BY YEE XIANG YUN KATHLEEN ANN KIL
NUSAJAYA: The state government has allocated RM150mil to develop an additional 14,000 home units under the Johor Affordable Homes (RMMJ) programme, increasing its target to 60,000 units by 2019.
Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that the funds would include Bumiputera land acquisitions to encourage more Malays to stay in urban areas.
He said that some of the additional housing units would be developed through government-linked companies like Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ) where 1,083 units would be built in Kampung Melayu Pandan, Desa Larkin in Johor Baru, Kulai and Kota Tinggi.
YPJ Holdings would construct 1,179 units in Pengerang while JCorp will be responsible for 1,056 units in Bandar Dato Onn, Bandar Baru Majidee, and Kampung Londang Batu in Mersing.
Another 1,034 units in Larkin, Stulang Baru, Jalan Datin Halimah, Jalan Muafakat Uda, Teluk Jawa and Bukit Mambai Labis will be built by PIJ Holdings.
Kejora would build 691units in Kampung Paya Layang-layang, Kampung Tuan Seh and Taman Penawar Harmonu in Bandar Penawar.
Mohamed Khaled also said that a RM300mil RMMJ Financing Scheme in cooperation with AmBank Islamic Bhd would be introduced next year to ensure more people are able to afford their own homes.
Besides developing more affordable homes, Mohamed Khaled said that another initiative to channel RM20mil in subsidies through three schemes under the Rumah Mesra Rakyat Johor programme will be carried out.
"The programme will offer financial aid to homeowners who wish to construct and upgrade houses on their own lands," he said when presenting the Johor Budget on Thursday.
He added that KPRJ was appointed as the contractor responsible for the initiative.
He added another 1,194 home units would be developed by YPJ under the Perumahan Penjawat Awam 1 Malaysia (PPA1M) for civil servants especially the lower- and middle-income earners.
Mohamed Khaled also announced a new People's Housing Project in Bandar Tenggara involving some RM65mil for 500 units.
