'Give people new lifestyle at reasonable cost'

KUCHING: Housing Minister Dato Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg wants housing developers to play a role in modernising the lifestyle of the people of Sarawak, but not by burning a hole in their pockets. "We should give people a new lifestyle at a reasonable cost and in the reach of our common people," he said, believing that the happiness of people with their lifestyle could contribute towards the progress of the State. "What is important is that we change the whole industry. Our products must be of standard; we must have developers of standard; we upgrade the infrastructure and at the end of the day we deliver good products to the people. People will be happy and the nation will continue to be strong." Johari said this yesterday at the signing of master agreements between ASSAR Chemicals Engineering Services Sdn Bhd (ACES) and members of the Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers' Association (SHEDA), which also launched its Code of Practice (CoP) at the same function. Johari considered the signing of the agreements for the provision of ACES' ASSAR prepaid system (APS) for piped-in gas in new housing projects, and the launching of the CoP as a step into a new dimension in housing development in Sarawak. The CoP, he said, had enabled the housing industry to become self-regulatory, much like lawyers and their Bar Council. He emphasised that developers had an obligation to provide the best practices and products to buyers. "I think this CoP is the first one for developers in Malaysia, and I understand that SHEDA's counterparts in East Malaysia is asking for a copy of the CoP," said Johari. He conceded that when he was appointed to the Housing portfolio, he had found the ministry to be a "problem ministry", and though much had changed in the last few years he was confident that SHEDA's CoP would further improve the housing industry, particularly in tackling problems like abandoned housing. On the APS, Johari thanked ASSAR Senari Group of Companies and its subsidiary, ACES, for working closely with his ministry and its Housing Development Corporation (HDC). He said the APS was a modern convenience that would improve the lifestyle of the people through economical means, and he looked forward to exploring its uses in affordable housing. He said he was looking into installing a water-cooling system in affordable housing and together with ASSAR and HDC, they were now calculating the cost of installing the system. ACES yesterday signed four agreements with SHEDA members and handed out letters of intent to 20 others. ASSAR Senari Group of Companies chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Bujang Mohd Nor said the APS offered a sophisticated, safe, convenient and secure prepaid piped gas at an affordable price for modern living. "With the APS you don't have to worry about running out to buy gas, or carrying the gas cylinders up staircase or strangers coming into your homes to install the cylinders. We hope that APS will be perceived as a necessity in daily life," he said. Bujang announced that all s developers who signed the a agreement yesterday would get a 10 per cent discount on all APS equipment supplied to them. He said that with the signing of the agreement, SHEDA members would install the APS in their new projects subject to the suitability of the project. Also present at the function yesterday were HDC chairman t Abdul Wahab Aziz, Daya a Perumahan Sdn Bhd chairman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Housing Ministry Permanent Secretary Abang Affandi Abang Anuar, SHEDA president William Wei and ASSAR Senari Group of Companies CEO Syeed Mohamad Russien.

Source from: The Borneo Post, 2007-04-21 Author: Raynore Mering