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SYARIKAT Perumahan Negara Bhd is unperturbed by the unfavourable economic climate in its quest to provide both affordable and comfortable homes for everyone.
FEW housing developers would envy the role played by the Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB), but its existence is crucial in addressing a basic need of mankind - a shelter for every family.
Few developing countries have schemes such as those pioneered by SPNB, and even if they undertook a similar effort to provide housing for the poor, few could match the quality of homes provided by the wholly owned subsidiary of the Minister Of Finance Incorporated (MoF Inc).
As a comparison, low-cost houses in South Africa - where a majority of the blacks still live in slums - are relatively lower in quality compared to those built by SPNB where minimum adhered standards include floor space not less than 700 sq ft, three bedrooms and two toilets.
A member of REHDA, SPNB has spearheaded five programmes, namely Rumah Mampu Milik (RMM) Programme, Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) Programme, Rehabilitation of Abandoned Housing Programme, Government Quarters Programme and Special Housing Projects.
The quota for low-cost houses is imposed by state authorities. In Malacca, for example, the composition of the low-cost development is 30% of the total development units. In Johor and Pahang, the quota is 20% for low- cost houses and another 20% for low medium-cost houses, while the balance is medium cost units.
According to its Managing Director, Datuk Mohd Amin Mohd Salleh, amid the economic...