KUCHING: Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari has proposed a special trust fund to replace the private sector’s requirement to build housing projects with 30 per cent low-cost units.
The Premier said the trust fund would entail housing developers to only deposit the value of the houses into the fund without undertaking construction work.
He said according to the existing law, the private sector is obligated to allocate 30 per cent of their housing scheme or mixed development project for low-cost housing if the developed land is 10 acres or more.
“What we can do now is, instead of physically building 30 per cent of the houses, the private sector will just have to substitute that with an amount equivalent to the value of the 30 per cent of that scheme and contribute it to the trust fund.
“Then, the government will build the low-cost housing on behalf of the developer through the trust fund.
“So, the private developer can plan their housing schemes to the needs of certain location instead of being bound by the fixed percentage of 30 per cent,” he said.
Abang Johari was speaking at the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Golden Jubilee dinner at Penview Convention Centre, Demak here yesterday (Nov 19).
He also suggested that the private sector be given the freedom to develop various types of projects, be it mixed development or regular housing, without having to build 30 per cent of the houses on the same site.
Abang Johari said the proposals will be presented to the Sarawak cabinet for approval.
Meanwhile, he also said the Sarawak government had allocated RM262,797,134 million for the development of 2,488 units of Rumah Spektra Permata (RSP) statewide.
Also present were Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk Seri John Sikie Tayai, Deputy Ministers of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang and Datuk Penguang Manggil and HDC chairman Abdul Yakub Arbi.
CAPTION:
KCH-premier trustfund-2011-jj: Abdul Yakub (3rd right) presents a memento to Abang Johari while others look on. Photo: UKAS
