held at the Menggatal community hall yesterday.

Jumat said the housing units he is requesting for is not only for the  squatters but also for young couples who have just started a family. He added that the 5,000 units of houses would just be able to meet the current needs, and is not a long-term solution.

“I have also urged the government to consider selling the low-cost houses in various locations such as Taman Telipok Ria, Taman Rugading, Taman Puri Warisan and the other PPRT houses so that the government would not face any losses in the future.

“I also hope that more lands will be given by the government to build low-cost housing for the benefit of our own people,” he said.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and his wife Datin Seri Faridah Tussin were among several VIPs who attended the one-day event.

Meanwhile, Karambunai assemblywoman Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid, who was also at the event, said she supported Jumat’s call for low-cost housing units to be built in the area, while at the same time reminding villagers in her constituency not to let any undocumented persons to rent their house or land so that any unwanted incidents could be avoided in the future.