Property Hunter Magazine Property Hunter Magazine Issue 51 - February 2014 | Page 33

Body Calls for Review in Sarawak Housing Policy mitigation programme for this city and Kota Samarahan. “According to the ministry, an estimated cost of RM584mil is needed for Phase Two covering Sungai Kuap, Batu Kitang, Jalan Kuching-Serian and Kota Samarahan. I reminded that in 2008, the Prime Minister allocated a special funding of RM1bil to Sarawak for projects deemed important to its development and these projects must be completed in two years. “Much of the funds were not used as planned,” he said. Kuching, Sarawak, Photo by: www.facebook. comstuartrango A call has made for the state government to review its policies on housing for fear that the younger generation will not be able to own a home of their own given the escalating property prices. The state DAP Socialist Youth Sarawak (DAPSY) chairman Wong King Wei said a recent media report on rising house prices in the state showed that it was now a matter of policies rather than global market influence. “Part of the reasons is the rise in land cost and higher conversion of premium paid to the Land and Survey Department, like for conversion of agriculture land to mixed zone,” he said. On land cost alone, Wong said Sarawak had the lowest density in Malaysia consisting of only 17 to 20 persons per square kilometre, unlike in Selangor which had 1,000 persons per square kilometre. As such, he said with the state’s vast area, the government could allocate land for housing development easily instead of alienating it to benefit only a certain group of companies. Wong suggested that the state government could do a joint venture in which it would provide the land space while the private companies would build the houses. In a separate issue, Stampin MP Julian Tan called for an upgrade on the drainage systems in Kampung Stampin Baru and Jalan Stakan here. Having brought up the matter in Parliament, he was unsatisfied with the answer given by the respective ministry that it was awaiting additional money to begin Phase Two of the flood As such, Tan said the remaining amount should go to upgrading the drainage systems. “We have seen many delays and this should not happen. Residents are not asking for a major upgrade. Like in Kampung Stampin Baru, all they want is for the dirt drains