PUTATAN: The Housing and Local Government Ministry is prioritising the implementation of the People's Residences Programme (PRR) in states that have provided land to the ministry.
Its minister, Nga Kor Ming, said the PRR, which will replace the People's Housing Programme (PPR) starting next year, required cooperation from state governments in providing suitable land.
He added that the project was difficult to implement without land provided by state governments, as the ministry would need to purchase land, leading to higher construction costs as a result of land prices.
"The ministry's policy is very clear — whoever is willing to donate land to the ministry, we will build PPR on it. Next year, it will be rebranded as PRR, aimed at providing higher quality housing for the people.
"Thus, cooperation between the federal and state governments is crucial to the success of this housing project," he said at a press conference after handing over a market site here as part of the ministry's Sentuhan Kasih programme in Sabah.
The two-day programme ends tomorrow.
Present were Sabah Deputy Chief Minister II and Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam and Sabah Deputy Chief Minister II and Putatan member of parliament Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
Nga said 32 land sites had been handed over to the ministry in several states, and that evaluations were being made to determine their suitability for development as PRR sites.
For Sabah, he said, he would meet with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor tomorrow to discuss land for the implementation of PRR in the state.
He added that 38 PPR had been completed in Sabah, making it one of the states with the most low-income housing facilities to date.
"We are also finalising plans with the state government regarding the construction of PRR starting next year to provide higher quality housing.
"The PRR concept not only involves building residential buildings but also providing other facilities," he said.
Earlier, he officiated at the handover of the new Putatan market site building to the Putatan District Council. The project will be completed in three years at a cost of RM10 million.
The facility includes 239 stall lots that are comfortable and user-friendly for vendors and customers, enhancing business activities and improving the local economy.