housing quallity

INTRODUCTION


ACCESS to adequate, affordable and quality housing is an important social goal of national development. Housing fulfils a fundamental aspect of man’s basic needs, given that access to safe and adequate shelter and basic services is essential to a person’s physical, psychological, social, and economic well-being. Recognizing this, the Government has actively promoted access to comfortable living quarters as well as affordable housing, especially for the lower income groups. In this regard, the provision of social services and amenities and the need to forge unity between the ethnic groups in the country are also given emphasis. Changes in the design of houses and the availability of modern amenities are reflective of the increasing affluence of the population, changing tastes, greater demand for comfort and style, and a better quality of life. This section traces the housing scenario in the country for the period 1990-2002. It describes the strategies and programmes undertaken by both the public and the private sectors to provide quality housing for all.





1. Public Sector Housing Programmes


THE Public Low-cost Housing Programme (PLCHP) aims to provide shelter for the low-income groups through several schemes. This programme is targeted for buyers with monthly household income of RM1,500 and below while the selling price of housing units does not exceed RM35,000 per unit. House types are 5 storey flats or terrace house according to location and terrain. The minimum design for low-cost houses is that they should have a standard built-up area of at least 60 square meters (900 square feet), three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom and a toilet.

Sites and Services Scheme

The Sites and Services scheme is also designed for the lower income groups who are not eligible for the PLCHP. The eligible buyers are those with monthly household incomes of RM300-500 in Peninsular Malaysia and RM400-650 in Sabah and Sarawak and with no land or house of their own. Eligible buyers can either buy a plot of 2,600 square feet (241.7 square meter) with a house, costing RM10,000 in Peninsular Malaysia, RM13,000 in Sabah and Sarawak or just the land alone with basic amenities (dirt road and drain) for RM5,000 in Peninsular Malaysia, RM7,500 in Sabah and Sarawak

Housing Programme by Regional Development and Land Schemes

Regional and Land Development Authorities such as the Development Authority of Pahang Tenggara, Federal Land Development Authority, the Kedah Development Authority, the Johore Tenggara Regional Development Authority, and the Terengganu Tengah Regional Development Authority also undertook the development of houses for settlers. Housing in land development schemes was an integratedapproach to combine the management of large-scale land development and at the same time provide settlers with the opportunity to improve their livelihood with better housing conditions.

Institutional Quarters and Staff Accommodation

Housing is also provided for some categories of government employees posted to remote areas or whose duties require them to be close to their place of work. These are especially meant for teachers and uniformed staff such as the police, fireman, military, customs, and immigration.

Integrated People’s Housing Programme

This program was launched by the Government in December 1998, with the objective of resettling squatters in urban areas, particularly in Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur and other major towns. These three-bedroom housing units with built-up area of 60 square metres (900 square feet) are to be rented out at low monthly rates.

Housing Development by State Economic Development Agencies and the Urban Development Authority

The State Economic Development Agencies (SEDC) and Urban Development Authority (UDA) are also involved in housing activities besides carrying out commercial, industrial, building and infrastructure development projects. The houses delivered are targeted to meet the housing needs of all sectors of the population.

Housing Development in Rural Areas

Housing programmes for the rural areas include the Sites and Services Scheme, the Traditional Village Regrouping programme, the Rehabilitation of Dilapidated Houses and the Skim Pembangunan Kesejahteraan Rakyat especially for the hardcore poor.