BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Housing and Local Government Ministry may introduce a new architectural design competition for all future People Housing Project (PPR).
Minister Nga Kor Ming said he would discuss with the top management in the ministry before making the final decision this year.
He said this followed the success of the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM)-Seberang Prai City Council (MBPP) architectural design ideas competition pilot project for the Bukit Mertajam market.
"Following the success of the pilot project, we may adopt the same approach for all future PPRs.
"We want all future PPRs to be built with beautiful designs, environmental-friendly, liveable and with more humanity values.
"This is very important because we want the PPRs, as well as our markets, to have their own architectural identity," he told newsmen after presenting prizes to winners of the PAM-MBSP architectural design ideas competition for the Bukit Mertajam market at the MBSP building here today.
Nga has set a target for the Bukit Mertajam market redevelopment project to be completed by 2026.
This market place was built back in the 1960s and razed in a fire in February 2014. It is now in disrepair.
The ministry has approved RM24 million for the redevelopment project.
Nga said other markets, set for redevelopment, would also employ the same method.
A sum of RM110 million has been set for the redevelopment of markets aged over 50 years and those in deplorable state.
Nga also said that a feasibility study would be carried out to determine if the model for the market's architectural design competition could also be used for the PPR.
He said this was because the majority of the PPRs are stratified buildings while markets were mainly two-storey buildings.
"So, we need to look at the safety aspect and others. If it is suitable to be done, we will definitely do it," he said.