Homes for civil servants being built on idle govt land, says Anwar

PETALING JAYA: The government plans to optimise the use of idle or unused land owned by government agencies to be developed into affordable housing projects, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

He said the excess land under several ministries could be used to provide housing for those who need it most, including civil servants.

“Customs land, immigration land, and excess school land, if available, can be used to build low-cost housing, at least for civil servants,” Bernama quoted him as saying at a meet-and-greet session in Johor today.

Anwar, who had earlier criticised the slow pace of affordable housing development in Johor, said the federal government was committed to providing affordable housing for civil servants in the face of rising property prices, to ensure that everyone serving the nation has access to home ownership.

Implementation of the policy had already begun in several states, including Johor where 1,700 low-cost homes have been approved and are already under construction, he said.

Anwar, who is chairman of Pakatan Harapan, has been campaigning for PH candidates in the Johor state election; PH has fielded candidates in all 56 seats, comprising 20 from PKR, 19 from Amanah and 17 from DAP.

Polling takes place on Saturday (July 11), with early voting on Tuesday (July 7).