PR1MA outlines strategy to meet deadline

PETALING JAYA: Perbadanan PR1MA Malaysia (PR1MA), which was mandated to build 500,000 affordable houses by 2018 in the 2013 Budget, believes it will meet the delivery deadline collectively by consolidating its operations with that of developers.
In a statement released yesterday, PR1MA said the operational consolidation plan was the crux of the discussion at its inaugural town hall meeting held recently.
PR1MA’s CEO Datuk Abdul Mutalib Alias said the meeting is part of its efforts in engaging its partners in forging a better working relationship.
“It is vital for us to provide this platform that encourages both our team and the committed developers to exchange ideas in overcoming challenges throughout all the stages in ensuring a timely delivery,” he said.

Mutalib also added that PR1MA urged its partners to share their development status every month, to provide a clear understanding on the development progress.
“Together with the developers, PR1MA has identified the roadblocks and challenges within each project and measures to overcome them, to ensure that delivery will not be hampered,” he said.
PR1MA said that among the topics emphasised at the meeting include its commitment as a quasi-regulator with development functions, such as supervision in the planning and execution stage in designing housing units.
In addition, PR1MA said it will ensure that the living environment is safe and of good quality through maintenance and operations from the envisioned PR1MA communities.
PR1MA said it is currently on track to meet its targeted development of 240,000 housing units by end of 2015, which is in line with the announcement by the government in Budget 2013, 2014 and 2015.
PR1MA is a government agency, which was established under the 2012 PR1MA Act to roll out a thorough and extensive programme in building houses for the middle income group in the urban areas, with a household income between RM2,500 and RM10,000 a month.