Little-known SlimHaus Technology Sdn Bhd plans to build three-storey modern houses in Jalan Pantai Acheh, Balik Pulau in Penang Island, taking about four weeks to complete each unit.

Its director, Gerald Chin said that each house will have a built-up area of 800 sq ft or 1,500 sq ft and will be constructed using the Industrialised Building System (IBS) technology.

According to a Bernama report, Chin said the use of IBS technology puts Slimhaus at par with other advanced property companies, providing an alternative in efforts to build conducive and high-quality affordable housing.

"The Slimhaus three-storey terraced house unit with high and consistent fabrication quality can be completed in a very short time, only taking four weeks.

"This is good progress and achievement, especially in light of the construction industry's growth transition in the Covid-19 era," he said.

SlimHaus Technology plans to build a total of 199 units across 2.91 hectares.

Chin said there will be two types of terraced houses, with a selling price of RM250,000 and RM395,000.

He said the gross development value for the project will be announced later.

Based on 199 units selling at an average of RM300,000, the project's GDV is estimated to be around RM60 million.

Chin told reporters at the preview of the project yesterday that it has received a good response from potential buyers, especially from the younger generation.

He said the company will be screening the incomes of potential buyers especially for units priced below RM300,000 to ensure that they come from households with incomes below RM10,000, in accordance with the state government's policy for affordable houses.

State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, who was also present, said the provision of affordable housing is one of the priorities in the Penang2030 vision outlined by the chief minister some three years ago.

The state has increased its target of building 180,000 affordable homes to 220,000 units by 2030.

Up to now, the state has reached 117,000 units. Out of this figure, 40,000 units had already been built, 19,000 are being built and 58,000 have been approved to be built.