KUCHING: Sarawak has introduced a new housing policy to address the prevailing issue of housing affordability and exert some control over house prices.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg (pic) said housing affordability was “quite acute” in major urban centres such as Kuching and Bintulu, where the maximum price of a double-storey terrace house was RM550,000 and RM655,000, respectively.
He said 64% of the state’s population could only afford to purchase houses priced below RM340,000.
“What this means is that we need to address the affordability issue for both the low- and middle-income groups,” he said in his winding-up speech.
As such, Abang Johari said the new policy aimed to increase the supply of affordable housing through mandatory private sector participation, cater for the housing needs of the lower- and middle-income groups and improve the minimum specifications of affordable houses towards meeting higher expectations and requirements of house buyers.
Under the policy, private housing developers are required to build affordable houses comprising up to 30% of their total development, preferably terraced houses if the land being developed is 4ha and above.
Affordable houses are divided into Spektra (Skim Perumahan Khas Rakyat) Lite and Spektra Medium categories, priced from RM100,000 to RM168,000 for terrace houses and RM120,000 for flats.
Abang Johari said Spektra Lite houses were for those with a monthly household income of RM4,000 and below, whereas for Spektra Medium it was RM5,000 and below.
“Existing low-cost house owners are also allowed to purchase Spektra Medium if they intend to own a better and larger unit, provided they meet the Spektra eligibility criteria,” he said.
He also said the state government had revised the density for residential development in Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu from eight to 10 units per 0.4ha for normal housing and from 24 to 30 units per 0.4ha for high-rise flats, apartments and townhouses.
“This is to ensure more optimum usage of land and mitigate its scarcity in urban centres, which has led to escalation of land prices.
“The increase in density will allow more affordable housing units to be built while helping to partially mitigate an unwarranted hike in house prices,” he said.
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