Only 9,818 affordable homes ready as developers, Johor state govt face constraints

JOHOR BARU: A total of 9, 818 out of 13, 536 units of Johor's Affordable Homes (RMMJ) targeted for completion this year have not been built as both the developers and state government are experiencing some constraints.
State Rural Housing and Rural Development Committee chairman Dzulkefly Ahmad said among the difficulties developers faced were financial problems that were causing the late completion of the projects.
"The project should have been completed in 2018 but because of the financial setbacks faced by developers, the project can only be completed in 2019 or 2020.
"In addition, the constraints are also from the state's planning permission unit which has made changes to the number of affordable houses built," he said.
"According to the Johor People's Housing Policy (DPRJ), the developer would be fined RM40,000 for every affordable house that is not built," he said in a statement today.
Dzulkefly said this in response to the issue raised by Johor Umno Youth chief Mohd Hairi Mad Shah on Monday, urging the state government to state the exact number of new construction projects approved by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government since June this year.
It came about after the state government announced that only 3,718 RMMJ units could be completed in 2018, although Johor State Task Force had earlier projected that 13,536 RMMJ units would be built during the period.
Mohd Hairi said the developments had raised questions about the remaining 9,818 RMMJ units which the PH government had not mentioned.
Dzulkefly said from June up till now, the current Johor government had approved 1,289 RMMJ units that were to be offered to the people. — Bernama