KOTA KINABALU: The State Government plans to build another 10,465 units of affordable and 3,649 units of high cost housing under the upcoming 11th Malaysia Plan, said Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hj Hajiji Hj Noor.
He said between 2004 and 2014, a total of 4,509 units of affordable and 385 units of high cost housing have been or are currently being built through the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority (LPPB).
“It is government policy that the LPPB’s efforts are focused on building affordable housing for the lower income group to own a house or, at least, get a house under the Rental Housing Program (ERHP/PPR).
“The government always takes specific initiative in helping the rakyat who are in dire need of assistance.
“The government had planned and implemented various housing programmes such as the PPR for rental, implementation of 30 per cent policy for affordable housing, PR1MA, MyHome 1, MyHome 2, PPA1M and Housing Loan Scheme for the low earners (SPPUGR),” said Hajiji when winding up the debate for his ministry.
Under the State Budget 2015, the Local Government and Housing Ministry has been allocated RM117.26 million.
Hajiji said next year, his ministry was expected to implement the standardization of the approval for development plan, building plan and issuance of occupancy certificate (OC) after getting the comments on the matter from the various stakeholders.
“My ministry always activates the Onestop Centre for processing and consideration of the development applications from developers before their submission to the Central Board for approval.
“We hope that this Standard Operation Procedure will expedite and shorten the processing and approval for development plan, building plan and issuance of OC in all the local authorities.”
He also told the House that the standardization of the accounting code in all the local authorities was expected to be implemented in 2015.
He said his ministry had already standardized several By-Laws to assist local authorities to implement their enforcement duties and this initiative will continue next year.
According to Hajiji, the landfill at Bukit Gemok in Tawau will be upgraded to Level 4, which means environmentally-friendly sanitary system.
“The Bukit Gemok Landfill will have a lifespan of another 10 years after the site is upgraded before it is relocated to a new site in Balung area, under an integrated concept,” he added.