KUCHING: The state government will be tabling a new bill to amend the Strata Title Ordinance 1995 in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) November sitting.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government has received the proposed amendments and is looking forward to tabling it.
“It is hoped the new ordinance is able to streamline the issues real estate developers are currently facing in the state,” he said during the launch of Sheda Property Expo 2019 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), yesterday.
He added among the issues are those related to high-rise buildings and the management of strata buildings.
“So bear with me. I hope the opposition side will also support the Bill in November,” he said.
On urban area land issues, he revealed Sheda president Christopher Ngui has proposed that all Native Land be changed to Mixed Zone but that he prefers a good mix of both types.
“In certain areas, if it is necessary to convert to mixed zone, we will convert. But in other pockets, we have to maintain the status as native area because the market will be affected.
“We will identify the areas that can be converted while meeting the increasing demand and also look into the scarcity of land,” he pointed out.
To allow for high-rise buildings and to open up other areas so that they enjoy the same facilities, areas between Kuching and Bau; Kuching and Serian; and Kuching and Lundu have been identified as part of the suburban development area.
“To make this viable, there is a need for efficient public transport, which is why the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) is relevant,” he stressed.
He also explained that the Transport Ministry was set up to better manage public transport and traffic management connectivity in the state.
“We hope when we implement all these policies, there will be efficient connectivity between suburban areas and the metropolis.
“We are going to use cities in Australia as our benchmark, cities such as Adelaide and Perth,” he said.
On the prices of houses in Sarawak, which is 10 percent higher than in Malaya, Abang Johari said the import cost of building materials defines this.
“There is a difference in cost between Malaya and here. You import something from say Shenzhen or Guangzhou, they go to Port Klang. And that is your cost. Here if you buy building material from Guangzhou, you have to get it shipped from Port Klang to Kuching. That is additional cost.
“Nevertheless, the state government will do its part to mitigate the prices of houses, including building more affordable housing projects such as those in Sibu, Kuching, Lundu and soon in Miri,” he added.
