KOTA KINABALU: The processing time and issuance of occupancy certificates (OC) will be reduced with the standardisation of procedure for approval of development plans, building plans and occupation certificates.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman announced this during the Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (SHAREDA) Nite 2014 held at the Magellan Sutera Harbour near here yesterday.
Musa, who was represented by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Haji Noor also called on SHAREDA, together with professional bodies, to find a solution to address the unaffordable housing prices in Sabah.
The issue of high housing prices which had become unaffordable to the majority of the rakyat, particularly the middle income group was a great concern for the government, said Musa.
He proposed the possibility of engaging more mechanised building method or an industrialised building construction.
“Hopefully by such steps we can move together in the direction of reducing the construction
period and removing general unskilled labour, similar to your counterpart in Peninsular Malaysia.
“Therefore, I hope to see some positive steps, led by SHAREDA, to venture into this realm,” he said, and commended SHAREDA’s effort to build 10,000 units of affordable houses in Sabah.
“Seeing the urgent need for such properties, especially those by the middle income group, the state government hopes to see that these dreams are realised in two years time,” he said.
He also added that the setting up of the association’s special vehicle, SHAREDA Berhad, was a timely endeavor on the part of SHAREDA.
At the same time, Musa also expressed his pleasure that SHAREDA had come up with a thoroughly researched property report which was the first of its kind in Sabah.
“The expert view and comprehensive data analysis provide the materials for a deeper understanding of the all-important real estate and housing development industry. The supply chain of this industry is said to involve more than 160 types of businesses. I believe everyone in these sectors have gained from the generosity of your information sharing,” he said.
In his speech, Musa also shared the objective of Sabah Budget 2015 which was focused on sustainable development for the people’s well-being.
He said prudent financial management continued to be the guiding principles of the state government and that it anticipated an economic growth of 4.5 to five per cent next year.
“This growth trajectory is important if Sabah is to keep pace with the national target of sustaining an annual growth of about five per cent all the way to the year 2020.”
He added that the real estate and housing development sector would be playing a huge part in maintaining the vibrancy and confidence in the market with some RM15 billion worth
of development in the pipeline.
The property sector ranks only after oil palm and oil and gas in Sabah’s economic sectors.
It also contributes about RM115 million to the economy by way of income tax (about RM47 million), land premium (about RM38 million) and assessment (RM30 million).