IN line with suggestions from the government, Forest City said it is looking to build affordable housing that are tailor-made to suit local tastes and needs within the next three years.

Forest City’s spokesman Ng Zhu Hann told The Malaysian Insight in an interview, that the Housing Ministry had given suggestions to build products that cater to and can be afforded by Malaysians.

“They hope we can come up with products that are custom-made, not only in terms of pricing but also flavour and design.

“Although we cater to the international market, we understand there are certain things that Malaysians particularly favour. For example, (Malaysians) like many rooms instead of common space. They also like landed products versus high-rise products.”

Forest City is a 1,400ha mega-project in Johor being developed by Country Garden Pacificview (CGPV), a joint-venture between Guangdong-based Country Garden Holdings and Esplanade Danga 88 Sdn Bhd.

Country Garden Holdings owns the majority stake of CGPV through Malaysian subsidiaries, while the remaining stake is owned by the Johor government, state ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, as well as his associates.

Ng, who is the director of strategy for CGPV, added that the affordable homes can be built within the Forest City area, or beyond – depending on the governments’ recommendations.

“Wherever the government feels is suitable, and wherever there is demand. We will adhere to the government’s recommendation, because it knows better than us.

“We do not want to build affordable houses far away where locals cannot even stay… we want to make sure that when we devise any schemes to cater for locals, it must be something that can benefit them directly.

“We want to provide residential enclaves for Malaysians… to enjoy the same thing that our international market is enjoying.”

Asked when Malaysians can expect these affordable homes, Ng replied: “In the next 3 years, definitely.”

Ng added that the developer was in talks with both the federal and Johor state governments to use Country Garden’s construction technology, including its Integrated Building Systems plant located in Forest City, to build affordable homes.

“We have used it for nine of our blocks (in Forest City)... We now have the capacity and ability to supply and participate in the state and federal government’s affordable housing agenda,” he said, adding that Forest City’s master plan was more of a “futuristic vision” which can be modified to suit market as well as the government’s demands.

The US$100 billion (RM415 billion) Forest City project is seen as trying to shed its “for Chinese only” image, following allegations against it – including that it was part of a scheme to bring in an influx of 700,000 Chinese nationals into Malaysia.

Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali previously alleged that there was a deal that would see all financial transactions over the sale of properties from the project going to the Chinese government and not to the Treasury here.

“There is a special programme where if you invest a certain amount of money in China, you get a free unit in Forest City.

“They pay taxes in China, they do transaction in China, but it doesn’t benefit us and our economy in Malaysia… they are planning to bring in 700,000 Chinese from mainland China to own these properties in Forest City,” Azmin was quoted as saying.

Rebutting this allegation, Ng told The Malaysian Insight that the RM2 billion deposited into the project’s Housing Development account proved that transactions were done in Malaysia. He also added that it was impossible for such a transaction to occur, without it being flagged by auditors years ago. – October 8, 2018.