KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 — In a call for developers to build more affordable housing, Universiti Teknologi Mara economics lecturer Jain Yassin said more of these projects can help B40 and M40 group members become homeowners.
Jain said studies have found there is high demand for affordable housing, especially in urban and suburban areas.
“Unfortunately, the number of affordable houses built by developers is limited, causing many of them (those in the B40 and M40 groups) to struggle to become house owners, despite owning a house being a necessity to live a good life instead of renting,” he told Bernama
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in his speech at the Residensi Wilayah, Residensi Prihatin Madani and Madani Hawker Centre ground-breaking ceremony in Desa Tasik Sungai Besi here yesterday, advised developers to launch more projects for low-income residents.
Jain said the government needs to monitor several aspects of affordable housing, such as making sure the homebuyers are the ones living in the property and not subletting or flipping the houses.
Residents in several states want housing developers to heed the government’s call.
In JOHOR, petty trader Mohd Said Mustaffa, 59, wants affordable housing to be made compulsory to ensure low-income earners can buy houses in urban areas.
A babysitter, Darina Azam, 33, said the government needs to simplify the sale and purchase process, such as the legal and service costs.
In MELAKA, civil servant Nurul Ashikin Abdul Halim, 30, said the move is timely as many are struggling financially to be own houses, while in PERAK, Amirrul Rabbani Rashid, 29, a private sector worker, hopes information about the projects can be effectively disseminated to target groups.
In PENANG, factory worker Faizatul Husna Mohd Syukran, 30, believes the move to provide more affordable homes will greatly help the low-income group to live in their own homes rather than renting, which is more costly.
Faizatul said: “The housing projects must have green areas, recreational facilities and public facilities, including Madani stalls.
“With more affordable houses available, people like me get more chances to own a home. Otherwise, we keep staying in rented houses and the rent will keep rising.
“When my father was working in Penang, there were still low-cost houses under RM50,000, but now I’m not sure if those are still available.
“The prime minister’s call for developers to build more housing projects for low-income residents is very helpful for people like us.”
— Bernama
