KUCHING: A proposed amendment to the Sarawak Building Ordinance, 1994 that seeks to introduce Green Buildings will safeguard the B40 group in the state.

Tanjong Batu Assemblyman Johnny Pang Leong Ming said the proposal in the long term by reducing cost of living.

He refuted the narrative of Green Building being an elitist concept that will drive up housing prices for the B40 and M40 group.

“We must stop looking only at the construction cost and start looking at the living cost. Who suffers most from a poorly designed house with no ventilation? Who suffers most when electricity bills skyrocket? It is the low-income families.

“By mandating energy efficiency under Section 24A, we ensure that a low-cost house does not become a ‘high-cost trap’ with expensive monthly utility bills.

“We are lowering the long-term cost of living for the rakyat,” he said when debating the Building (Amendment) Bill, 2025 at the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting on Monday.

Johnny acknowledged that the upfront cost for developers will rise, as green materials and new requirements for accredited checkers will incur added costs, which ultimately would be passed on entirely to the homebuyer.

However, he added that these costs can be mitigated through the introduction of incentives for the developers.

“If a developer builds affordable housing that meets these new Green Standards, give them a rebate on premiums or a ‘Green Lane’ for faster approvals.

“We must balance sustainability with affordability. We want our people to live in safe, green houses, but first, they must be able to afford the key,” he stressed. -UKASnews