BINTULU: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government is committed to building affordable houses to enable Sarawakians to have their own homes.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the cost of houses in Bintulu is high and most of them were developed by the private sector.
“That is why when I took over as Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) chairman, I wanted to flood the market.
“We flooded the market and by the rules of economics, if there is a lot of supply, then the prices would come down,” he said when officiating at the earth-breaking ceremony for Tanjung Kidurong Sri Pertiwi Housing Scheme yesterday.
He said the government had to intervene in the market by implementing affordable housing schemes to help control the prices of houses.
If not, he said, the people might not be able to afford to purchase houses.
He said another issue was obtaining housing loans, so the state government had taken the initiative of developing Mutiara Mortgage and Credit Sdn Bhd, a financial institution which can provide loans for those who wish to purchase houses.
“I have added funds to Mutiara Mortage and Credit to provide loans for homebuyers if they are rejected by the bank,” said Abang Johari.
He said the loan period could also be extended to further assist the homebuyer — “If it is 15 years, we can extend it to 25 years so the monthly payment is lower.”
Aside from the Tanjung Kidurong Sri Pertiwi Housing Scheme here, Abang Johari said, with the construction of the Kuala Kemena Bridge, new affordable houses can be opened up in Jepak area as well.
He said some individuals had claimed that he was all talk, but in countering this, he pointed out all the affordable housing projects implemented in Kuching, Sibu and now, Bintulu.
He assured that as long as GPS is still leading the state government, such projects will be developed.
“We will continue striving to have practical approaches in which we develop the state. Hopefully, we will always be united and we can develop our state more systematically towards 2030 so that we can become the most developed state in Malaysia.
“Our future is bright,” Abang Johari said.
Also present at the function were Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip, Samalaju assemblyman Majang Renggi, BDA deputy chairman Haidar Khan Asghar Khan and BDA general manager Rodziah Morshidi.
