Plan to equip PR1MA houses with solar panels

NEW affordable houses under the 1Malaysia People’s Housing (PR1MA) programme may be equipped with solar technology.

This will be a value-added feature to support Malaysia’s aim to go green, said Malaysian Green Technology Corp (GreenTech Malaysia) chief executive officer Ahmad Hadri Haris.

He said discussions would be held with the relevant authorities on the matter.

“The cost of installing solar panels in the houses will not be too high as it will be done on a large scale. PR1MA houses will still be affordable,” he said at the Sixth Young Corporate Malaysian Summit, here, on Saturday.

“What’s more significant is that homeowners will pay a very minimal electricity bill, or none at all in the long term.”

GreenTech Malaysia, which is tasked with spearheading the national green technology agenda, is a non-profit organisation under the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry.

It aims to position the country as a hub for green technology by 2020 and transform Malaysia into a green community by 2030.

Meanwhile, 90,491 PR1MA units nationwide have been approved for the first 10 months of this year.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had said the government aims to build 500,000 PR1MA houses in the next five years.

He said houses will be priced between RM118,000 and RM335,000.

PR1MA is for individuals or families with a household monthly income from RM2,500 and RM10,000.

~ By BUSINESS TIMES