THE government is setting aside RM6 billion in next year’s budget for the construction and maintenance of People’s Housing Projects (PPR).

Prime Minister Najib Razak announced this today at the keys hando of PPR Sri Aman in Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur.

He said the government was also heavily subsidising the price of PPR units.

“Take, for instance, PPR Seri Aman, where we are selling each unit that costs RM135,556 to build for RM35,000.

“Imagine, the market price is around RM200,000 but the government is selling for RM35,000,” he said.

The PPR Sri Aman project has 1,600 units and cost RM217 million to build.

Najib was there to hand over the keys to the owners.

“We have already completed 83,759 units of PPR nationwide and 25,000 more units are underway ” said Najib.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Noh Omar who was there, said PPR Sri Aman was the first project to have a mortuary holding area for non-Muslims.

“PPR Sri Aman has four 19- and 20-storey blocks of flats with the first mortuary holding area for non-Muslims,” he said.

He said since the 8th Malaysia Plan, Kuala Lumpur had completed 26 housing projects for 34,362 families and the government was wrappig up one more PPR project with 500 units in Sentul.

This, he said, would make Kuala Lumpur home to the highest number of PPR units compared with the 13 states.

Najib is scheduled to table Budget 2018 in Dewan Rakyat on October 27. – September 18, 2017.