Affordable homes to take new form
SYARIKAT Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) is examining a new form of “people-friendly houses” for those earning between RM1,500 and RM3,000 a month.
Managing director Datuk Dr Kamarul Rashdan Salleh said the company was talking to three state governments to start the housing scheme slated for launch in the second quarter of this year, barring any hitches.
“If the first phase, to be implemented in the three unidentified states, receives good response from the people, the scheme will be extended country-wide.
“We intend to develop people-friendly housing jointly with state governments as stated by Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.
“The minister has asked state governments to liaise with SPNB to build quality affordable houses for the people,” he said in an interview.
Kamarul said the houses might be known as Rumah Mesra Rakyat 1Malaysia (1Malaysia People-Friendly Houses) as announced by SPNB chairman Datuk Idris Haron recently.
He said SPNB no longer built affordable houses as such homes had been integrated under the 1Malaysia People’s Housing Programme (PR1MA).
“It would be better if PR1MA and private housing developers work together to provide affordable homes because that is their core business.
“SPNB is not deeply involved in providing affordable homes to the people.”
Kamarul said SPNB “hatched” the affordable homes concept under the 1Malaysia People-Friendly Housing Programme, which maintains the same conditions as the affordable housing scheme — it is only for those earning between RM1,500 and RM3,000 a month.
On SPNB’s shift in focus to build only people-friendly houses, Kamarul said the company shouldered a heavy social responsibility and did not see profit-making as a performance indicator.
He said SPNB’s performance indicator was “delivery” — how many houses the company could afford to provide at one time.
“SPNB has stopped building affordable houses not because it’s not viable or there’s no demand, but from its business dimension, affordable housing schemes are not suitable to be implemented.
“It’s more apt for SPNB to build people-friendly houses as we give priority to delivery, not profit.”
He was, however, quick to point out that SPNB was playing a complementary role to government efforts to provide affordable houses, particularly to low-income earners.
As at the end of last year, he said, SPNB completed construction of 2,500 people-friendly houses country-wide and 3,333 units built previously have received certificates of fitness for occupation.
Of the 14,713 units targeted to be sold last year, 11,840 had been snapped up, he added. Bernama
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