PR1MA housing - Bandar Ainsdale project in Seremban

 

SIME Darby Property Bhd will be offering affordable housing in the coming years as a stategic component in their up-and-coming townships in line with market needs and to complement the government's affordable-housing scheme.

 

In his first press statement since he took over as managing director, Datuk Abdul Wahab Maskan says they have already identified areas in their townships for PR1MA housing, also known as 1Malaysia Housing Programme. Their first township to kick off affordable housing will be Bandar Ainsdale in Seremban.

 

Wahab, who is also Sime Darby Bhd group chief operating officer, assumed the position at the property division from Tunku Datuk Badlishah Tunku Annuar in June. Wahab is also Sime Darby group chief operating officer.

 

There are several reasons why Sime's contribution to affordable housing will begin at Bandar Ainsdale. First, Bandar Ainsdale is a new 550-acre township that will be launched at the end of this year and it will be viable to begin social housing with a clean slate. Ainsdale will comprise residential and commercial segments. Over and above that, the focal point of that township will be its integrated public transportation component with a KTM station to be its public transportation terminal. This will add to Bandar Ainsdale's accessibility, which will be a much needed infrastructure in any affordable housing scheme.

 

Other areas that will subsequently offer affordable housing include Ara Damansara in Petaling Jaya near Subang Airport, Bandar Bukit Raja in Klang, Putra Heights in Subang Jaya, Kota Elmina in Sungai Buloh, Elmina West in Shah Alam and Lagong Mas in Rawang, Selangor.

Earlier, it was reported that the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) would focus on three projects comprising the first PR1MA scheme to be offered by the government in Presint 11, Putrajaya, Bandar Ainsdale in Seremban and Bandar Tun Razak in Cheras this year.

 

EPU deputy director-general Datuk Mat Noor Nawi said about 4,000 units will be offered in this first batch of PR1MA housing with the development in Presint 11 to provide 560 apartment units while the other two developments will consist of a mix of landed and high-rise and apartment units for the Bandar Ainsdale in Seremban and Bandar Tun Razak projects respectively.