400,000 Kelantanese unable to afford a house seen as serious issue

KOTA BHARU: The revelation by a study that 400,000 Kelantanese cannot afford to buy a house is a serious matter which must be tackled, says Datuk Mohd Fatmi Che Salleh, political secretary to the prime minister.

The study, conducted by the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda), found that the 400,000 Kelantanese had a monthly income of below RM2,000.

This situation was clear proof of the Kelantan PAS government's failure to provide affordable housing for its people, Mohd Fatmi told reporters after launching Universiti Teknologi Mara's May-October 2011 pre-graduation event here Wednesday night, Sept 14.

On Monday, Rehda Kelantan chairman Datuk Sekarnor Che Omar said the high cost of construction in the state led housing developers to focus on more viable houses, which cost RM150,000 and above.

Mohd Fatmi, who is Kota Bharu Umno chief, said that if the situation was allowed to prolong, a major portion of the state's population would not be able to afford their own homes in the future.

"If the Barisan Nasional is returned to power, we are determined to overcome this problem, and more Kelantanese will be able to afford homes," he said.

On the issue of the 100 residents of Kampung Lorong Minyak Gas who have been ordered to vacate their homes, Mohd Fatmi said he would be meeting them soon to find a way to offer assistance.

"I am sad that they are losing their homes. If the Kelantan government is providing new housing, then it is alright — but if not, it is unreasonable," he said.

Last week, the affected residents protested the state government's decision to repossess the land, which is on a bank of the Kelantan river, for a project. — Bernama