Shareda Pledges To Build 10,000 Units Of Affordable Homes

SHAREDA president Francis Goh Fah Shun (second left) presents a momento, an antique gramaphone, to the Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin during the courtesy call this morning.

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (SHAREDA) has pledged to build 10,000 units of affordable homes in line with the government policy.

It’s president Francis Goh Fah Shun said the houses, which would be priced not more than RM 250,000, would be build in the next  five years.

He said these houses are confined to 28 housing projects in Kota Marudu, Ranau, Sipitang, Keningau and Beafort.

He appealed to the government to be a little lenient  about these projects and urged to set up a “one stop centre” to speed up the approval of building plans and developer’s licence involving these 28 housing projects.

“This is our pledge to the government and the people of Sabah,” he told reporters after paying a courtesy call on the Head of State, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin at the State Istana this morning.

He was accompanied by ten executive members of the Association.

Francis said SHAREDA had built not less than 100,000 affordable houses in the last ten years, and  had build and sold 15,000 units in the last three years.

“ So we are not  afraid to fulfill the pledge to build 10,000 such  houses in the next five years,” he added.

On why houses in Sabah had become second highest in Malaysia, he said several factors contributed to the high prices.

“Firstly, the land price in Sabah had increased within 8km radius. Previously it cost RM1 million to buy an acre within 8 km: now it costs RM3 million  along Jalan Bundusan for example.

“Secondly, the building materials costs 30% more than peninsular Malaysia due to cabotage policy implemented in Sabah. The cement price here costs Rm18.50 but in Peninsula it is RM15 only.

“Thirdly, the labour cost had increased, the workers now are demanding RM80 per day, compared to Rm30 earlier days,” he explained. 

Earlier, the head of Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia YADIM), Dr. Asyraf Wajdi Dato Hj Dusuki also paid a courtesy call on Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, following the former’s appointment as the head of the Yayasan by the Prime Minister effective June 3, this year.-/PENERANGAN