Sheda calls for equal rights with PR1MA developers

0
Abang Johari (second left) and Wong (third left) looks on at a model of a house during his tour of the Sheda Property Expo 2016 yesterday.

Abang Johari (second left) and Wong (third left) looks on at a model of a house during his tour of the Sheda Property Expo 2016 yesterday.

KUCHING: The Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Sheda) calls on the government for private developers to receive equal treatment with that of PR1MA developers.

This comes as PR1MA launched 13 projects with a total of 16,787 houses throughout Sarawak with the selling price capped at RM400,000 per unit a few months ago.

PR1MA claims their houses are sold at 20 per cent below market value, in addition to being subsidised by the federal government.

Joseph Wong, president of Sheda said they supported the government’s proposal for affordable housing, adding that Sheda wishes to assist both federal and state governments in intensifying these programs.

“The Chief Minister of Sarawak has recently agreed with Sheda that equal treatment is to be given to private developers like those accorded to PR1MA project-appointed developers,” he said during the launch of the Sheda Property Expo 2016 yesterday.

“Sheda has also written to the Chief Minister to seek his directive on how to move forward on this matter.”

Wong said Sheda is calling on the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem to look into the equal treatment policy to be accorded to all local Sarawak developers, whether – PR1MA or non-PR1MA – so that Sarawakian developers are not at a disadvantage over the other.

“If local Sarawakian developers are equally treated as with PR1MA developers and are given the same planning criteria and exemptions, we would be able to build PR1MA approved houses with a capped selling price of RM300,000 per unit instead of the current RM400,000 capped price.”

Sheda said it does not require federal government subsidies.

“We only want the same planning criteria and exemption to be extended to local Sarawakian developers so that we can contribute to buildign more affordable houses for the middle income families in Sarawak.”

Wong further placed pressure by adding that should equal treatment be accorded, Sheda members will match the number of PR1MA houses to be built by PR1MA developers.

“We will create another 16,000 plus affordable houses on top of the 10,000 untis we have committed under the proposed Sheda Affordable Housing Scheme, making it a total of more than 26,000 affordable houses throughout Sarawak, with the selling prices between RM250,000 to RM300,000.

“This is equivalent to more than RM7 billion in Gross Development Value in Sarawak’s property sector,” he affirmed.

On this point, Minister of Housing and Urbanisation Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said recreational areas are a key crucial point for these affordable housing projects.

“PR1MA developers can develop housing and property markets based on density, but PR1MA must also provide the basic amenities in the area that they are developing for the purpose of green as well as recreational activities,” he said during his speech yesterday.

“Private developers must also include in its proposal all the green area that we need, because we do not want to have a congested neighbourhood.

“PR1MA has met with this undertaking and if SHEDA developers can meet that undertaking, I will take that challenge up to the Chief Minister.”

Abang Johari said it was necessary to not just build houses, but proper neighbourhoods.

“You msut also give your word to establish friendly neighbourhoods with all the green areas and interaction among the dwellers in that particular neighbourhood. This is an important point for us to have Abang Johari drew parallels to the situation in Damansara where the land was developed so aggressively that it was extremely congested with no green areas or spaces for children to play in.

“For us, if we plan properly, we can increase density through units. More units, more families, more cars, more children. But these children needs all these basic necessities and therefiore we need to plan properly and at the same time there needs to be affordability while we aim for a good neighbourhood.

“And therefore I would like Sheda to present me that undertaking.”