The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) is set to launch a new model of public housing called the Program Residensi Rakyat (PRR), announced Minister Nga Kor Ming.
PRR aims to provide well-integrated, sustainable, and livable housing, offering quality homes to the low-income group at a piecemeal price.
Each unit, with an increased construction cost of RM300,000, will be sold at RM60,000. A portion of this amount will be allocated for maintenance and sinking funds, ensuring the longevity of the housing project.
Nga emphasised that there would be a moratorium on selling PRR units for ten years to prevent abuse of the social housing privilege. He expressed concern about irresponsible parties taking advantage of subsidised housing opportunities.
Under PRR, each unit will have a minimum size of 750 square feet, featuring three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The emphasis will be on connectivity through transit-oriented development (TOD) to reduce vehicle dependency and integrate green building elements, aiming for 30% less energy cost compared to standard buildings.
Nga highlighted the need for increased budget allocation for housing projects, comparing Malaysia’s budget to Singapore’s HDB annual allocation.
He also called upon developers and financial institutions to assist in the redevelopment of aging buildings, ensuring fair compensation for property owners.
Proposals include adjusting consent thresholds for building redevelopment and covering abandoned projects. Additionally, plans for setting up an urban renewal authority and a land tribunal are underway to ensure a fair and balanced approach between owners and developers.
“This will be a fair and balanced legislation,” Nga said reflecting the government’s commitment to addressing housing challenges while protecting the rights of homeowners and fostering sustainable urban development.
