The Selangor state government has long taken steps to provide affordable housing for targeted groups, as opposed to efforts made by the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry, said Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali.

This was made possible through the construction of affordable and low-cost homes atop government-owned land, he said.

“The price of land in Selangor is still reasonable and government-owned land is used to build affordable and low-cost homes,” Azmin told reporters outside Parliament today.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Noh Omar Noh had proposed that all state governments allow the federal government to determine the prices of houses.

The proposal will be brought forth during the national housing council meeting which will be chaired by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Meanwhile, Azmin said the state government’s efforts saved costs and that the state government will also outline requirements that private developers must heed.

“In the Klang Valley, of course private-owned land is higher in value but we are building these houses atop government-owned land and we are also making it a requisite that they (developers) build Selangorku homes first before they build more expensive homes,” he said.

The Gombak MP added that it is also a requirement for every Selangorku home as well as other affordable homes to be built close to a public transportation system, citing the LRT and MRT.

“Because these people need such facilities since they might not afford their own transport,” he said.

Najib announced last week in his Budget 2017 speech that 30,000 units of affordable homes will be built at strategic locations as well as 5,000 units of People's Friendly Home. Ten thousand home units will also be built in towns to be rented by youth.