Johor to propose inclusion of Larkin PPR in 12MP

JOHOR BARU: The proposal to build a new People's Housing Project (PPR) in Larkin here has been sent to the Local Government Development Ministry to be included in the 12th Malaysia Plan.

Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said that the proposal was made due to the increasing population in the area.

"We hope that Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming will be able to help the state government to approve this project to be included in the 12MP development.

"All technical and land issues as well as related documentation have been dealt with and completed," he said when met by reporters after the 'Jom Turun PPR Sri Stulang and PPR Sri Iskandar', here on Sunday (Jan 1).

Mohd Jafni added that the state government had proposed two designs to the ministry at the cost of RM150mil and RM86mil each for consideration.

"We chose Larkin because of the high population density in the area and the fact that there aren't many PPRs in the area.

"Besides this, there are currently six ongoing PPR projects being built in Johor, namely PPR Pengerang Kecil and PPR Bandar Tenggara in Kota Tinggi; PPR Ulu Tiram; PPR Permas Jaya and PPR Masai in Johor Baru; and PPR Sembrong in Kluang," he added.

All six projects are currently between 60% and 90% complete.

Earlier, on Aug 23, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi was reported saying that the state has sent a request for the PPR Larkin to be developed, following the demand from the locals in the area.

Mohd Jafni also said Johor was targeting the collection of RM24.9mil in rental payments from the 20 PPR and Rumah Sewa Kerajaan (RSK) in 2023.

He said that the state had previously waived rental payments for two years due to the pandemic.

"We have not collected the rental fee for 2020 and 2021 as part of the state government's effort to help people with lower incomes. We have received subsidies of around RM56mil for these two years.

"This year, we are hoping tenants will start paying rent, which is around RM124 to RM250 per unit," he said.

Mohd Jafni added that it costs around RM18mil a year to carry out repairs and for the 14,000 housing units inside PPR and RSK buildings.

"We have introduced an online payment option through Johor Pay at https://johorpay.johor.gov.my/," he said.

Asked if the state would allow those who have been staying for more than five years at PPR and RSK, Mohd Jafni said that the state will only take action on serious offences.

"Offences such as subletting will result in lease termination.

"The state has taken the humane approach of letting tenants stay for more than the allowed contract of five years as most tenants are from poor families," he added.