The placement of five housing entities under the Housing and Local Government Ministry to oversee and coordinate all affordable housing development in the country has been finalised.

Its minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the agencies were Perbadanan PR1MA Malaysia (PR1MA), 1Malaysia Civil Servants Housing Programme (PPA1M), UDA Holdings Bhd, Syarikat Perumahan Negara (SPNB) and the Hardcore Poor Housing Programme (PPRT).

"The plan to put the agencies under my ministry will be included in the National Housing Policy, which is expected to be rolled out in December.

"This will allow for a consolidated approach, as well as to avoid any overlapping of affordable housing projects. It will also ensure appropriate approach for private developers with correct guidelines and engagements on affordable housing," she told reporters here today.

Zuraida said this after participating in the Industry-Government Open Dialogue in Kuala Lumpur today.

The minister also noted that governments are required to submit their proposed land for low-cost housing projects by the end of the month.

"So by the end of this month state governments must have identified lands for us (ministry) to build low-cost houses. So far, only Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Perak have submitted their proposals," she said, adding that the proposed plots of must be between one to four hectares. 

- Bernama