RM150mil for Negri Sembilan’s biggest-ever PPR

Proud owners: Former estate workers receiving mock keys and offer letters to PPR units in Ladang Tanah Merah. — Bernama

PORT DICKSON: A total of 700 People’s Housing Project (PPR) units will be built on a 19ha piece of land provided for free by the Negri Sembilan government.

Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming said the project, estimated to cost RM150mil, would be built in Pantai, about 13km from the Seremban city centre.

“The development, set to be the biggest PPR in the state, will consist of several high-rise blocks. It will be a benchmark for future projects.

“About half the area will be a green lung and there will be lots of facilities for residents,” he said, adding that details of the project would be announced in due course.

He said the authorities may also consider building PR1MA affordable homes for the M40 category under the same project if the building plan is approved by the local council.

Nga, who visited the proposed site earlier in the day, thanked the state government for providing land that is strategically located.

He said the groundbreaking ceremony should take place before the end of this year, if the unity government alliance retains the state in the coming polls.

“You will need to vote for a state government which is aligned with the Federal Government,” he said, adding that the units will cost RM45,000 each and buyers will either be allowed to acquire them under the rent-to-own or the conventional scheme.

Nga, who had also announced a RM24mil project for the construction of 100 PPR single-storey terrace units in Bahau last week, said Negri Sembilan had benefited from the programme as it was one of the earliest states to offer land for free.

“In March, I had mentioned in Parliament that state governments that offered us free land or at a nominal premium would be given priority for PPR projects.

“Negri Sembilan has not only offered one or two but four pieces of land for PPR to benefit those in the B40 category and this has to be lauded,” he said.

Nga said the cost to build each unit was about RM250,000 but the ministry sold it for only RM45,000.

He said the ministry is able to keep the cost low if state governments are prepared to provide the land for free.

Separately, Nga said the Residensi PR1MA Port Dickson project comprising 659 units of affordable homes costing between RM241,000 and RM365,000 will be completed by October.

The gated project was supposed to have been completed in 2019 but got delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, among other factors.

The 770-unit Residensi Rantau project, which was supposed to have been completed in 2018, will be done in August.

“With the completion of the two projects, there will be no more sick projects related to PR1MA in Negri Sembilan,” he said.

Earlier, Nga accompanied Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun to hand over offer letters for PPR units to former estate workers in Ladang Tanah Merah under the rent-to-own scheme.

A hundred units have been built under the RM20mil development which also has a surau, multipurpose hall, food court and preschool.

The owners will be charged a monthly rent of RM237 for five years and then given the option to continue paying under the scheme for up to 20 years or to settle the payment in full.

The units, which features three rooms and two bathrooms each, cost RM40,000.