SELANGOR government expects 45,000 affordable housing units to be completed in the state by end-2023, exceeding its initial target of 30,000 units.
“A total of 40,000 affordable housing units were built as of last August, and we expect another 5,000 units to be built by the end of this year.
“Our initial target was for 30,000 affordable housing units to be built between May 2018 and May 2023 (during his first term as Mentri Besar), so we will be exceeding our target by over 10,000 units.
“The effort to provide affordable housing for the people is through state government policies and projects developed by both the state government and private sector,” said Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Amirudin (centre)) at the key handover ceremony to five new homeowners at Pangsapuri Selangorku @ Seri Temenggung in Batu Caves. With him are Borhan (third from left), Yap (second from right) and Suhaimi (right). — Photos: ONG SOON HIN/The Star
He said the affordable homes, developed under programmes such as Rumah Selangorku, Rumah Idaman and Rumah Harapan, were priced at RM250,000 and below per unit.
On the proposed rejuvenation of old towns and areas in Selangor, he said there were laws and policies that needed to be amended at federal level before such a move could be implemented.
“At present, the law requires 100% of landowners’ agreement before a redevelopment project can be carried out,” said Amirudin, who is Sungai Tua assemblyman.
“This is challenging as some original landowners could have passed away and their next of kin may not be interested in staying there, thus leaving the property abandoned.
“Another challenge is infrastructure, of which the state government will require certain incentives or subsidies from the Federal Government to build.
“Other factors to consider are the transition period of where to house residents when the redevelopment takes place and type of compensation to be given,” he added, citing the redevelopment of Kampung Kerinchi into Bangsar South in Kuala Lumpur as a success story.
It was reported that Selangor was requesting an injection of funds from the Federal Government in the upcoming Budget 2024 to help in the rejuvenation of old towns and areas in the state.
Citing the older parts of Petaling Jaya and Ampang as examples, Amirudin said rejuvenation was necessary to ensure that these areas could keep pace with development in surrounding new areas.
He said this after witnessing the key handover ceremony of 420 units of Pangsapuri Selangorku @ Seri Temenggung in Batu Caves.
Pangsapuri Selangorku is a joint venture between Rexpoint Resources Sdn Bhd, an associate company of Melati Ehsan Group, and Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS).
Pangsapuri Selangorku marks the project’s first phase. The second is Bayu Residensi @ Seri Temenggung, which comprises 1,240 apartment units.
The entire project is located on 3.97ha land.
Pangsapuri Selangorku is priced at between RM100,000 for a 750sq ft unit and RM220,000 for a 1,000sq ft unit.
Its certificate of compliance and completion was issued in early August.
Twenty-nine families who were squatting on land that now houses Pangsapuri Selangorku were offered a 900sq ft unit each at a discounted price of RM65,000.
Also included in the compensation package was an ex-gratia payment of RM1,000 per family and RM500 rental subsidy until the project’s vacant possession was delivered.
Present at the ceremony were Selangor housing and culture committee chairman Borhan Aman Shah, state deputy secretary (development) and Selangor State Economic Planning Unit director Datuk Johary Anuar, Selayang Municipal Council president Datuk Mohd Yazid Sairi, Selangor Housing and Property Board executive director Datuk Dr Juhari Ahmad, PKNS deputy chief executive officer Suhaimi Kasdon, Melati Ehsan Group chairman Tan Sri Yap Suan Chee and Melati Ehsan Group chief operating officer Cheah Jit Peng.
