Dr Sim (right) seen leaving the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) complex yesterday with Datuk Sebastian Ting (BN-Piasau).

HOUSING Development Corporation (HDC) targets to construct 1,000 units of affordable houses with an allocation of RM300 million under the 11th Malaysia Plan.

Minister of Local Goverment and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said two housing programmes had been launched by the state government to achieve the target and to assist the low-income group in addressing their housing needs.

The two programmes are Skim Perumahan Khas Rakyat (Spektra) and Program Rumah Spektra Permata.

The first programme was launched in April last year and the second in Feb this year.

“Under the first programme, all private developers are required to build affordable houses to the prescribed specifications in their development project.

“The second programme is designed to address the housing needs of the rural population with monthly household income of RM4,000 and below, and those who have residential lots either in the Land and Survey Dept’s village extension scheme or Housing Development Corporation (HDC) development scheme,” he said in his winding-up speech yesterday.

Dr Sim also said the federal government had five housing programmes to assist the people to own a house, particularly the low income group.

They are Program Bantuan Rumah (PBR), Penempatan Semula Nelayan (PSN), Program Perumahan Rakyat, Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) and Rumah Bina Negara program.

About 4,000 units are being built under the five programmes throughout the state.

Dr Sim said the federal government also had two other housing programmes – Program Perumahan Penjawat Awam 1Malaysia (PPA1M) and Project Perumahan Rakyat 1Malaysia (Prima).

He added that some 5,406 units were being built under PPA1M in Kuching, Samarahan and Miri while a total of 16,063 houses had been approved under the Prima programme.

Dr Sim said affordable housing was a need for all races, be they in rural or urban areas.

“The chief minister and I have been discussing ways to introduce affordable housing for the middle-class Chinese in urban areas.

“I will try my personal best to introduce such a housing programme soon,” he said.