Johor Requests More Funds For Public Housing Repair, A Call To Provide Special Stimulus Package For Small Contractors, And More
30th August – 5th September
Johor State Housing Development Corporation has sought for more funds from the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) to repair 20 of the state’s people’s housing projects (PPRs) as well as rumah sewa kerajaan (RSKs).
Meanwhile, Malaysian Bumiputera Contractors Association (PKBM) has urged the government to provide a special stimulus packages to over 90,000 small contractors still struggling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the upcoming Budget 2013.
1) Johor requests more funds for public housing repair
Johor State Housing Development Corporation has sought for more funds from the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) to repair 20 of the state’s people’s housing projects (PPRs) as well as rumah sewa kerajaan (RSKs).
Repair works at the PPRs would involve replacing broken pipes and streetlights, repairing roofs, upgrading playgrounds and repainting buildings.
“We will also repair manholes and sewage treatment plants,” said Johor Housing and Local Government Committee Chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.
He revealed that the request was “made during a special meeting with Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican at his office in Putrajaya”, reported The Star.
Mohd Jafni shared that the ministry had allocated RM13 million to the state for the repair of amenities at PPR Kempas Permai. Of this amount, RM10.3 million had been spent on acquiring 21 new lifts at all seven residential blocks.
“The remaining RM2.4 million will be used to repaint the PPR blocks,” he added, noting that eight of the new lifts have been installed over the last two weeks, and the rest will be installed later.
2) A call to provide special stimulus package for small contractors
Malaysian Bumiputera Contractors Association (PKBM) has called the government to provide a special stimulus packages to over 90,000 small contractors still struggling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the upcoming Budget 2013.
PKBM President Azman Yusoff noted that the problems facing G1 and G2 contractors include labour shortage, rising building material prices, sudden hike in logistics costs as well as delay in the supply of construction materials from abroad, reported Free Malaysia Today.
“We want the government to seriously consider targeted assistance to G1 and G2 small contractors in Budget 2023,” he said as quoted by Berita Harian. “The contribution of these thousands of contractors to the national economy and the people’s well-being is enormous.”
The budget is set to be presented in the Dewan Rakyat on 7 October.
3) Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway Phase One now 86% complete
Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the first phase of the Pan Borneo Highway project within Sarawak is now 86% complete, with several sections of the highway expected to be opened this year.
He revealed that three other sections of the highway in Bukit Begunan, Lambir and Sarikei are slated to be completed in 2023, reported Bernama.
“The three sections are facing various challenges including site that needs to be re-examined,” he said.
“There are even some that require re-processing of the design due to the unsuitable terrain conditions.”
The RM16 billion Pan Borneo Highway phase one involves the development of a 786km road that runs from Telok Melano to Miri.
Fadillah also shared that the Ministry of Finance is currently finalising the procurement aspect for the second phase of the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) project as well as the Trans Borneo Highway (LTB) project, with a ceiling allocation of RM12 billion set for both projects.
“We also hope to be able to finalise the awarding of contracts to contractors this year and by early next year this project will be able to start,” added the minister.
4) Sarawak moves to gazette old heritage buildings
The Sarawak government has gazetted old buildings across the state as heritage buildings in a bid to preserve them.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah shared that “quite a number” of old buildings not only in Kuching, but all over Sarawak had been gazetted over the past two or three years, reported Borneo Post.
“Most of them are forts in Kapit and Kanowit,” he said.
“There are also old buildings – in Kuching we have the post office and old courthouse gazetted as heritage buildings while in Sibu, Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum and Al-Qadim Mosque have been gazetted. I am not sure about others.”
He noted that even old buildings that are occupied can be gazetted.
Once gazetted, renovation and even repainting of such buildings would need some clearance coming from the museum department based on the Sarawak Heritage Ordinance, he explained.
5) Repairs at JB apartment blocks to be completed next year, to cost RM25mil
Johor exco member Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor expects the repair works at the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) apartment blocks within Johor Baru to be completed in 2023.
Notably, the works will cost about RM25 million. He revealed that the state had allocated RM18 million for this year and an additional RM7 million for next year, reported The Star.
“The repair work will be done in stages because it involves multiple agencies,” said the Johor Housing and Local Government Committee Chairman, noting that the first physical work is expected to start by end-September, with full completion slated in 2023.
He pointed that checks showed that the residents have not yet set up their joint management body (JMB), which would be responsible for collecting maintenance fees from strata property owners.
The apartment blocks are divided into four areas – namely, Pangsapuri Desa Dato Hajah Hasnah with 1,120 units, Pangsapuri Desa Belantik with 640 units, Pangsapuri Desa Melayu also 640 units and Pangsapuri Desa Jaya with 320 units.
6) Ready-built warehouse at Bukit Raja to be completed in 2023
Construction works for the multi-tenanted ready-built warehouse at Bandar Bukit Raja Industrial Gateway in Klang has commenced in July and is expected to be completed in 2H 2023.
Developed by Sime Darby Property Bhd in collaboration with Mitsui & Co Ltd and Mitsubishi Estate Co Ltd, the two-storey facility has a gross floor area of 45,243.78 sq m, reported Bernama.
It will feature “flexible spatial design as well as a suite of other modern amenities to meet the needs of tenants and support the expansion plans in the future”, said Datuk Azmir Merican, Group Managing Director of Sime Darby Property.
“This project will contribute towards the state’s vision of becoming a potential hub for domestic and international investors and at the same time, create sustainable value for the ‘rakyat’ and future generations,” said Selangor Executive Councillor for Investment, Industry, Commerce and Medium Enterprises Datuk Teng Chang Kim.
Notably, the ready-built warehouse project has obtained pre-committed tenancy from CEVA Logistics and SL Ng.
