KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak today said the issue of affordable housing remains one of the main focuses of the Barisan Nasional government, as shown by the many initiatives it has come up with since he became prime minister in 2009.
He said what the government has done, by way of allocation of funds, was in order to realise the aspirations of the rakyat from all walks of life.
Najib said, in the 2018 Budget, a total of RM2.2 billion was allocated in order to continue efforts to provide housing for everyone.
“For the low-income, or B40, group the government has come up with, among others, the People’s Housing Programme where housing units are rented out or sold at very low prices of between RM35,000 and RM42,000, with additional costing subsidised by the government.
“Then there is also the Rumah Idaman Rakyat (People’s Dream Home), built on land provided by state or federal governments, at prices which are not more than RM350,000, the sales of which will prioritise people with disabilities and single mothers.
“Other than that, for those in the middle income or M40 group, the government has provided the 1Malaysia People’s Housing Programme (PR1MA) at strategic areas nationwide, and sold for between RM100,000 and RM400,00,” he said in his latest blog entry on NajibRazak.com.
Going on, the prime minister said there was also the Federal Territories Affordable Housing scheme (RUMAWIP), with units priced for between RM63,000 and RM300,000 targeted at Malaysians living or working in the Federal Territories who intended to purchase their first home.
Civil servants were not left out, he said, as the government started the 1Malaysia Civil Servants Housing Project (PPA1M).
“PPA1M was provided mainly for the benefit of civil servants in the low- and medium-income levels, with units sold for between RM90,000 and RM300,000,” he said.
In its efforts to help Malaysians own homes, said Najib, the government introduced various schemes such as the My First Home scheme aimed at youth who were just entering the workforce and earned salaries of less than RM5,000, with 100 per cent loans.
He said the scheme ensured that these young adults did not have to pay any sort of deposit.
Recently, said Najib, he had announced the MyDeposit scheme, where the government would assist those who wanted to own homes but did not have the means to put down deposits, by paying the deposits for them.
“These are only some of many initiatives that the government has come up with... all on the basis of a government which is sensitive to the needs and wants of the rakyat, especially from the lower- and middle-income groups, in wanting to own their own homes.
“Some of these people may not even have the means to put down deposits. We give attention to all groups... no one is left out. Sadly, as with the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M), 1Malaysia Clinic, education and health subsidies as well as all other government aid, the opposition has politicised these efforts (by the government to help people own homes),” he said.
Najib said he hoped the opposition would concentrate their efforts on things that would benefit the people instead of spreading fake news in order to put the government in a bad light.
“Let the people know about these housing initiatives and schemes, at the very least so that they can be aided in purchasing their own homes. Don’t oppose (such beneficial schemes) just because you are the opposition.
“The opposition may not be able to carry out such initiatives, but you should at least help send the rakyat to those who can, that is to say, Barisan Nasional,” he said.