Nga: A total of 31 out of 34 troubled or 'sick' projects by PR1MA Corporation Malaysia (PR1MA) nationwide have been completed, encompassing 20,470 residential units as of April, said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the minister stated that the remaining three projects-two in Melaka and one in Kedah-are expected to be completed by the end of this year, with full support from his ministry (KPKT) and related agencies. These projects were inherited from the previous government and former management of PR1MA. Upon review, it was found that there were 34 troubled projects nationwide, and 31 have now been completed.
In Negeri Sembilan, three troubled projects in Seremban Sentral, Port Dickson, and Rantau, involving 2,929 housing units, were successfully salvaged in two years, thanks to the contractors and patient buyers. The announcement was made by the minister while handing over the keys to Residensi Bandar Ekar, Rantau housebuyers.
Nga emphasized that contractors or companies, including directors, who cause projects to fail without reasonable justification will be blacklisted and barred from participating in any projects under KPKT and PR1MA. During the tender process or Request for Proposal (RFP), those blacklisted will be disqualified, ensuring no more abandoned projects in the future.
The Residensi Bandar Ekar project, with a gross development value of RM172 million, involves 766 units of one-and-a-half and two-storey terrace houses that commenced on February 1, 2017, and was scheduled for completion on May 31, 2020. Of these, 752 units have been sold at competitive and affordable prices, ranging from RM165,000 to RM224,000, and equipped with facilities including a kindergarten, surau, and playground.
Due to constraints such as COVID-19, supply of building materials, and labor issues, housebuyers faced delays in occupying their units. However, after five years, this project is finally completed. PR1MA is planning to launch the second phase of the project soon.
In another development, Nga mentioned that some local authorities (PBT) were negligent in managing the MyKiosk project and expressed hope that they would ensure the project is taken up within the next 30 days. Regarding the waste-to-energy (WTE) plant construction at the Sungai Udang Sanitary Landfill site in Melaka, discussions are ongoing with the concession company, and construction will commence once an agreement is reached. The minister emphasized a voluntary and win-win approach for the project.