KUCHING: The housing projects under Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) have been receiving encouraging responses in Sarawak, said Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin.
The Federal Local Government and Housing Minister revealed that there have approximately 6,000 applications from the state.
She said this during the launching ceremony of SPNB Sarawak branch at Riveredge Commercial Centre Jalan Tun Abdul Rahman Yaakub on Sunday (Apr 11).
“The housing projects under SPNB have been getting encouraging responses, especially given the vast area of land that the state has. Many of the people from Sarawak have their own land but they need financial assistance to build houses.
“The government has allocated RM315 million under the Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) this year and landowners are given a RM20,000 subsidy to build a house valued at RM75,000. They would have to get the remaining RM55,000 from a bank loan.
“There are many demands throughout the country for this, but we do have to prioritise those who are in need,” she said.
Zuraida pointed out that the applications from those who no longer qualify due to an increase in income are also reviewed from time to time especially those in the B40 with an income of less than RM5,000.
She added that SPNB is introducing new and more sustainable business models as well as have introducing new RMR designs to meet the people’s demands.
“SPNB is introducing new business models because we want to be more sustainable. It is time for SPNB to think about how to make the development of commercial level houses.
“The houses cannot cost more than RM300,000 and the size of the house cannot be smaller than 900 square feet as we want to ensure that they are comfortable,” she said.
On the RMR scheme for the longhouse community, Zuraida pointed out that they too can benefit from it.
“Perhaps SPNB can think of ways on how to help to build houses for them,” she said.
Also present were Tebrau MP Steven Choong Shiau Yoon and SPNB chief executive officer Datuk Hasleen Isnin.
As of March this year, a total of 6,551 RMR applications have been received in Sarawak whereby 1,492 units have been completed, 17 units are being constructed, and 28 units are ready for construction.
