By Karen Bong
KUCHING, April 6: The Sarawak government will develop 162 units out of 813 affordable Speckta houses in Kemuyang, Sibu.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg explained that the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) would be building 86 houses of both landed and on stilts, while the Land Custody Development Authority (LCDA) would be building 76 units of stilt houses.
“This is a new approach by the state government to develop affordable housing, known as (Rumah) Specktra, which are meant for those earning a monthly household income of RM3,000 and below,” he said after a Walkabout to Kemuyang Sibu Housing Project in Sibu today.
The Rumah Spektra is priced between RM90,000 and RM120,000 per unit with a built-up area of 850 sq ft and will have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, one dining area and one living area.
“With an ideal land size of 10 to 12 points per lot, it will provide comfortable living space for the family, especially the second generations of Kampung Datu and allow for further expansion of the house in the future according to means of the family,” he added.
The Sarawak government, he pointed out, would bear the infrastructure development cost, including road, drainage, retaining wall and electricity supply for the new housing area in Kemuyang.
“This means the housing area will have all the essential and latest infrastructures, but the cost will be absorbed by the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) state government instead of being passed down to the house buyers,” he said.
“If the costs are to be included in the affordable housing development, the price of the house will be about RM230,000,” he added.
Construction of the houses, he informed, would start between May and June and expected to be completed in June next year.
The plan, he pointed out, was to construct 2,500 affordable Spektra houses throughout the state, especially in the rural areas in the next two years.
On another question, Abang Johari revealed that Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health cum Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee had a long-term plan for Kampung Datu, where the village would be developed similar to that of Darul Hana in Kuching.
“The villagers will remain in Kampung Datu but with modern facilities. There will also be an esplanade along the riverbank with facilities for commercial and recreational purposes, such as in Darul Hana,” he added.
Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian was also present. — DayakDaily
