The Malacca government has implemented a swapping quota policy to enable developers to convert bumiputera quota housing units under strict conditions.  

Chief Minister Idris Haron said under the policy, developers could convert bumiputera quota units to open quota units to enable them to sell the unsold units to other races.

"The housing units remain unsold due to several factors, including unfavourable locations for bumiputera such being close to pig markets.

"We do not want the unsold units to remain vacant. More than 2,000 bumiputera units in Melaka remain vacant since eight years ago," he told reporters after handing over keys to houses to owners at Taman Sutera Wangi (Phase 1A) in Malacca today.

Present was Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) chairman Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad.

Idris said, however, he said developers must adhere to strict conditions, including replacing converted units with equivalent units in other projects developed by the companies within the same constituencies.

He said with the approval of the policy by the Melaka government yesterday, 173 bumiputera housing units in Paya Rumput had been converted to open quota units.

Meanwhile, Idris said the state government would develop an affordable housing project on a 3.2 hectare site in Batu Berendam here with the cooperation of SNPB.

The state government is targeting to build 25,000 affordable housing units in the next four years, he added.

- Bernama