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GEORGE TOWN: The Ministry of Housing and Local Government can meet its goal of building 100,000 housing units per year under the People’s Housing Program of Malaysia (PR1MA), says its minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.
He said 55,000 units were built under the scheme this year and another 150,000 are scheduled for completion next year.
“This brings the total to 200,000 units in two years, which shows that we have achieved the goal,” he told reporters after the opening ceremony of the Bukit Gelugor residential project here yesterday.
Zuraida said that PR1MA had recorded sales totaling RM1.9 billion this year, an increase of RM600 thousand compared to RM1.3 billion last year.
“While the Covid-19 pandemic has affected most industries, the housing sector is still registering positive growth, with PR1MA registering higher growth compared to last year,” he added.
Regarding the Bukit Gelugor PR1MA project, he said it was the first company of its kind to be launched in the state after the Covid-19 outbreak.
“We hope that this project will help Penang achieve its goal of providing affordable housing to its people.
“It has 2,850 units with prices below RM300,000. The project is expected to be completed in 2024, ”he said, adding that with this, Penang would have two PR1MA housing projects, with the other in Permatang Pauh.
Zuraida said that more PR1MA projects would be built on the mainland, as the island of Penang was becoming congested with many housing projects and activities.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was also present, said the state government was committed to helping speed up planning permission for other projects under PR1MA.
“PR1MA has responded to the state’s request to use the 6.56ha land for a mixed development of affordable housing for the people of Penang.
“This cooperation between the federal and state governments should be extended to other PR1MA projects for the comprehensive housing needs of the state,” Chow said.
He added that Penang had been officially informed of four more PR1MA projects, two on the island and on the mainland.
Among those present were the Chairman of the State Housing Committee, Jagdeep Singh Deo, Seri Delima Assemblyman Syerleena Abdul Rashid, and PR1MA Malaysia Executive Director Datuk Mohd Nazri Md Shariff.
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