Pahang Housing and Transport Committee chairperson Mohd Sofi Razak has described as critical the housing situation in the state, with more than 40,000 applications pending for low- and medium-cost houses.

He said the state executive council, at a recent meeting, instructed the land and district offices to identify suitable areas in the districts for the immediate construction of houses under the Pahang 1Malaysia People’s Housing Scheme (PR1MA Pahang) programme.

The housing projects would be implemented through cooperation between the government and the private sector, he told reporters at the Aidilfitri celebration hosted by him in his capacity as the assemblyperson for Benta, at the Bentong Rest and Recreation area yesterday.

“The government will provide the land for the projects and the private sector will be encouraged to build the houses at below RM100,000 on 1,000 sq feet each,” he said.

He said that for a start, some 100 units of low- and medium-cost houses had been built on 20 hectares near Gambang.

“Priority will be given to buyers with a monthly income of RM4,000 and below,” he said.

- Bernama