SPNB champions affordable housing market
NST 1/4/2006

Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB), a development unit of the Minister of Finance Inc, recently launched its latest single-storey terrace housing project in Pahang.

Called Taman Pulai Idaman, the 16.4-acre scheme near Temerloh will offer a range of affordable houses targeted at Bumiputera buyers in the low- and medium-income brackets.

According to SPNB, buyers only need to pay a downpayment of RM150, while those qualified can even opt for a special financing package providing loans of up to 135 per cent.

The houses, comprising three main types, range from RM35,000 to RM143,896. There will be 42 low-cost single-storey terraces with 700sq ft of space; 58 low-medium cost single-storey terraces with 750sq ft; and 77 medium-cost single-storey terraces of 850sq ft.

Buyers of the low-cost units, SPNB said, can expect to pay not more than RM300 a month for a 100 per cent loan spread over 30 years.

Also available in the project are three units of single-storey shoplots priced from RM90,000.

According to SPNB senior general manager Datuk Khairudin Samad, the project is a reflection of the Government’s desire to provide affordable housing for the low-income group.

“By focusing on affordable houses, we are filling the vacuum caused by a lack of supply in this range,” he said.

Taman Pulai Idaman is due for completion by July next year. The project is located near the Termeloh town centre and is accessible via the East Coast Expressway, which will allow future residents to reach Kuantan in less than than 45 minutes.

SPNB’s other ongoing affordable housing developments in Pahang include projects in Cherating and in Sungei Puteri in Rompin.

In another recent development, SPNB signed an agreement with the Sarawak State Government’s Housing Development Commission (HDC) to develop a project in the State.

Under the deal, SPNB will build houses for low-income families on State land or on individual land owned by Sarawakians aged below 66 years and earning less than RM1,000 a month via its “Skim Rumah Mesra Rakyat Kampung Extension” programme.

The HDC’s duties under the deal will be to manage the developments, especially in matters pertaining to ownership and repayments by individual owners.