Get developers to build homes where they’re wanted

The Star 15/09/2003 
 

YOUR front-page report, “Managing success”, (The Star, Sept 12), quoted president of the Real Estate Housing Developers Association (Rehda) Datuk Jeffrey Ng as saying the abolition of the 30% quota for low-cost housing on every project approved would help ease the supply of low-cost houses nationwide. 

While the developers certainly look forward to being freed from the small or not profitable business of building low-cost houses I am not sure the lower-income masses will receive this too kindly. 

Ng was also quoted as saying: “That means in future, there will be no necessity to build low-cost houses where there is no demand.” 

Perhaps, the local housing boards can come up with figures of areas where no one wants a low-cost house? Have we become so affluent?  

I do not support the abolition the 30% quota for low-cost houses required of all developers in any housing project they embark on. 

In Batu Pahat where I live, I have seen developers building the required low-cost houses far away from the original development area or housing estates because of the cheaper land far away from the main roads. 

If really in a certain town no one wants low-cost housing then the housing boards of all states should get together and get that required 30% low-cost houses of any developer built in the areas where people need such affordable houses.  

Is that not a win-win situation?  

Because of the economy, certain towns may not have enough development projects going on and thus the number of low-cost houses may not be adequate to meet that town’s needs. 

If there are many development projects in rich townships then the 30% low-cost quota can be distributed to needy areas. Get that concerned developers to build their quota in these towns!  

A house for every citizen or family should be the target.  

D. CHIA,  

Batu Pahat. 

(via e-mail)