The housing and local government ministry is considering synchronising various affordable housing projects to prevent duplication of efforts, said its newly-appointed minister Kamaruddin.

The ministry may put forward a proposal to take over 1Malaysia People's Housing Scheme (PR1MA) which is currently parked under the Prime Minister's Department, Zuraida added.

"Instead of having two separate programmes which share a common goal, why not we synchronise everything?" she asked at a press conference on her first day at work after a briefing by her ministry officials.

The proposal also includes reviewing the mechanism of housing programmes under the ministry, namely the People's Housing Project (PPR) and Transit Homes.

"We want to make it wholesome and no duplication so the right people will get these housing units," she said.

Pakatan Harapan has pledged to build one million affordable home units upon assuming federal power.

In 2013, BN's election manifesto had pledged one million affordable homes including 500,000 units through PR1MA. However, it was revealed last August that only 8,475 units of PR1MA were built.

In October 2017, then prime minister and finance minister Najib Abdul Razak had announced that under the 2018 Budget, PR1MA would launch 210,000 units of PR1MA homes priced below RM250,000 each.

Zuraida also said the ministry will study the best mechanism to implement the nation's solid waste management system currently being administered by the federal government including a review of waste collection contracts due in September.

The three companies handling solid waste collection are Environment Idaman Sdn Bhd, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd and SWM Environment Sdn Bhd. Their contracts are to be reviewed every seven years.

The ministry will study whether it should decentralise waste management or continue with the current modus operandi, she said.

“I know some of the states and local governments need support from the ministry. Maybe some mechanisms can be arranged (in dealing with their concerns).

"We can decentralise it and at the same time still help them," she said.