A 3-room house for RM20,000!? No, we are not joking

PETALING JAYA (July 12): The rising price of homes is one of the biggest complaints of Malaysians, especially for city folk. Many are saying that they cannot afford most of the homes for sale out there, and we are not even talking about location and quality yet.

So, when we think of a 3-room house, a six-figure price is definitely a must. In the better parts of any urban centre, seven figures will not raise any eyebrows.

But when somebody tells you that a 3-room house can be purchased for RM20,000, you will of course check if the person has missed out a zero, is still living in the early 1970s, or is trying to make a bad joke.

Surprisingly, none of the above.

Bernama reported that last March a bunch of students from Politeknik dan Kolej Komuniti Malaysia proved that they could build a 600 sq ft house (sigh, which we now call a “landed property” as high-rise living becomes more common and fashionable) at a cost of less than RM20,000.

And, as the icing on the cake, they constructed one in less than a month! Goodness gracious, could this be the end of our national housing problem?

With the help of their lecturer, they achieved this “outstanding” feat at Besut district, Terengganu — 15 homes were built for the poor residents there.

The first home was completed in Kampung Padang Landak, Jerteh, in just 22 days at a cost of RM19,900 using the Industrialised Building System (IBS), Bernama reported.

Their efforts come under the purview of the Community House programme inspired by Higher Education minister, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

“Many believed it could not be done,” said Idris.

“With IBS, we can guarantee the construction of houses that meet all the aspects needed in a home,” he said.

“Up to now, four homes have been built in Jerteh, five in Kota Putera, four in Kuala Besut and two in Hulu Besut,” he said.

He said the construction of the community houses will be expanded with the assistance of various parties such as Universiti Malaya via its Engineering Department and construction companies.

Idris also said that the programme has attracted the interest of other states.

Giving the human face to such a success is a happy occupant of such a home — confectionary trader and single mother, Normahani Mohamad, 43, and her six children.

“We are grateful for the free house which is cool, spacious and well-built,” she said.

With this achievement, Idris said that he is targeting to have 100 more of such homes built this year at a cost of RM2 million.

Not sure how much you will have to pay a month for your home? Check out our mortgage calculator here.