‘Youth City study should focus on adequate and affordable housing’

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KUALA LUMPUR: Adequate housing for young households earning below RM3,000 monthly must be among the main focus in the proposed ‘Youth City’ study.

Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) president Datuk Dr Kamarul Rashdan Salleh said the units should ideally cost below RM250,000.

“The youth city study proposal conveys a message that the government is committed to addressing the housing needs of the youth but it must correspond to affordability,” he told Bernama yesterday.

He said the study should also consider whether there was a need to build a large house with many bedrooms or just a basic two bedroom unit for a small family as the young households represent.

But the study must definitely take into account, the provision of basic facilities such as affordable health care, schools and public transport, he said.

“A large number of youths are working in major towns so the study should also focus on a good transportation network for them to commute at ease to and from the workplace,” he said.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said on Saturday, that a study would be carried out next year on the youth city concept.

Meanwhile, Federal Territory Pemuda Umno chief Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii opined that the youth city should not be a dwelling place for only one race.

“Ideally, it should have 60 per cent Malay, 25 per cent Chinese, 10 per cent Indian and five per cent, other Malaysians,” he said.

He said the multi racial composition was essential to sustain the spirit of unity for generations to come. — Bernama