No_1_June_1964 — Page 90

KUALA LUMPUR EARMARKS SITES FOR PREFABRICATED HOUSING

'A LA FRENCH STYLE

CA

AN European techniques of pre- fabricated housing be effectively applied in South-East Asia? This was the question which Mr. S. P. Chow, the Municipal Architect of Kuala Lumpur. the Malaysian capi- tal. was sent to France to examine,

France is one of the foremost countries of Europe in the field of prefabricated construction, and is particularly noted for its large-scale application of this method to the development of multi-storey flats and other aspects of high-density public housing.

The idea of utilising the French method. and gaining information from the various construction firms in France which had perfected their own specialised prefabrication sys- tems. originated with the Commis sioner for the Federal capital. Haji Ismail bin Panjang Aris, who was greatly impressed by what he saw during a visit to France early t

1963.

"I have no doubt in my mind that there are definite advantages to be derived from this method of con- struction," commented Haji Ismail on his return. The Commissioner. who was appointed by the Federal Government to replace the former Municipal Council as the adminis. trator for Kuala Lumpur, added: "Not only is it cheaper, but, what is perhaps even more important. it reduces very considerably the time spent on construction. Because of the urgent need for housing in Kuala Lumpur. this time factor is of prime importance.

..

Like anywhere else in the world, Malaya has suffered an acute hous ing shortage since the end of World War II. a shortage which was aggra. vated by years of armed communist insurrection. The 12-year-long Maia-

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yan Emergency served to accelerate the migration of populace from the rural to the urban areas, a migration which was. and continues to be. particularly marked in the case of the Federal capital.

The mushroom growth of squatter huts throughout Kuala Lumpur has defied the vigilance of administrators, the deterrent of court proceedings for illegal occupancy and the activities of demolition squads. A recent pre- liminary report of a comprehensive transportation study carried out in Kuala Lumpur disclosed that large populated areas scattered throughout the town the largest covering 500 acres and housing 15.000 people have "no streets at all except rude earth tracks. generally impassable for cars and lorries."

Because they are unauthorised, and therefore cannot be officially "recog mised" by the authorities, these areas also lack the provision of lighting. water and adequate drainage. Apart from the consequent menace to public health. the squatter settlements pose a serious obstacle to town planning by impeding efforts to redevelop the land they occupy.

Long before Malaya was merged into the new nation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963, the Government had realised the urgent necessity for combatting the squatter problem. and had accorded top priority to all low- cost housing schemes designed to alleviate the situation.

The various State Governments. responsible for administering the 14 States which make up Malaysia, are granted generous loans for the speci- fic purpose of developing low-cost homes. Kuala Lumpur. as the capi- tal of the nation and the urban authority which has suffered more than most others from the squatter

Mr. Chow, Kuala Lumpur's Municipal Architect. He foresees the day when factories turning out prefabricated building parts are set up at strategic points throughout Malaysia.

invasion. has taken advantage of numerous such loans in the past. Its Commissioner has just been granted the powers to raise loans on his own initiative, and the first of these loans, totalling M$10 million. has already been launched on the financial mar ket.

Just as important as the question of money, however. is the question of speed. To keep pace with the demand for squatter resettlement. conventional construction methods appear to be inadequate. Even a year spent on the erection of a 15-storey block of flats is too long in compari- son with the requirement. It would seem that only by resorting to the practice of prefabrication can Kuala Lumpur hope to make any appreci able headway on this front.

Mr. Chow's findings, emerging from a report on his tour of the French prefabrication industry, offer some encouragement. "I believe that this system of construction may be applicable and, with minor modifica- tions to suit local conditions. may be utilised to advantage in Kuala Lum- pur, where there is a huge program.

THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER-VOLUME 19, NUMBER 1

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