PUTRAJAYA: The government agreed to rebrand the People's Housing Projects (PPR) initiative to the People's Residential Programme (PRR) to remove the negative stigma attached to the former.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the rebranding comes nearly 30 years after the PPR initiative was inspired by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during his first stint as finance minister in 1995,
He said the rebranding was also to improve his ministry's housing programme image as the government was committed to providing residents with integrated, conducive, livable residences complete with commercial quality and community activity centres.
"The construction locations for PRR will be identified in urban and suburban/rural areas with an emphasis on aspects of connectivity, accessibility, sustainability, livability, and mobility with public facilities.
"PRR in urban areas will be retained as government assets for rental due to limited location availability, high land value, and to facilitate redevelopment.
"Additionally, social housing in urban areas will serve as temporary transit, without participants remaining there permanently, while PRR developments in suburban and rural areas can be considered for ownership purposes," he added.
Nga said this during a ceremony for the handover of the planning permission approval for the Project Harmoni Madani Bestari Jaya PRR in Tanjung Karang, Selangor.
He said the minimum gross floor area for PRR was set at 750 sq ft, with a sale price of RM60,000 applicable for middle lot units.
Additional costs, he added, would be imposed on corner lot units based on the current land value according to the lot's square footage.
The prices, however, would be set at a reasonable price based on the B40 group's affordability.
Nga said the PRR projects would also include several amendments to the Sale and Purchase Agreements (SPA) such as a 10-year moratorium on restrictions on individual ownership rights.
He said any sale of PRR units before or after the moratorium period must be referred to the government.
"Meanwhile, for rented PRR units, the monthly rental rate is set at RM250, with maintenance costs charged separately," he said.
The features of the projects would involve general improvements with the installation of a solar panel system, while improvements to PRR areas and blocks would include more user-friendly outdoor recreational spaces and the addition of elevator and lobby areas equipped with LED lighting and landscape decorations.
Nga also announced that the Project Harmoni Madani Bestari Jaya PRR would start construction in January next year, with a RM75 million allocation from the federal and Selangor governments.
He added that the project is set to be completed at the end of 2026.
"The (planning permission from Kuala Selangor Municipal Council) approval in Bestari Jaya demonstrates that the Madani government is always fair and adheres to its promises.
"Now, the Kuala Kubu Baru by-election manifesto is moving towards making dreams a reality, especially for the families of affected estate workers," he said.