Message-ID: <35A9B151.3992@ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 00:03:45 -0700 From: Kerry Miller <mailto:kerryo@NS.SYMPATICO.CA> Subject: Sarawak: Low cost construction systems needed To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
http://www.jaring.my/tribune/tribune/saturday/news11.htmLow cost construction systems needed
By Frederick Lim
KUCHING - Because the demand for low cost and low-medium cost housing development is expected to rise in spite of the current economic turmoil, there is a desperate need to find ways and methods to produce more quality houses at a budget price quickly.
In order to achieve its "A house for every family" goal by the year 2020, the government should create a large amount of low and low-medium cost houses by using a simple, efficient and cost effective method to meet the current budget.
In his paper which was presented at the two-day Low and Low-Medium Cost Housing Development conference which ended yesterday, Encik Chin Yuan Tai, a member of the Associated General Contractors of America and the district manager with EFCO, the world’s leading production formwork system company, also suggested that the government produce a solid, dimensionally accurate, soundproof and rodent-resistant home.
He said due to increasing population, the needs and demands on low and low-medium cost houses had increased in Malaysia.
Encik Chin pointed out that the supply of conventional method built houses could hardly keep up with the rapid growing demands.
According to information released recently by the Housing Developers Association Malaysia, 800,000 houses are needed throughout the country under the Seventh Malaysian Plan.
Selangor tops the list with the demand for 157,000 houses while Sarawak ranks fourth with demand for 74,000 houses from 1996 until 2000.
Added Encik Chin: "A reduction in labour cost will not be socially responsible and will perpetuate the problems. It might cause other social problems.
The usage of cheaper building materials will affect the quality and durability of the houses.
This would result in much higher maintenance costs in the future and make the houses less attractive to the low-income group."