Johor still short of housing target

The Star 16/9/2004

JOHOR BARU: The target to build 260,000 units of medium-low and low-cost houses is far from being achieved although the deadline is just three months away, the Johor State Assembly was told yesterday.

Housing and Public Utilities Committee chairman Datuk Baderi Dasuki said only 60,464 houses had been built since the programme was launched in 1995.

Most of the houses were in Johor Baru (39,630), Batu Pahat (12,274) and Kluang (2,178).

“It started well but the unexpected financial crisis in 1997 had a huge impact on the plan.

“A lot of projects had to be put on hold as the developers were either facing financial problems or were not prepared to take the risk of having unsold units,” he told Dr Lee Hong Tee (BN – Jementah).

Under the programme, 120,000 units were to be built in Johor Baru and the rest in seven other districts.

Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said Singapore remained as the biggest foreign investor in the state with investments of RM390.3mil in the first six months of the year.

The House later adjourned sine die.