ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor government has denied Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's claims that the state has not been building affordable housing for the people.
Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the state government has so far built and handed over the keys for 12,412 affordable houses in the first quarter of 2026.
"Another 8,000 homeowners are expected to receive the keys to their new affordable homes by the end of 2026.
"The largest affordable housing project in the state, comprising more than 2,000, is currently ongoing in Iskandar Puteri.
"The Perumahan Iskandar Puteri Bangsa Johor project, made up of three phases, is also expected to complete early next year ahead of schedule," he said during a site visit at the housing project on Tuesday (July 28).
He added that Phase One of the project is slated for completion in the first quarter of next year, ahead of the initial deadline of second quarter 2027, while Phase Two is expected to be completed by the third quarter of next year, earlier than the initially planned fourth quarter. Phase Three is slated for 2028.
Mohd Jafni also said the state government is committed to its promise of building 100,000 affordable houses by 2030.
"This shows that the state government has been building affordable housing for the people, contrary to what the Prime Minister said in his speech during the Johor state election campaign period recently.
"I have also invited him to visit any of the affordable housing projects in Johor to see for himself," he added.
Anwar reportedly said that the Johor government has been sluggish (lembab) in building affordable houses for the people during his campaign speech at an event in Muar on July 5.
He said that the development agenda cannot only be focused on high-income earners but must take ordinary citizens' access to basic needs and affordable housing into consideration.
