JASIN – The Melaka state government is committed to improving the people’s capability to own a home in the state by building special ‘rumah harapan’ homes for as low as RM80,000, especially for the low-income households (B40).
Melaka Chief Minister Adly Zahari said the new affordable home scheme with a ceiling price of RM180,000 is only available in Melaka, aimed at fulfilling the people’s dreams of owning their own homes.
“The state government will launch a massive home ownership drive in March by providing a variety of attractive incentives including loan facilities in collaboration with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and legal fee waivers,” he told reporters after delivering early school assistance at SMK Simpang Bekoh, Asahan here today.
Also present were Melaka Education director Datuk Abu Bakar Sahari and the school’s principal, Alias Mahpol.
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin was previously quoted as saying the government was looking at two new proposals, namely the top-up fund and build-to-rent to increase the lower-income group’s capability to own homes.
According to Zuraida, through the top-up fund method, 10 per cent of the property’s funding can be obtained from the government, at an interest rate of two per cent over a 15-year tenure, while the build to rent initiative is to build affordable homes specifically for the rental market.
Commenting further, Adly said although the state government had provided an affordable home ownership scheme, it was evident that many from the B40 still could not own their own homes as they failed to obtain loans from banks.
“For example, we have provided affordable apartments in two buildings sold at between RM106,000 and RM118,000 per unit at Jasin Bestari, but according to PERTAM (Melaka Customary Land Development Corporation) out of 70 per cent of buyers, only 20 per cent meet the eligibility requirements,” he said.
-BERNAMA
