Malaysia achieves 89 per cent progress in affordable housing target

KUALA LUMPUR: As of Sept 30, 89 per cent of the targeted affordable homes, or 443,259 units, have been completed, are currently under construction or are in the planning stages nationwide.

Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said that with only 56,741 units left to complete, the ministry is confident that the target of 500,000 units set under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) will be achieved.

"If fully realised, this will be the first time an affordable housing development goal has been achieved as outlined in a Malaysia Plan," he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2025 at the policy stage for the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Meanwhile, Nga said that KPKT has a comprehensive plan to build waste-to-energy (WTE) processing plants equipped with incinerator technology to address the shortage of appropriate sanitary landfill sites and manage the increasing annual waste generation.

He said these facilities could generate renewable energy for the national grid to replace fossil fuel-generated electricity.

Nga explained that every 60 tonnes of solid waste treated using WTE technology can produce one megawatt (MW) of electricity, sufficient to power 2,000 homes.

He assured that WTE plants are safe and do not pose health hazards, as they are built according to the strict specifications set by the Department of Environment, in line with the zero waste and zero toxins principles to support the shift towards a circular economy and features park-like facilities similar to those in developed nations.

-- BERNAMA