KUCHING, NOV 11: The Ministry of Local Government and Housing is developing an online application system called Home2Grab to serve as a one stop centre for housing development projects in Sarawak.
In revealing this, its minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said the system is expected to roll out in 2020.
“This system will enable the public to search for and obtain information on any ongoing public and private housing project. Sarawakians can also apply for public housing offered by Housing Development Corporation (HDC) through this system,” Dr Sim said in his winding up speech at the State Legislative Assembly today.
On Sarawak government funded projects, Dr Sim said HDC has been tasked to provide 2,500 units of affordable housing within the next two years.
This includes 928 units in Kuching, Lundu, Sematan, Sibu, Mukah and Limbang and seven new projects in Kuching, Betong, Sibu and Miri consisting of about 1,406 units with an estimated ceiling of RM354 million.
He added that the remaining 166 units in Kuching and Kapit will be implemented after the completion of infrastructure works.
As housing is in the concurrent list of the Federal Constitution, Dr Sim gave assurance that his ministry will continue to pursue more funding from the federal government to build more affordable housing for the B40 group in Sarawak.
“My ministry has submitted 11 sites to the federal government in July this year for the development of 2,607 units of Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR), which is still pending approval. This comprises 498 units of walk-up flats in Bintulu and 1,845 landed single-storey terrace units in Limbang, Miri, Bintulu, Mukah, Kanowit, Kapit, Sri Aman, Serian and Kuching. Also in the plans are 264 units of detached houses in Kuching,” he said.
Meanwhile, two federally funded housing projects which are currently in progress are PPR Landeh in Padawan which consists of 443 units of apartments and PPR Petra Jaya in Kuching with 208 units of single storey terrace houses.
“PPR Petra Jaya is scheduled for completion by February 2020 whereas PPR Landeh is expected to be completed in November 2020,” Dr Sim said, adding that they have received 5,949 applicants for PPR Petra Jaya while application for PPR Landeh is still open.
Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) also has plans to develop mixed housing schemes at Samalaju Industrial Estate and Kidurong Industrial Zone to cater for housing needs in the said areas.
Dr Sim revealed that 1,742 residential units have been approved by the State Planning Authority for Samalaju Industrial Estate while 686 units for Kidurong are still pending approval. — DayakDaily
