KOTA KINABALU: There are 175 low-cost houses under construction now in the interiors of Kemabong, Sukau, Melalap and Beluran under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the projects carried out by the state Housing and Town Development Board (LPPB) are affordable homes under the People's Housing Project (PPR) in line with the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya 1.0 development plan.
"It is hoped that efforts by the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government will be able to provide opportunities for more people to own a house. The GRS government will ensure more affordable houses are built in the state," he said.
At the same time, 32 PPR projects have been built in Sabah consisting 21,800 units of houses.
Four PPR projects are currently under construction in Pitas, Tagasan (Semporna), Kionsom (Inanam) and Lahad Datu.
Speaking at a ground-breaking ceremony for the proposed development to build 441 condominium units at Signal Hill here today, Hajiji said the LPPB has completed 29,218 low-cost houses throughout the state since the first Malaysia Plan until the 11MP.
The condominium project is being undertaken by the Rural Development Ministry through Mara and the Sabah government. Its Minister, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid was present during the launch.
Hajiji said it was a good project since it could attract interests of foreign investors to Sabah, through the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme.
The project also offers potential job opportunities to 1,000 locals apart from creating an economic spin-off in the surrounding areas, he said.
"I believe the timing of the project is right because the state government has succeeded in attracting several new investments in the manufacturing and tourism sectors," he said.
He added that these investors would definitely be needing basic amenities including housing.