Kedah close to reaching 40,000 housing manifesto target

SUNGAI PETANI: The 1Malaysia People's Housing Programme (PR1MA) has allowed more people in the lower and middle income groups, particularly young earners to own their first home.
Housewife Norhalila Salleh, 47, noted that PR1MA units cost lower compared to the market price for houses in the same range.
"Most houses that are built in urban areas such as Sungai Petani cost RM100,000 and above, which is beyond the means of the lower income group that earns an average salary of around RM1,000 per month.
"Because of this, many young people have to rent or live in their parents' homes, including young married couples. But through PR1MA, they are able to have their own home and live in a more comfortable environment," she told Bernama recently.
Computer Science student Nur Fazira Ibrahim, 21, said new graduates who had secured employment and aspired to own a home as an asset could realise that opportunity through the PR1MA programme.

"After completing their studies and having gained employment, graduates think about buying a car for their transport to work or a house to stay, besides thinking about repaying their study loan.
"With the affordable price of PR1MA homes, we can hope to own the asset while we are still young and also can rest assured that we already have a shelter in our old age," she said.
Private sector worker Mohamad Hafiz Jamil, 30, said the modern design of the PR1MA homes was what made him decide to buy one.
"I registered and applied online through PR1MA's website to buy the design that I like and am eligible for.
"The process is also so simple. After I registered, I await the invitation to attend PR1MA's open day where all the transactions would be done systematically including drawing of lots to pick the house number; there is also a counter to facilitate the bank loan process," he said.

Given the current economic situation, he said, it was better for gainfully employed young people to own a house early.
He also hoped the government-linked housing developer would build more houses in the urban and suburban areas as well as enhance the design to attract more young people to buy and have their own homes.
Meanwhile, Kedah Housing, Local Government, Water Supply, Water and Energy Resource Committee chairman Datuk Badrol Hisham Hashim said 25,000 units of PR1MA houses had been and were being constructed throughout the state.
"In Sungai Petani, more that 3,000 units of PR1MA houses have been completed while other projects such as in Pendang, Kulim, Alor Setar, Kubang Pasu and Padang Terap are under construction.
"More PR1MA houses would be built including in Langkawi, to enable the people to have their own homes and live in a more comfortable environment," he said.

According to him, the state government's manifesto to build 40,000 units of affordable homes had almost been fulfilled through PR1MA and other developments such as People's Housing Project (PPR) and 1Malaysia Civil Servants Housing Project (PPA1M).
"Aside from the 25,000 PR1MA units and 8,000 PPA1M units, more than 6,000 PPR units and houses have been built under Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB); we have almost reached that 40,000 target .
"These houses are sold at prices that are 20% to 30% lower than the market price and tailored to the people's request in terms of security features, and some of the housing estates are also gated," he said. — Bernama