He said this was in line with the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya 1.0 development plan.

Hajiji said the Sabah Housing and Town Development Board was constructing 175 low-cost houses in Kemabong, Sukau, Melalap and Beluran under the 12th Malaysia Plan.

“It is hoped that efforts taken by the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government will be able to provide opportunities for more people to own a house,” he said.

“The GRS government will ensure more affordable houses are built in the state.”

He was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed development of 441 condominium units at Signal Hill here today.

He said this project was a good undertaking since it could attract the interests of foreign investors to Sabah, through the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme.

The project will be implemented by the rural development ministry through Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and the state government. It will be undertaken by Mara subsidiary Mara Inc.

Hajiji said the project would offer potential job opportunities to 1,000 local residents apart from creating an economic spin-off in the surrounding area.

“I believe the timing of the project is right because the state government has succeeded in attracting several new investments in the manufacturing and tourism sectors,” he said.

Rural development minister Mahdzir Khalid said the project was estimated to cost RM500 million. Construction would begin in the first quarter next year and was expected to be completed in three years.

He said 30% of the 441 units would be prioritised for Bumiputera Sabahans. Fourteen commercial lots would also be built.