MIRI: The Sarawak government is committed to help low-income families by targeting to build 2,000 to 2,500 units of affordable houses, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said this during a press conference held after the unveiling of the booklet entitled “Demi Rakyat Sarawak – Inisiatif Team Abang Jo” (For the People of Sarawak – Team Abang Jo’s Initiatives) on Monday at Pullman Hotel Miri Waterfront here.
“We have several pilot projects (of affordable houses) in Sibu, Bintulu, Miri (Lambir) and Kuching,” Johari pointed out.
Building more affordable houses is among the 65 initiatives that have been announced by Johari since he was sworn in as Sarawak’s sixth Chief Minister on Jan 13, 2017.
“We feel that affordable homes at RM300,000 is still expensive. Therefore the Sarawak government will build affordable homes under ‘Rumah Pertiwiku’,” he said.
Under “Rumah Pertiwiku”, one-third of the building cost will be absorbed by the state government.
“The sales prices would be between RM90,000 and RM150,000,” Johari said, adding that those with incomes from RM800 to RM2,500 are eligible to apply.
He further added, the project to be carried out by the state under the Local Government and Housing Ministry is focusing on a people-centric policy.
“We will carry out the project from the perspective of the Sarawak government,” he pointed out.
He added that for that purpose, the state government will strengthen the bank financing through Mutiara Mortgage and Finance, by giving capital to provide loans to house buyers.
“It’s our long-term strategies to enable our rakyat (people) in the state to own houses,” he pointed out.
Prior to the booklet launch, Johari also chaired a meeting with four state ministries (Ministry of Local Government and Housing, Ministry of Utilities, Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture and Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transportation) where they discussed development projects which are carried out by the respective ministries involved.
“We have carried out people-centric projects, whereby we have 324 minor projects at the grassroots level with allocation of RM6.24 billion,” he said.
During the meeting, they have discussed the projects’ implementation which have been approved at the state level.
“Some of the projects are still at the design stage. I am satisfied that these projects are on schedule,” he said.
During the booklet launch, Johari also presented cheques on behalf of the state government totalling RM5 million namely to Curtin University Malaysia (Miri) and Subis district.
Subis district received RM3 million while Curtin received RM2 million.
