Sime to build model townships

Sime Darby Bhd plans to develop model townships of affordable housing for low- and middle-income earners in several states.

In a statement yesterday, Sime said this would address the pent-up demand for affordable housing.

The company said under the Bandar Gemilang Sime Darby programme, it would turn slivers of its plantation land in several states into townships with apartments, link houses, semi-detached houses, libraries, schools, sports fields, police stations and places of worship for the major religions.

The states are Labu, Negeri Sembilan, Gurun in Kedah and Vision City in Selangor.

Sime said the size of the apartments and houses would be larger than the typical low- and medium-cost apartments and houses.

“While the standard size of a low-cost link house is about 600 sq ft, the low-rise apartments in Bandar Gemilang will be bigger, averaging at about 900 sq feet.

“In addition, some of the residential units will be flexible and can be extended or expanded according to the needs of the house owners,” it said.

Sime chairman Tun Musa Hitam outlined the plan at the launch of Sime Darby Convention Centre yesterday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said phase one of the programme would be in Labu, Negri Sembilan, where 240 hectares of plantation land would be turned into a model township.

“The next scheme will be Gurun, Kedah, followed by the Vision City in Selangor,” he said.

Musa said the number of units which would be built at each of the three initial sites would depend on the demand from potential home owners.

“Sime aims to create sustainable communities and is confident that the Bandar Gemilang programme will be well-received by the rakyat.

“Houses under the programme will be energy-efficient, will benefit from a water recycling system and will be surrounded by lush greenery.

“Efforts will also be made to encourage sustainable initiatives such as waste recycling, utilising of recyclable building materials and harnessing of rainwater for irrigation purposes,” he said.

By Bernama