Zambry (in blue) talking with a family who received the keys to their Prima home at the PR1MA housing expo held at the Ipoh Convention Centre. — SAIFUL BAHRI/ The Star
DEVELOPERS of affordable homes are urged to prioritise offering units to the disabled, single mothers, and youths, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said.
Zambry said at least 5% of the units should first be offered to these categories, adding that while it is not an official policy, developers should be open to the idea on humanitarian grounds.
“There is no hard and fast rule on the issue but if there are no takers for the units from the categories mentioned, then those units can be opened to others.
“This is to give disadvantaged groups a chance to own a house, especially in areas where the demand is high.
“Sometimes units in certain areas are sold out even before the groups mentioned can approach the developer,” he told reporters after opening the PR1MA housing expo held at the Ipoh Convention Centre last Thursday.
“Developers should take this as part of their corporate social responsibility,” he added.
Visitors checking with details on PR1MA projects at the expo.
The five-day expo which ends today saw almost 40,000 homes on offer.
Also present at the event was Perbadanan PR1MA Malaysia CEO Datuk Abdul Mutalib Alias.
The expo was jointly organised by PR1MA, the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry, National Housing Department, 1Malaysia Public Housing Project (PPA1M) and the state government.
Abdul Mutalib said a wide selection of homes especially for the lower- and middle-income groups were on exhibit with more than 70% of the homes priced below RM250,000.
He said the homes in Perak are strategically located in areas such as in Bandar Meru Raya, Teluk Intan, Kamunting, Lumut and Sitiawan.
“We are excited to kick-off the expo series in Perak. This is the largest-ever nationwide home expo and is also a joint effort between the federal and state housing agencies to help the rakyat own their first home.
A family being briefed by a PR1MA representative (right) on the homes that are available under the scheme.
“This is also in line with the state government’s motto “None left behind, none left out,” he added.
To date, PR1MA has approved the development of 268,537 units of affordable homes nationwide, of which 139,225 or 134 projects are under various stages of construction.
A total of 1.5 million applicants are registered under PR1MA’s National Registration System, of which 5% or 81,538 are from Perak.
The expo would be making its rounds nationwide until April, with the next stop being at the Sabah Trade Centre (March 15-19), followed by Putra World Trade Centre (March 24-April 1).
