PM announces new initiative for one million affordable homes to uplift the B40 group

In front of a capacity crowd of over 5000 at Padang Puchong Indah, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced the National Community Policy, or DKN, a initiative under the the National Housing Policy (2.0) to improve the lives of PPR (Program Perumahan Rakyat) residents, unveiling a plan to create one million affordable homes with the support of the private sector and the public.

Acknowledging the need to uplift the B40 segment in his speech, the PM said “It is pointless if the country is moving forward but our people live in a poor environment,” noting also that government intervention is necessary to ensure a more equitable society in which property prices do not continue to escalate with limit. Tun M, as is he as popularly referred to, noted that the government has already introduced affordable housing and low-cost housing schemes for different income levels to take care of the needs of the B40 group.

Several top developers have already signed up to work with the government under the DKN initiative, namely Gamuda Land, Mah Sing Group Bhd, MKH Bhd and OSK Property, to ensure that not just cost, but comfort are taken into account for the new homes being planned under the initiative.

Minister of Housing and Local Government YB Zuraida Kamaruddin was also on hand at the event, announcing that the establishment of the secretariat offices at all PPRs under the initiative have already begun, with the first such pilot office being established in Lembah Subang 2 PPR four months prior. The offices will house several CSR programs, including free tuition and healthy meals for children.

“Through this plan, 19 out of 133 PPRs across the country will have their own Sekretariat Muafakat Komuniti offices this year,” she said, adding that “I hope the agencies and companies that have contributed can become catalysts of the involvement of many other parties out there so that our desire to shape a sustainable generation and community can be realised.”