Bid to get nod for PPR Larkin project

Akmal Nasrullah (second from left) discussing the development plan of the proposed PPR Larkin with Johor Housing Development Corporation general manager Datin Paduka Suhailizan Suliman (left), Mohd Jafni (second from right) and Johor Baru land administrator Mohd Fahmi Salam.

THE Federal Government wants the people of Johor to have a place to stay near Johor Baru city centre in line with its rapid growth and development of industries.

One way to ensure this is to have people’s housing projects (PPR) in the city.

As such, Deputy Local Government Development Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir hopes the proposed project in Larkin, Johor Baru could be included in Budget 2023 which will be retabled on Feb 24.

The project, he said, would be presented to Minister Nga Kor Ming and the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) office soon.

“We have received a lot of requests, not only from the locals here but also from government agencies, on this project since 2018.

“Although there is still some work that needs to be done within this limited timeframe, with the close cooperation of the Johor government, we hope this will be included in the upcoming tabling of Budget 2023,” he said in a press conference after visiting the proposed site for PPR Larkin at the Larkin Industrial Area (Dato Onn).

Akmal Nasrullah, who is also Johor Baru MP, said that the total development cost, units involved and the timeframe of the project were being finalised.

“There are two proposed locations for this project, namely the Larkin Industrial Area and Kampung Ungku Mohsin.

“Although the land belongs to the state government, we still need to conduct thorough research as it used to be an industrial building,” he said, adding that they were still discussing whether the project would be a walk-up or high-rise apartment.

Meanwhile, Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor hoped that the Federal Government would approve the PPR Larkin project.

“This is the only project which we applied to the Federal Government and with the presence of the Deputy Minister here, we hope it will get the green light,” he said, adding that the proposal was completed last year.

The two proposed locations involved 3.6ha and 2.7ha at the Larkin Industrial Area (Dato Onn), with both locations expected to have three blocks consisting of about 400 units.