‘State government not the monopoliser’

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KUCHING: The state government’s approach in serving as the main provider for affordable housing through the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), its fully-owned subsidiary Daya Builders Sdn Bhd and other government-linked agencies should not be misconstrued as competing head-on with the private sector or monopolising affordable housing construction.

Abang Johari (centre) greeting pupils from SK Rebak, who visited the DUN Complex in Petra Jaya yesterday. The sitting ends today.

Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the government instead regarded itself as the main provider of affordable housing as the private sector’s priority was more profit-oriented than anything else.

“Without the government’s direct involvement and intervention, we would not be able to address the pressing need for affordable housing, especially among the lower income group,” he remarked in his winding-up speech at the Assembly yesterday.

The Satok assemblyman pointed out that as a housing provider, HDC’s main strategy was to help stabilise house prices through greater supply of housing in the market, which could bring down the prices of houses.

“To enable HDC to undertake more affordable housing projects, it will also continue to expand its land bank throughout the state with the assistance of the Land and Survey Department,” he said.

To further augment the supply of affordable housing, Abang Johari noted that his ministry was currently studying the possibility of introducing housing levy on private housing developers in lieu of them undertaking low-cost and low-cost plus housing.

“Under this strategy, housing developers could be given the option of paying a certain amount of levy if they choose not to carry out low-cost housing under the current quota policy. Therefore, with a continuous infusion of funds through this levy, HDC could then develop more affordable housing projects particularly in urban and sub-urban areas to address the long-term housing need of the growing population in the state,” he said.