Building & Investment (May - Jun 2016) (May - Jun 2016) | Page 30

News & Events
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occupied detached homes, 31% in rented premises and 5%
in social housing;
Federal/state/local councils all engaged in housing, i.e., tax
policies (federal), social housing and ownership, planning
approvals and administrative services (state/councils).
housing goals:
a) retention of % population as homeowners
b) access to rental market
c) provide social housing to low-income group and
facilitating pathways for them to education and jobs
d) reduction of homelessness
challenges:
(a) low density of large-tract houses (2.6 people per home),
high mortgages and long periods of repayment - need
for better mix of housing
(b) with easy access to rental market, low-income group
or mobile community not compelled to build up assets
and/or saving to buy own property
initiatives include (a) construction of UNO apartments,
unique mix of private and social housing and mixedtenure in the CBD, (b) through Equity Start and AHIF,
provide subsidies (pathways) to head forward to purchase
of own homes

(c) Country Spotlight – Malaysia (2): Strengthening Legislative
and Institutional Frameworks to Encourage Best Practices
and Mitigate Risks in the Housing Sector by Perbadanan
PR1MA Malaysia.
s by 2010, 72% of population live in urban areas. Past
consumer survey that rural areas were deemed ‘poor’
(development is structured) whereas urban areas were
considered ‘rich’ (free market system) does hold true today,
including perception that ‘urbanites can afford houses’.
s imbalance in demand (1.5 million Malaysians do not own
homes) and supply (industry is profit-driven, focus on
high-end and speculative market)
s mismatch in uncoordinated policies (State governments
have dominion over land and Federal on funding).
s suppliers of Government housing programmes (serving
B20 and M70 categories) and agencies not targeting
middle-income group for whom housing is critical.
s PR1MA is statutory body, commenced operations in 2013,
mandated to regulate and develop half a million homes
at RM100K to RM 200K targeted at singles or married

26 Building & Investment | www.b-i.biz

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couples with combined income of RM10K.
as of 29 March 2016, applicants (mostly aged below 40)
registered with PR1MA number 1,257,047.
as of 2015, PR1MA secured approvals to build 233,350 units
with 84,132 under construction, i.e., own development
35,370 units, contracted out 188,113 and joint-ventures
9,897, with 84% priced below RM300K
financing packages available: PR1MA Homeowners
Assistance Programme and Rent-to-Own Scheme

(d) Country Spotlight – Singapore: “Delving into Key Design
Principles for Mass Housing” by Surbana Jurong Pte Ltd,
Singapore, consultants for urbanisation, industrialisation
and infrastructure development.
s company credited with 26 comprehensively planned
townships of over a million homes in Singapore where
85% of population live in Housing Development Board
flats/apartments.
s guiding principles in design:
(a) connectivity, i.e., integration of commercial aspects,
proximity to MRT lines, provision of spaces (public,
semi-public, semi-private, private zones, easy
accessibility between apartment buildings,
(b) ageing in place, i.e., activity-centric with care centres,
alert alarm system, grab bars for movement, easy
location of switches, etc.
(c) social vibrancy, with community centres and full
facilities, e.g., playground, shops, parks, etc.
(d) safety and privacy
(e) productivity, i.e., standardisation in construction
with 70% pre-cast components (in designated offsite areas), pre-finished polymetric construction to
minimise architectural work and avoids any form of
plastering.
(f) sustainable design, with passive “green” aspects in
building orientation for maximum daylight and natural
ventilation, solar panelling, rainwater harvesting,
greenery and shrubs, chutes for recyclables, etc.
(g) maintainability, to prevent buildings from becoming
slums, residents pay for maintenance (subsidies for
smaller apartments), automation to monitor systems,
lifts, etc.
s estate renewal scheme, to demolish/rebuild and/or
upgrade. Q