KUCHING: The Sarawak Government has acknowledged the Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (SHEDA) concern in rising compliance costs and prolonged bureaucratic processes which were cited as factors affecting housing affordability for many Sarawakians.

According to a statement by the Ministry for Public Health, Local Government and Housing (MPHLG), the government values the perspectives of industry players and stakeholders and recognises the importance of continuous engagement and cooperation between the public and private sectors in fostering a sustainable and resilient housing industry in Sarawak.

“Sharing the common objective of ensuring that housing remains affordable and accessible to the rakyat, the Sarawak Government remains committed to enhancing homeownership through its agenda of delivering 20,000 affordable homes by the year 2030.

“As a key contributor to the national housing agenda, it must be emphasised that private developers, together with other implementing agencies are required to comply with the regulatory requirements established by the authorities.

“These regulatory requirements and compliance mechanisms are not intended to impose unnecessary burdens on developers but rather serve as essential safeguards to protect the interests of house purchasers, ensure construction quality and delivery, promote development sustainability and preserve public confidence in the housing industry,” it said on Monday.

As reported during the last Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, MPHLG’s task force has identified a number of sick private housing development projects across Sarawak.

“Of these, more than 40 per cent have been partially or fully completed or resolved, while the remainder are currently at various stages of intervention.

“The increase in the number of sick projects identified reflects intensified monitoring efforts, verification exercises and improved inter-agency coordination, rather than a deterioration of the overall housing sector,” the statement said.

Additionally, the state government acknowledges the challenges currently faced by the industry players and stakeholders including inflation, rising construction costs, supply chain disruptions, labour constraints and many more as highlighted by SHEDA.

These external factors further underscore the importance of prudent financial management, realistic project planning and responsible risk assessment by developers.

While the Sarawak Government remains open to improving administrative efficiency and strengthening coordination among technical agencies, any streamlining of procedures must not compromise due diligence, safety standards or the protection of house purchasers.

Moving forward, the Sarawak Government remains committed to engaging constructively with SHEDA and other industry stakeholders. -UKASnews