KUALA LUMPUR, 24 NOV – Five other cities, apart from Kuala Lumpur, will provide adequate homes for soldiers under the Armed Forces ‘one personnel, one house’ (SASaR) scheme.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said that the SASaR homes were an extension of the Armed Forces Family Housing (RKAT) project previously built in the Klang Valley.
He said among the cities planned for the SASaR scheme were Kota Bharu, Ipoh, Johor Baru, Seremban and Penang (which have large military camps).
“SASaR is one of the ministry’s core agenda to maintain the welfare, comfort and quality of life of soldiers which should be an important priority that cannot be ruled out.
“This programme was initiated because the house prices in Kuala Lumpur and its surroundings are no longer affordable to rent, let alone be purchased,” Mohamad said at the launch of the ‘SASaR Residensi Sateria’ project by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at the Army’s 4th Division headquarters at Wardieburn Camp in Jalan Genting Kelang, Setapak.
Present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari, ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak, Defence Forces chief General Tan Sri Mohammad Abdul Rahman and Platinum Victory Development Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Seri Gan Yu Chai.
To overcome the housing problem for soldiers, the ministry devised three main strategies, namely: Renovating existing family homes; building new houses for military families; and building houses for soldiers, veterans and ministry’s civil servants on land owned by the ministry at a sales price lower than the market price.
“This decision is to recognise their contribution and dedication to the nation as announced during the ‘2023 Budget’ by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in line with the objectives of the ‘Defence Ministry’s Strategic Plan 2021–2025’ to preserve the well-being of ministry staff under the ‘Malaysia Madani’ goal.
“This initiative asserts that home ownership is one important agenda to ensure the welfare of Armed Forces personnel and their families is protected.
“A comfortable home is not just a necessity nor just a shelter. “It is a place to develop quality family life.
“Children can study comfortably, families can worship with peace and the house is a possession that will become a treasure which is valuable and meaningful,” Mohamad said.
He added that paying attention to their housing woes would eventually form a family ecosystem that offered a life full of quality and dignity.
“The construction of SASaR homes is based on the concept of cross subsidy, where the government provides land to developers to build houses below the market price.
“Each application will be screened based on the criteria set, and if the number of eligible applications
exceeds the units provided, then the voting session will implemented.
“I urge military personnel, especially other ranks who are young and new in service, to take the opportunity to buy SASaR homes.
“Invest for a better and comfortable future by owning a home when you turn into an old age,” Mohamad said.
Under the RM2.4 billion agreement, the construction of SASaR homes at the Wardieburn Camp will offer 974 units of condominiums, while another 6,400 condominium units would be built on the redeveloped land at the nearby Royal Military Police Corps training centre (Pulapot).
The four-bedroom condominium units at ‘SASaR Residensi Sateria Wardieburn’ are each priced at RM350,000 and RM400,000, while the ‘SASaR Residensi Sateria Setapak’ at Pulapot are priced at RM150,000, RM199,000 and RM250,000 each.
The SASaR project is an initiative by Mindef to provide an opportunity for its personnel, including military veterans and civilian employees, to own comfortable homes in Kuala Lumpur at affordable prices starting at RM150,000.
The initiative was the second phase of the project after the first at the Army’s Sungai Besi camp, which was under construction.
Mohamad said the homes would be built by Platinum Victory Development on ministry land and sold at subsidised prices, but were not for sale to the public.
According to the quota, 80 per cent would be allocated to military personnel, 15 per cent to military veterans and the rest to civilian ministry staff.
The 974 SASaR homes at Wardieburn Camp would consist of 1,400 square metres and 1,500 square metres units, as well as amenities such as a gymnasium, swimming pool and two parking spaces for each house.
The Setapak Pulapot project would offer 6,400 residential units of 1,000 square metres and 1,200 square metres, and include basic amenities that comply with the National Affordable Housing Policy.
As a trade-off, Platinum Victory would develop the new Pulapot camp at its post-World War II site in Si Rusa district at Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan near the Segenting Camp under a RM232.9 million contract from the Defence Ministry.
The new Pulapot, which now also houses the Army Red Warriors acrobatic team at Jalan Genting Klang in Setapak, would take shape in two years’ time.
The relocation is part of the Malaysian Armed Forces asset redevelopment plan – between the Defence Ministry, Syarikat Tanah dan Harta Sdn Bhd, Federal Land Commissioner and Platinum Victory Development – which also includes the Armed Forces Family Housing scheme (RKAT) and to implement the SASaR project.
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