City Hall is looking into providing affordable housing for them

It’s official: Ahmad Phesal (right) checking out the Bayu Sentul condominium model after the launch.

The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is looking at the possibility of having more affordable houses for the middle-income group, said mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib.

He said two projects proposed to DBKL were under consideration as there was a growing demand for them.

“One of the projects has units priced at RM400,000 each and we want to see if the price can be reduced, while the developer of the other project is looking at having a 50:50 variation of high-end and medium-cost units.

“These projects will be the pioneers in the city targetted at middle-income earners and we hope to cap the unit price at below RM400,000.

“We realise the rich can afford to buy the high-end properties while the lower-income group can apply for PPR or low-cost units. But people in the middle-income group do not seem to have many options open to them.

“We have a special taskforce to oversee this matter so the younger generation will be able to live in Kuala Lumpur and afford these homes via joint loans,” he said after handing over keys to owners of units in Sentul Utama condominium block C and D in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.

It was a long wait for the owners.

The condominium project declared abandoned in 1997 by Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) involved 680 units.

It was to be completed in 1999 but the developer halted the project due to the 1997 financial crisis.

There were also problems with the relocation of squatters, which affected the progress of the project.

However, after 15 years, in a joint effort by KPKT, DBKL and the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry, the project was completed and the Certificate of Fitness for occupation were issued.

The project was revived and completed by the new management — Sentul Murni Sdn Bhd, which retained the selling price of RM90,000 per unit. Now, the market price for each unit is said to be RM300,000 per unit.

Ahmad Phesal applauded the developer for their commitment in completing the project.

“The revival of abandoned projects needs the combined effort of relevant stakeholders, and we need to look at the percentage of having low and medium-cost developments.

“As these projects come under KPKT, DBKL will assist to get these projects completed sooner,” he said.

During the event, Ahmad Phesal also launched the Bayu Sentul, a 360-unit condominium on a 0.963ha plot of land.

By The Star