Some 12,000 affordable homes were built in Kedah last year to meet the demands of lower-income citizens.

State Local Government, Water Supply, Water Resources and Energy, Housing and Human Development Committee chairman Datuk Badrul Hisham Hashim said the number had drastically increased compared to 4,801 houses in 2013.

The Kuala Nerang state assemblyman said that after taking over from the opposition government in 2013, the state government failed to build the targetted 6,000 homes that year due to some unavoidable problems.

"This year we have targetted to build 6,000 more afforadable homes because the demand is rising every year," he said.

Badrul Hisham was speaking at a press conference during the public banquet held in conjunction with the Sultan of Kedah's 87th birthday at the Padang Terap District Police Headquarters here.