The establishment of the Perak Housing and Property Board (LPHP) is not to compete with private housing developers, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.

Instead, he said the LPHP was establish to ensure that all Perakians could afford to own a house, besides to coordinate the construction of affordable housing projects in the state.

"This board is responsible of encouraging private developers to cooperate with state government on issues related to the housing policy," he said this to reporters after officiating the groundbreaking ceremony of the 1Malaysia Civil Servants Housing Project (PPA1M) in Pengkalan here today.

Zambry said with the power of the LPHP, the state government could implement housing projects without depending on the allocation from the federal government.

Commenting on the PPA1M, Zambry said the project was expected to be completed next year and it involved the construction of 72 units of single-storey terrace houses with built-up area of 1,250 square feet (sq ft) and priced at RM220,000 each.

In addition, it would also see the construction of 288 apartment units which to be sold at a price between RM139,000 and RM176,000, he said.

Zambry said the project was implemented by the Perak State Secretary Incorporated with the cooperation of the Prime Minister's Department and Utusan Variati Sdn Bhd on the total land area of 20.8 hectares.

"The cost of the construction of PPA1M is RM74 million and the government absorbed a total of RM13.915 million as subsidy," he added. - BERNAMA