New housing policy for lower income group in East Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 11): The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) will introduce a new housing policy in September that would benefit the lower income citizens in East Malaysia, reported Bernama today.

Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin (pictured) said a study would be carried out soon as possible so that the minimum price of low-cost houses could be standardised to cater to those in the lower income (B40) group in Sabah and Sarawak.

She explained this was needed as the salaries earned by the lower income groups in East Malaysia is much lower compared to those in the peninsular, reported Bernama.

"We will hold a meeting with the Sarawak Chief Minister and the state local housing minister to discuss the matter so that affordable housing prices can be standardised.

"If the minimum price is fixed, then developers cannot raise the price of such houses on their own accord,” she said at the handover of the Samarahan People’s Housing Project in Kuching today.

Zuraida also added that under the new policy, the house area specifications should be at least 92.9 sq m (1,000 square feet).

"In addition to house size , the ministry also wants developers who work on housing projects to provide adequate facilities such as surau, kindergartens and playgrounds to accommodate the capacity of the residents in the housing estate.

"That is one of the things we will detail in the housing policy which is to be announced later," she told Bernama.