Introduce multistorey SMJ houses: SAY

28 April 2026

KOTA KINABALU: The government should diversify the designs of the Rumah Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) package, including multi-storey house designs.

State Assemblyman (ADUN) for N.24 Tanjung Keramat, Shah Alfie Yahya (SAY), said this is due to issues involving land allocation or limited plot sizes, particularly in Sabah’s West Coast areas.

“For coastal fringe areas with extremely limited land space, I suggest that the Ministry of Rural Development clarify plans to diversify the Rumah SMJ design into a multi-storey house design in future,” he said.

For the record, Rumah SMJ has recorded construction of 4,482 units across Sabah since its launch in 2022 by the State Government.

SAY said this during his debate session at the Sabah State Assembly sitting for the First Meeting of the Second Session of the DUN Sabah, held at the Sabah State Assembly Building, on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, on the issue of public housing, he also explained that the income gap between people and house prices in Sabah is vast, including in the Putatan area.

“What initiatives does the Government have to build moderately affordable homes specifically for suburban or fringe urban areas like Putatan?"

“I also request an update on the current status of the application for a new People’s Housing Project (PPR) in Putatan District, submitted by the State Government to the Federal Government,” he said.

In the same debate, Shah Alfie also raised issues concerning infrastructure and utilities development, particularly stabilising water pressure and traffic congestion in the Tanjung Keramat and Putatan areas.

“I request the Honourable Minister of Works and Utilities to clearly state the current status of water pressure stabilisation in Putatan District, especially in the N.24 Tanjung Keramat area."

“Regarding road connectivity, most residents in Putatan are stuck in severe traffic congestion daily, wasting their productive time,” he said.

He added that, on this issue, he also seeks the realistic timeline for the completion of the Pan Borneo Highway WP06 project.

“While awaiting its completion, are there plans for alternative roads to curb congestion on the highway stretch ahead of Kem Lok Kawi towards the city centre?"

He also inquired about the coastal fringe highway, Coastal Highway, from Tanjung Aru extending to Kuala Papar for a long-term solution.