KUALA LUMPUR – There will be no new affordable housing projects until the government settles debts incurred by PR1MA Corporation Malaysia, which is expected to be done by 2023, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin did not disclose the total still owed, but said Putrajaya has paid RM172 million in compensation to 17 of 31 developers so far.
The remaining debt is still under negotiation, she said.
“We have managed to reduce about 30% of the claimed amount. We will no longer request any funding from the federal government.
“By 2023, we will ensure that all PR1MA (1Malaysia Housing Programme) debts are paid, and we will use productive land to build new affordable housing with the relevant authorities.”
She was replying to Chow Kon Yeow (PH-Tanjong), who asked for an update on PR1MA.
Zuraida said about 55,000 of the 200,000 affordable units under the scheme have been built since 2018, with the rest to be completed in stages by next year.
“Since the 2016 rationalisation, no more funding has been given to PR1MA. In 2018, 15% of the projects were stopped. We have discontinued 32 of 92 projects.”
In September, Zuraida revealed that the government will need to fork out RM42 million to contractors who carried out preliminary works for 24 PR1MA projects.
PR1MA is an affordable urban housing programme launched on July 4, 2011 by then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Houses under the scheme are generally priced between RM100,000 and RM400,000. – The Vibes, December 7, 2020
