THERE was a massive turnout at the launch of the affordable housing scheme by Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar at the Galleria Kotaraya complex in Johor.
More than 10,000 had gathered from as early as 4am to get
registration forms for dream homes.
The overwhelming response is testimony to how much affordable houses mean to the people.
Looking at the houses and properties these days would give people in their 60s and 70s a heart attack.
Houses in cities and towns are being sold between RM850,000 and RM1.5 million, while houses in the suburban areas are going for RM400,000 to RM800,000.
How can young graduates and couples afford to buy homes at these prices?
Even taking joint bank loans and government loans will make young couples debtors for life.
Johoreans can look forward to affordable and good quality houses. This is the vision and dream of the sultan of Johor.
Dream houses costing under RM100,000, including semi-detached houses and bungalows, will be the sultan’s gift to the people of Johor in conjunction with his 59th birthday celebration.
He launched more than 1,800 houses under Phase 1. The housing scheme will be expanded to 10 districts in the state.
The houses will truly be a dream come true for the people as even low-cost houses cost more than RM100,000 these days.
The dream houses envisioned by the sultan will be for a multiracial community and truly affordable quality houses. Despite prices being cheaper than the market rates, the quality of the dream houses will not be compromised.
The three-bedroom bungalow or semi-detached houses will have a 102 sq m floor space and are partially furnished.
Hopefully, this project by the sultan of Johor for Johoreans will reinvigorate the housing industry and spur housing developers to be more considerate and bring down prices.
Other state housing developers may emulate the dream house project of the sultan of Johor and make housing a dream come true for every Malaysian.
SAMUEL YESUIAH
Seremban, Negri Sembilan