One critic, however, suggested the possible role of low-cost housing as an
important political instrument for the pursuit of influence with the low-income
majority60. Agus (1992, p. 126) felt that the press statement in December 1985 by the
Deputy Prime Minister about the SLCHP programme might be interpreted this way.
Time taken to complete housing projects raised doubt about the economic efficacy of
the approach: for example, some developers claimed it took between 18 and 24 months
to complete a medium size low-cost housing project.