KUCHING: The first 50 units of Spektra Permata houses in Sibuluh, Bau, will be built next month, says Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep.

According to him, the project is implemented by Housing Development Corporation (HDC) while the loan provider is the Sarawak government’s agency Mutiara Mortgage & Credit Sdn Bhd.

Adding on, he says the launch for the first phase will be held at Lobuh Bau this Feb 15.

“A total of 164 units will be built there, with the construction for the first 50 units scheduled to take off in March. This project, the site of which is located at Mile 5 of Bau-Lundu Road, is fully funded by the Sarawak government,” he said in a statement.

Henry said the houses, which would go for between RM100,000 and RM120,000 per unit, would be slated only for the B40 group – those whose monthly household income is at RM3,000 and below.

Moreover, he pointed out that the houses in Sibuluh would ‘purely be for the natives’, stressing that the programme was not meant for resettlement.

“The land for this project is native land acquired by the Sarawak government, (so) priority is given to the natives.

“In the past, this project posed a big issue because people thought this area would become a resettlement for the Malay community – it is not.

“The Malays in Bau town have their own ‘kampung’ (village) extensions, not resettlements. No Bidayuh land is affected in what we term as the Malay ‘kampung’ extension.

“The extension for the Malay ‘kampung’ is within the state land within the Bau town,” he explained.  The assemblyman said the housing project in Sibuluh would be the first Spektra Permata project in Bau.

Moreover, he said the HDC had started opening the applications for the housing units.

“During the launch ceremony (on Feb 15), there will be roadshow by HDC and Mutiara Mortgage & Credit Sdn Bhd.

“Potential buyers can also make their applications that day,” he said.

Each unit in Sibuluh is a single-storey detached house, covering an area of 750 square feet.   Each house has three bedrooms, two toilets, a kitchen, a dining room, a living room and a car porch.