Johor govt to address the problem of unsold Bumi lots

JOHOR BARU: Johor will take steps to address the 88,000 unsold units reserved as Bumiputra lots and their conversion into the open market.
"These unsold properties range from service apartments, factories, luxury houses to shophouses," Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin said after officiating the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Koperasi Warisan Kampung Senibong Johor Baru Berhad at Kampung Senibong here today.
In this respect, he added, the state government is looking at ways to help developers overcome the problem of unsold Bumi lots, and also on ways to offer the properties to Bumiputras.
He said 4% of high-end properties (generally priced from RM350,000 to more than RM1 million) must be allotted to Bumiputras.
Khaled said that after a certain period, the developers can apply for the lots to be released.
He said Johor is in the process of setting up a committee to focus on improving the housing system in the state.
The releasing of Bumi lots into the open market has become a hot topic after former exco member Datuk Abd Latif Bandi was charged with corruption recently.
He was alleged to have received bribes in dealing with conversion of properties.
At the event, Khaled also attended the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of flats and double-storey terrace houses at Kampung Senibong which are scheduled for completion in 2019.
The project will be developed by Iskandar Waterfront Holdings Sdn Bhd (IWH) and will see residents from Kampung Senibong and Kampung Bakar Batu relocated there.
"They only need to pay RM25,000 per unit for a house which costs more than RM300,000," Khaled said.