25,500 PR1MA Units For Johor At Over 20 Per Cent Discount - Najib

KULAIJAYA, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Tuesday announced the building of 25,500 affordable housing units in the Iskandar Malaysia region, here, under the Perumahan Rakyat 1Malaysia (PR1MA) scheme.

Najib said the project, carried out in collaboration with PR1MA Berhad and five private housing development companies, would be completed within three years.

He said the market price of each unit was RM250,000, but through the public-private sector partnership in the form of funds from the government, the project could be expedited with the houses to be sold at below the market price.

"The original market price offered by the developer was RM250,000 but through facilitation by the government, the price would be 199,000 only.

"This is a big discount of RM51,000 or over 20 per cent through the contribution of funds from the government," he said at the drawing of lots for the Nusantara PR1MA affordable housing units at Dewan Raya, Bandar Putra, here.

Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and PR1MA Berhad chairman Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis.

Najib said 15,500 units of the PR1MA houses would be built with five private housing developers, namely Iskandar Waterfront Holdings Sdn Bhd in Danga Bay, Plentong and Masai, Casa Grey City Sdn Bhd in Tebrau, Larkin and Plentong, Aturan Prisma Sdn Bhd in Larkin, Cahaya Bumimas Sdn Bhd in Bandar Layangkasa, Pasir Gudang, and Tentu Canggih Holdings Sdn with PIJ Property Sdn Bhd in Plentong.

The projects will be carried out with the state government's subsidiary company, Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Sdn Bhd as the owner of the land.

PR1MA Berhad will build another 10,000 units of affordable houses on 80 hectares of government land in Tampoi.

Najib said a responsible government would not only implement high-impact projects, but also projects and programmes that were much needed by the people such as the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia and PR1MA.

"We know the 'rakyat' need comfortable, quality and affordable houses. That is why the three factors were given as prerequisites to PR1MA Berhad in providing housing for the people.

"With PR1MA, we can take creative measures to meet the people's housing requirements within a short time," he said.

The prime minister also said that the drawing of lots like done today could ensure transparency and avoid favouritism in allotting the PR1M housing units.

The Nusantara PR1MA is a joint project between Denia Development Sdn Bhd and UEM Land Bhd, as the owner of the land, while PR1MA Berhad facilitated the funding through the Public-Private Partnership Unit (UKAS).

Meanwhile, Jamaluddin said facilities such as shops, clinics, playgrounds and houses of worship would be built at each PR1MA project area.

He said all the PR1MA housing would be maintained by the agency compared to other housing projects which had to do self-maintenance.