118 abandoned housing projects get new breath of life

KUALA LUMPUR: At least 118 abandoned housing projects have been revived and completed, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung said.

“We have so far completed 118 and handed them over to buyers without them having to come up with more money,” he said.

He said another 53 were currently being revived.

He said the ministry was now targeting over 100 sick development schemes housing projects that had long exceeded their delivery time.

He said this after launching the Silverlakes Property Gallery yesterday.

Chor said the Government did not spend money in reviving most of the abandoned projects.

Instead, he said that contractors willing to take up the task of finishing them were enticed with rewards.

“It is called social engineering. There may be a bit of available land which we will offer to a contractor.

“We tell them to finish this project and we will give it to them,” he said.

As an example, Chor said that contractors who finished incomplete houses in partially-finished schemes could also keep them.

“Through this method, the Government doesn't need to spend,” he said.

Repeating a Budget 2013 announcement, Chor said the Government was well on its way to build 45 people's housing programme schemes across the country.

Chor said that a high-rise PPR scheme had been outlined in Alor Setar, while areas such as Mukim Naga (Kubang Pasu) and Jerlun would receive landed properties.

Meanwhile, Chor said that it was difficult for Malaysia to have a Housing Development Board scheme like Singapore.

He said this was because Malaysia had to deal with both a state and federal government, unlike its southern neighbour. - The Star