By Khairie Hisyam
PR1MA Corporation has approved a total of 20,519 affordable houses from 15 projects located in Greater Klang Valley, Johor, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak, which make up the first of four phases of its targeted roll-out of 80,000 homes this year.
The projects are in various phases of development, with some still in planning stage while others have received necessary approvals from local councils and authorities, says PR1MA chief executive officer Abdul Mutalib Alias.
Of the 15 projects, two projects each located in Alam Damai, Kuala Lumpur and Pasir Gudang, Johor respectively have started construction, while work has started on the access road for one project in Seremban Utara.
Three projects located in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Jalil, Selangor and Gelugor, Penang are wholly undertaken by PR1MA while the remaining 12 projects are undertaken in joint ventures with private developers.
Notably, the Seremban Sentral project is the biggest in this first phase, with a proposed 4,420 homes.
Hasleen Isnin, PR1MA chief financial officer, estimates the total gross development value (GDV) of this first phase to be RM5 billion while the GDV for the total 80,000 affordable homes slated for launch this year is roughly estimated to be around RM17.6 billion.
’80,000 homes by year-end’
Abdul Mutalib Alias
Abdul Mutalib expressed his confidence of PR1MA meeting its targeted 80,000 homes roll-out by the end of the year, as announced in the 2013 budget.
“These units are part of the 500,000 units of affordable homes to be rolled out by PR1MA by 2018,” said Abdul Mutalib.
As for the remaining three roll-out phases this year, Abdul Mutalib gave assurance that there will be projects in other states as well. , and added that there have been numerous companies engaging PR1MA with their proposed projects.
“The inventory list that we are looking at is more than 220,000 among private developers,” said Abdul Mutalib. “We have to prioritise and decide which is suitable and which will go first as far as our internal approval is concerned.“
Abdul Mutalib explained that the most important criterion set by PR1MA is that the location must fit PR1MA’s requirements.
The PR1MA CEO also stressed that regardless of whether a project is wholly undertaken by PR1MA or in joint venture with private developers, the PR1MA Act 2012 would apply to all PR1MA projects.
He added the priority is given to those already securing development order or in process of securing the development order from the relevant local council. “Those still at the drawing board stage will not be prioritised.”
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