GBI complements government's aims for liveable affordable housing

• GBI chairman, Assoc. Prof. (Ind.) Ar. Sarly Adre Sarkum: I’m pleased to announce that GBI will reduce with immediate effect the registration fees for these new affordable housing projects to be certified under GBI, Malaysia’s international green benchmark.

KUALA LUMPUR (March 31): Green Building Index (GBI) applauds the announcement by Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming on March 29, on the government’s aims to build liveable, comfortable and affordable homes for the low-income group (B40) and middle-income group (M40).

This will involve all new affordable housing projects such as the People’s Housing Projects (PPRs), Rumah belia Madani, Rumah Mesra Rakyat and PR1MA Corporation Malaysia which will undergo tests and analyses including sun-path and thermal comfort analyses as well as GBI.

In welcoming the announcement, GBI chairman, Assoc. Prof. (Ind.) Ar. Sarly Adre Sarkum (pictured) said GBI will complement the government’s move by reducing the registration fees for GBI-certification of these housing projects by 50%.

“I’m pleased to announce that GBI will reduce with immediate effect the registration fees for these new affordable housing projects to be certified under GBI, Malaysia’s international green benchmark.

“This is also in line with GBI’s Corporate Social Responsibility through which we had also previously provided discounts on registration fees for projects such as educational institutes, libraries and sports complexes,” said Ar. Sarly who is also president of the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM). 

He highlighted that GBI certification addresses climate change with emphasis on energy, thermal comfort, good indoor environment and proximity to supporting community amenities besides promoting the use of environmental-friendly materials sourced from sustainable sources and recycling as well as water efficiency through rainwater harvesting, water recycling and water efficient fittings.

He thanked the minister for the involvement of GBI in this initiative and pledged GBI’s unwavering support towards this national agenda.

GBI is Malaysia’s Green Rating Tool for buildings and towns, created to promote sustainability in the built environment and raise awareness of environmental issues among developers, architects, engineers, planners, designers, contractors and the general public, so that we can look forward to a brighter and greener future.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of PAM and the Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM), it was established in 2009 to administrate GBI accreditation as well as training of GBI Facilitators and Certifiers. It is endorsed by the Board of Architects Malaysia for Tax Incentive for Green Technology Projects as well as supported by the Malaysia Green Building Council.