By Sheeda Fathil
SHAH ALAM, Oct 4 — The Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) plans to build more affordable houses in urban areas in the future.
Its chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Mahmud Abbas said the plan will help to create more job opportunities for people living in the fringes of the cities and at the same time provide them with an opportunity to be closer to public facilities.
“If we build affordable houses in rural areas and far from the city centre, not many people will live there, and the project will be wasted.
“Therefore, I suggest that PKNS build more affordable houses near the Light Rail Transits (LRT) and commercial lots as it will offer more opportunities for the people to start a business there,” he said today.
Mahmud was speaking after he attended the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Pledge ceremony at the Selangor Menteri Besar’s Office, here.
Commenting further on the potential location for the affordable houses, Mahmud said PKNS will conduct a study on the suitability of the locations and the demands from the community.
“Should there be a demand for affordable houses in Shah Alam or Petaling Jaya, we will build there, however, as of now, PKNS does not own any land there ... if there is room for collaboration with any party, we will try to make it happen.”
Mahmud added that PKNS also intends to upgrade the socioeconomic status of micro entrepreneurs by helping them switch to digital business concepts.
The move is crucial to ensure the continuity of small businesses especially after Covid-19, he said.
“Small-scale entrepreneurs must progress and not only stay in their comfort zones. They have to strive to expand their market by doing business via social media platforms.
“We will arrange a few strategies soon so that they can expand from a ‘primary school’ level to a ‘graduate’ level, for example, from operating a stall to selling their products to KLCC, Pavilion or even to global markets such as Japan,” he said.
Mahmud was appointed as the CEO of PKNS on October 1, taking over the position from Siti Zubaidah Abd Jabar, who retired on August 10.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Brighton University and previously served as the Halal Industry Development Corporation chairman and Central Spectrum Sdn Bhd’s managing director.
