Genuine affordability is hard to come by

According to The National Property Information Centre (NAPIC), less than 30 per cent of new housing launches in 2015-2016 were for those priced less than RM250,000, compared with 70 per cent in 2008-2009.

In Bank Negara Malaysia’s 2016 Annual Report released in March last year, financial simulations showed that those earning less than RM3,000 could only finance a home worth RM176,000, while those earning RM5,000 and below could afford up to RM283,000 and those earning RM10,000 and below, RM515,000.

The report further emphasised that almost three quarters of the current supply of houses for sale in the country were not affordable.

Analysing the report further it is quite evident that many developers have got on the bandwagon to develop ‘affordable pricing houses’ but skimp on either quality or unit sizes.

Taking all of the above into consideration, affordable housing has become one of the initiatives project under Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP) Group in realizing the State Government’s commitment towards the well being of the people in Perak.

On 28 October last year, PKNP introduced its affordable initiate Teratak @ Alor Pongsu (TAP). This 11.95 acre project is located in a strategic spot, nearby Alor Pongsu interchange of the North-South Highway and also close to Penang via the Sultan Abdul Halim Bridge and also close to Kedah. A total of 152 units of double storey terrace houses were offered at prices starting from only RM189,000.

"For those people who have moderate and low income, this affordable housing project under PKNP Group gives an opportunity for them to buy and own a house. The Teratak @ Alor Pongsu developed by Lakar Budi Sdn Bhd, a joint venture company between Star Career Sdn Bhd (a wholly owned subsidiary of PKNP Group) and Sahara Budi Sdn. Bhd., offers a reasonable price that is even lower than the prices offered by private developers”, said Ridzuan Bin Ibrahim, general manager of property development of PKNP Group during the October event.

This project that sits on 99 years leasehold land next to Plaza Toll Alor Pongsu and behind the SMK Alor Pongsu is just a stone’s throw away from a wide range of amenities that include Sekolah Kebangsaan Alor Pungsu, SJKC Alor Pongsu, a mosque, banks, clinics is only 15km to Agency Government Daerah Kerian.

These affordable houses offer 41 homes that are 20’ X 65’ with a built up size of 1,050sq ft and 111 units that are 20’ X 60’sq ft with a built up of 1,000sq ft.

Located just eight kilometres from Bagan Serai town, Alor Pongsu is a small town in Kerian District, Perak, Malaysia. Kerian District is south of Seberang Perai Selatan, and some 80 minutes drive north of Ipoh. It has eight sub-districts, namely: Parit Buntar, Bagan Tiang, Tanjung Piandang, Kuala Kurau, Bagan Serai, Beriah, Selinsing and Semanggol.

Legend has it that in the 1800s, a British Resident Officer was on his way to Pangkor Island from Parit Buntar by boat, when he referred to the land on his left as ‘KIRIAN’, his pronunciation for ‘kiri’, which means ‘left’ in the Malay language. That was how this area later became known as “Kerian”.

A unique feature about Kerian District is its river, Sungai Kerian. The river marks the boundary of the three states of Perak, Kedah and Penang. Being a district where rice is the primary agricultural product, driving through the countryside, one would be greeted by acres upon acres of paddy fields in myriad shades of green, yellow and blue.

Teratak@Alor Pongsu is among the first location for Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Perak affordable housing scheme outside Ipoh. Selling between RM189,000 and RM290,600, residents here would be proud owners in a city that has been made accessible to tourists and visitors alike after the launch of the Electric Train Service (ETS), the intercity train service by KTM Bhd that shuttles between Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh back in 2014.

To date, PKNP Group has launched four affordable housing projects including Casa Kayangan @ Meru, D'Aman Residensi @ Meru, Suria @ Meru and Pengkalan Raya @ Batu Gajah. 

This year, PKNP Group expects to launch six more affordable home projects in Kamunting, Kampar, Malim Nawar, Changkat Kinding, Kanthan and Slim River. It is hoped that these project will meet the demands of the public to be able to afford comfortable and modern houses at genuine affordable prices.