KOTA KINABALU – State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun has warned the state assembly that the lack of housing situation in Sabah is very serious, especially for the young due to its unaffordability.
The Karanaan assemblyman gave a dire prediction that there will come a day when Sabahans are left homeless.
“These days the selling price by a private developer for a two-room apartment has reached RM300,000.
“Who can afford this when I myself would not be able to afford it? But there’s no point dwelling on the problem, best for us now to find a solution,” said Masidi in his ministerial winding-up speech during the sitting today.
He said the best way to solve the problem is to provide rent-to-own schemes and that this could perhaps be carried out via joint-ventures with private developers.
Masidi suggested buyers can rent out for the first 10 years to pay the deposit and later be given the option to buy the unit or otherwise.
He noted the state’s effort in establishing housing aid for the locals who are also faced with land scarcity problems.
“At this point, we are searching for available land near Papar. This is in hope that when the Pan Borneo highway project is complete, the travel time would be greatly reduced for those working in the city,” he said.
Masidi said his ministry also found that some tenants in government housing schemes were already financially capable to buy a home, but they decided to stay on in the units, or sub-let the units.
“Some of those renting in these units are driving Ninja Kings (Toyota Landcruisers). But when they move out, instead of giving to others who are in need of housing facilities, they instead rent their rented units to others.
“It is also hard for us to evict them,” said Masidi, adding that he would get brickbats from the tenants just for raising this matter.
Eviction of Tg Aru Flat tenants
On the eviction of tenants in the Sabah Housing and Town Development Board (LPPB) Tg Aru Flats, Masidi said a private consultant has been engaged to determine whether the apartment blocks are safe for dwelling.
He said the report will be completed at the end of the month.
The minister added that there is no need for him to have a dialogue and the eviction issue should not be politicised.
“We will decide once we have crossed the bridge (after receiving the report). First of all, the land where the apartments are located is owned by LPPB.
“LPPB is not getting any money from the government. They need to generate their own revenue.
“I’m not being arrogant. If I go there and have a dialogue with them, I don’t think this is a good management style.
“LPPB has the right to make a decision, of course, taking into consideration the social implication on the matter,” he said in response to Datuk Junz Wong (Tg Aru-Warisan).
Towards this end, Masidi assured that the state will not simply evict the tenants until they have found a new place to go.
The Karanaan assemblyman also said LPPB welcomed the suggestion from Petagas assemblyman to allow any vacant land to be used to resettle the folk from the Tg Aru Flats.
Subsidiary title issue
Masidi also took note that subsidiary title issues are now a very serious headache to the ministry, whereby developers refuse to settle the premium and run away.
“I want to tell everyone; this is one of the serious problems in Kota Kinabalu.
“So, if anyone here knows anyone (living in apartment units), I think we need to compile a list of all developers and check whether they have paid the premium or not.
“Some of the developers are angry. Okay, we will give them a timeline to settle the premium. We want to protect the welfare of the apartment owners,” he said.
Masidi said this in response to the non-issuance of subsidiary title for 17 developments in Elopura, Sandakan raised by Calvin Chong (Elopura-independent).
Selling price of government affordable homes fixed at RM47,000
In response to the RM47,000 selling price of affordable homes for the low-income group, B40 and squatters posed by Datuk Jaujan Sambokong (Sulabayan-Warisan), Masidi said the price will not be raised even with the rise in construction material prices over the past three years.
“If there are any increases in the future, the state will still ensure the prices will not burden the target group,” said Masidi, adding that the current selling price had been fixed since the year 2000. – The Vibes, March 23, 2022
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