Brickfields, already reeling from an onslaught of over-development, has been identified by the Government as a site to build affordable housing schemes for middle-income earners under the 1Malaysia Housing Programme, which is better known as PR1MA.
The Federal Government project will see five blocks of 24-storey apartments coming up in Jalan Thamby Abdullah 1, which is adjacent to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) sports complex.
Of the total 1,208 units, 920 of them will be PR1MA homes while 288 units will be built for the bachelor enclave scheme.
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A signboard calling for objections from the public for the project is already up, and the deadline is Nov 20.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib said the project would be built on 3.6ha of government reserve land in Brickfields.
“This project is a welcome addition for the city’s middle-income earners, including DBKL employees,” he said.
He added that the DBKL Town Planning Department was currently studying the traffic management system and looking at ways to beef up infrastructure to cope with the anticipated increase in population density, which will rise from 400 per 0.4ha to 600 per 0.4ha.
Ahmad Phesal was tight-lipped about the appointed contractor but assured that the apartments were going to be “very nice” with lots of facilities for the residents.
It has been reported that PR1MA housing projects will be aesthetically pleasing, located in a community where the amenities and facilities are thoughtfully planned with gardens, playgrounds, surau and daycare centres.
Last month, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor announced that the Government had identified a plot of land in the Federal Territory for a project to build houses that cost below RM200,000 each.
Tengku Adnan said that in light of the escalating cost of living, it was getting increasingly difficult for low-income earners to buy properties close to the city.
Without divulging the location, he said his ministry was in discussion with the FT Land and Mines Department over the project.
Perbadanan PR1MA Malaysia is tasked with undertaking the 1Malaysia Housing Programme to build affordable housing schemes for middle-income Malaysians.
It has been reported that about 90,461 housing units have been approved for construction across the country.
Established under the Perumahan Rakyat 1Malaysia Act 2012, it has a panel of Members of Corporation (MOC) to oversee the operations of PR1MA in the performance of its functions and powers.
PR1MA is the sole authority empowered to plan, develop, construct and maintain affordable housing and townships under the 1Malaysia Housing Programme.
Under Budget 2015, RM1.3bil has been allocated for PR1MA to build 80,000 affordable homes in the Klang Valley with the qualifying monthly household income ceiling raised to RM10,000 from RM8,000 previously.
In the Federal Territory, apart from Brickfields, PR1MA projects will be built in Cheras, Bukit Jalil, Bukit Bintang and Setapak while in Selangor, areas identified are Sepang, Kajang and Ampang Jaya.
Taman Seputeh and Brickfields residents fear traffic will be a nightmare after the project is completed.
“We live across the river (Klang River) from where the project is going to be, and I anticipate the traffic will be a nightmare,” said Robson Heights Residents Association committee member Thomas Tang.
“Currently Jalan Tun Sambanthan near the Kompleks Tun Sambanthan of Little India is congested day and night,” he added.
Taman Seputeh resident Lim Jang said residential and commercial projects were popping up in the area but what the people needed was a police station.
“Where is the police station that has been promised,” he asked.
“The authorities keep approving project after project, yet are doing nothing to improve infrastructure and public facilities,” said Lim.
Brickfields Rukun Tetangga chairman S.K.K Naidu said he too had received negative feedback from residents regarding the project.
“We will definitely feel the impact at our side (Brickfields) as the traffic will spill over here,” he said.
“I find it strange that we were not informed about this project before this. A signboard informing adjacent landowners to object is just a formality, and despite making a lot of noise about it, things like this still happen,” he added.
Meanwhile the Brickfields Community Society, an NGO set up to monitor over-development in the township said they would be holding a meeting with residents soon.
“We will talk with residents first and then meet the relevant authorities,” said its spokesman. - By The Star