Source from: The Star, Original Article
KUALA TERENGGANU: Traditional know-how and local technology and could be the answer to building affordable houses quickly, says newly-appointed Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah (pic).
The Terengganu Pakatan Harapan chairman, who is also a Senator, said when doing architectural studies, he used to learn about how traditional houses in Terengganu and Kelantan were built using pre-fabrication methods.
“We can study these methods and probably apply it to solve the affordable housing problem.
“It will also open up job opportunities for traditional carpenters who excel in these methods,” he said when met at the Kuala Terengganu Bypass construction site.
Raja Kamarul was accompanying Deputy Works Minister Mohd Anuar Mohd Tahir to look at progress of the construction work.
He said housing is one of the critical problems faced by Malaysians – especially in Terengganu and Kelantan – as many houses are priced beyond the people’s means.
“This is a chance for us to come up with a special plan to solve the problem and this will require cooperation from both state and Federal governments,” he said.
Raja Kamarul said discussions with state governments were needed, especially when it involves acquiring land to build the houses.
“We need to acquire land to build affordable houses and this comes under the jurisdiction of state governments,” he said.
