Rapid development increases property values in Gua Musang by 10-fold

GUA MUSANG: The rapid development in infrastructure such as roads and public amenities has increased investments and property values in Gua Musang by 10-fold, according to Gua Musang Member of Parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

He said property values in Gua Musang had increased 10 times since 1980s after the constituency became the preferred choice for long-term investments.

"For example, a shop lot here, which was originally priced at RM50,000, is now priced at over RM300,000," he said when meeting the participants of Kesedar Sejahtera Local Community Settlement Programme in Chin Teck here on Wednesday, May 25.

While anticipating the property values to increase further, Tengku Razaleigh, who is also Gua Musang Umno chief, advised the people not to sell off their properties for a quick profit.

He said the demand for commercial or agricultural land in Gua Musang had also increased of late, especially from outsiders.

In line with the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) to improve the living status of the people and to develop the remote areas, the Barisan Nasional (BN) government had carried out projects to build road linking Kuala Lipis-Gua Musang-Kuala Krai-Kota Baharu under the Eastern Corridor Economic Region (ECER).

Under the hardcore poor housing programme, the federal government would also provide 1,500 houses, involving almost RM200 million, for the poor families in Gua Musang and the project was expected to be completed by 2014.

Prior to this, Tengku Razaleigh said no one was interested in making investments in the constituency, but after a good road network was provided by the government, Gua Musang had turned into a very strategic location.

"The opening of new roads linking Gua Musang-Jeli, Gua Musang-Cameron Highland in Perak and Gua Musang-Kuala Berang in Terengganu, had also lured more people to Gua Musang," he said.

He said the houses for the poor would also have high values even though they were given to the families for free.

"We hope the people involved in the project will not take advantage and sell off the houses," he added. — Bernama