PR1MA signs MoU for pre-fab houses

PUTRAJAYA: Perbadanan PR1MA Malaysia yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a joint venture (JV)  with Sekisui Chemical Co Ltd, the biggest house builder in Japan, to conduct a study to build a factory specially to develop advanced pre-fabricated modular houses in Malaysia.

The MoU signing was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at Level 3 of the Perdana Putra Building, here.

Also present were PR1MA chairman Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis, chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa and Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Irwan Siregar Abdullah.

Jamaluddin said the idea to build pre-fabricated houses was mooted by Najib to honour the promise made by Barisan Nasional to build 500,000 affordable homes.

He said the houses to be built by Sekisui would be completed in 60 days, with 90% of the construction in the factory.

The project will start early next year in the construction of model houses, with all the components imported in stages, he said.

“The first project will be built around the Klang Valley while the factory to build the houses is expected to be completed by end-2014.

“PR1MA’s focus now in the JV with Sekisui is to build low-rise houses, two-storey or one-storey houses,” he told a media conference after the MoU signing.

Asked on the price of the houses, Jamaluddin said PR1MA was still negotiating with Sekisui.

He, however, gave an assurance that the price will be reasonable for people in the income bracket of between RM2,500 and RM7,500 a month. — Bernama


This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on October 18, 2013.