Forest City affordable housing: Ministry awaits developer's plan
The Housing and Local Government Ministry has expressed concern that the developer of the Johor's Forest City has yet to return with a plan to accommodate affordable housing units in the residential development.
This was informed to the media today by the minister, Zuraida Kamaruddin, after reiterating that foreigners are not banned from buying housing units at Forest City in Gelang Patah...
The Housing and Local Government Ministry has expressed concern that the developer of the Johor's Forest City has yet to return with a plan to accommodate affordable housing units in the residential development.
This was informed to the media today by the minister, Zuraida Kamaruddin, after reiterating that foreigners are not banned from buying housing units at Forest City in Gelang Patah.
"No, there's no such thing as foreigners are banned (from purchasing the property in Forest City). They can still go ahead, like normal buyers.
"It's just that we are concerned that the component of affordable housing is not there. We are waiting for the developer to present the plan to us.
"What their thoughts are and how are they going to accommodate the affordable housing quota in the Forest City development itself," Zuraida said at Wisma Bernama in Kuala Lumpur, after launching the "Property Hot Seat Talk" programme of national news service Bernama.
In September last year, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced that foreigners could buy residential units at Forest City, but they would not be issued visas to live there.
The following month, the developer of Forest City, Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd, conveyed to the Johor state government that it had agreed to review its development plan to include affordable housing.
Johor Housing and Rural Development Committee chairperson Dzulkefly Ahmad said the state government would like the project to be located on one of the four man-made islands within the Forest City project area.
Asked whether her ministry had given the developer a timeline to propose the affordable housing plan, Zuraida said: "They have sort of come out with a plan, but I need to ask them to review it."
Malaysiakini has contacted the developer to enquire about updates on the affordable housing plan.
A spokesperson for the company said that Forest City has received confirmation that the Johor MB's office and Dzulkefly will issue a statement regarding the matter.
"Due to protocol, Forest City will only issue a reply after that," he said.
Meanwhile, Zuraida also said the ministry is mulling to increase the purchase of fireproof suits for the Fire and Rescue Department staff, from 6,000 to 9,000 units.
On Tuesday, Zuraida announced that the department would issue a tender for the purchase of 6,000 fireproof suits, which came after firefighters were reportedly forced to wear old "unsafe" fireproof suits which did not meet safety requirements.
"We will try to increase the quantity for long-term use. In the past, the Fire and Rescue Department had purchased 6,000 units but it has been two years (since the last purchase). So we cannot stick at 6,000 units only," she said.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.