THE Housing Development Corporation (HDC) under the Ministry of Housing will develop and construct 3,508 affordable housing units at several main locations throughout the state within the next three years.

Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said this was to ensure that the house prices can be controlled indirectly through the regulation of house prices which were lower than market prices based on the locality of the particular project.

“It is also to cater to the demand and needs from middle income groups who face difficulties in purchasing a house in the open market,” he told the august house when delivering his winding-up speech yesterday.

He said 10 locations have since been identified for this project; namely at Muara Tebas, Kuching (404 units); Curtin, Miri (749 units); Kidurong, Bintulu (868 units); Sourabaya, Kuching (250 units); Matang Batu 5, Kuching (757 units); Tondong, Batu Kawa (60 units); Lutong, Miri (51 units); Matang-Malihah, Kuching (195 units); Petanak, Mukah (152 units) and Betong (16 units).

On a related matter, Abang Johari said three ‘My Beautiful Neighbourhood’ and Housing Maintenance Programme (PPP) projects in Sarawak had been approved by the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government this year.

“The projects will be implemented at Taman Ixora, Rancangan Perumahan Rakyat (RPR) Kapit (seven blocks – 192 units), Taman Susur Jambu, RPR Sarikei (seven blocks – 224 units) and People’s Housing Programme (PPR) Sri Wangi (ten blocks – 200 units) with a total cost of RM7.8 million,” he elaborated.

According to him, the three projects, which will comprise upgrading of infrastructure facilities and landscaping as well as repainting and maintenance of the buildings, are expected to commence next month (December) once the procurement process is completed.

He also said HDC had proposed to the federal government to allocate grants for a project in Permyjaya, Miri (47 blocks – 2,372 units) be implemented with ‘My Beautiful Neighbourhood’ while five other projects be given PPP namely PPR Bandaria Park, Bintulu (17 blocks – 1,000 units), PPR Rantau Panjang, Sibu (six blocks – 500 units), PPR Taman Dahlia, Kuching (11 blocks – 816 units), RPR Sibu Jaya (16 blocks – 1,280 units) and RPR Sungai Plan, Bintulu (18 blocks – 1,440 units).