Affordable
homes
Please email your feedback and queries
to:
X
AUGUST15,2014
> Examining the demand-supply factors and obstacles
E
SCALATING
living costs and a wider
compass of wants and needs have
caused the once crucial primary
concern of buying a home tomove
down the priority ladder. In fact, it is very
rare, especially among the current younger
generation, to own a house.
Then again, there are those like Jovan
Tang, married to Cassandra Paul. A
generation Y couple with a newborn, whose
priority on tying the knot, was to buy a home.
Between the twowho represent part of the
work force, they share their plight having
spent months seeking to purchase a
reasonably priced “roof” over their heads.
“Both Cassie and I work in Petaling Jaya.
We heard about themany affordable housing
schemes and homes for first-time buyers.
Our combined incomes just about exceeded
the eligibility criteria. Moreover, most of
the residences under these schemes are
located in areas that are inconvenient to
us,” said Tang. With that, we explore some
of the affordable housing schemes, concepts
and programmes, their product price and
range, location, specs and space and criteria
for eligibility.
A) SPNB
Syarikat PerumahanNegara Berhad
known as SPNBwas established in 1997
and is a wholly-owned subsidiary under the
financeministry. It was set up to provide
quality affordable homes forMalaysian
families, in line with the objectives of the
National Housing Policy (NHP). Under this
plan, the RumahMampuMilik Programme
and RumahMesra Rakyat Programme were
devised and implemented, providing the
lower-income segment of society a chance to
own comfortable homes. Another housing
programme under SPNB is the
ProgramPerumahan Rakyat
(PPR), introduced by the
Federal Government, which
was established to assist
tsunami victims inMalaysia
and Acheh, and those
requiring resettlement having
lived in flood-prone areas as
well as squatters.
(i)RumahMampuMilik
Houses under this programme
consists of low-cost, medium/
low-cost andmedium-cost
houses. Purchase of houses
under this scheme is open to
all whomeets the criteria
PART2
NO.
TYPE OF
HOUSE
BUILT-UP
AREA*
PRICE
(PENINSULAR)
**
PRICE
(SABAH& S’WAK)
**
1 Low-cost
700 sq ft
FromRM35,000
FromRM50,000
2 Medium/low-cost
750sq ft
FromRM50,000
FromRM50,000
3 Medium-cost
800sq ft andabove FromRM80,000
FromRM100,000
** RumahMampuMilik ** Terms and conditions apply and prices vary according to states and locations.
according to the rules set by the state
government. One needs to register with
the state office or personally visit the nearest
state office to fill out an application form.
Three important criteria for eligibility are:
1) Malaysian citizen aged between 21 and 50;
2) Does not own a home or possess any land
big enough for a house to be constructed
on inMalaysia; and
3) Total household income not exceeding
RM2,000.
(ii) RumahMesra Rakyat 1Malaysia
(RMR1M)
There are various house types offered under
this scheme. These include:
• 3-bedroomhouses of 1,000 sq ft
• 2+1-bedroomhouses of 850 sq ft
• 2-bedroomhouses of 700 sq ft
Eligibility criteria to own one of these homes:
Malaysian citizen between the ages of 18 and
60; monthly personal income of between
RM750 and RM3,000; does not own a house
or landmeasuring 3,700 sq ft or more;
depending on bank loan approval.
(iii) ProgramPerumahan Rakyat (PPR)
This scheme was introduced in 1998 and
offered housing built by theMalaysian
Housing and Local Government (MHLG).
It was aimed at providing homes for families
earning less than RM2,500 amonth. The
programme was basically catered to benefit
squatters, to be able to live in permanent
homes (through purchase or rental) that
weremore comfortable and in a healthier
environment. The PPR housing units offer
3-bedroom flats and come with facilites such
as community halls, children’s playgrounds,
kindergartens, shops, stalls, a surau, car-
parking bays and other public spaces that
enhance the quality of life. Todate, there have
been about 65 housing projects launched for
rent, spread throughout Perlis, Kedah, Perak,
Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Johor,
Sabah, Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur; and
23 projects for sale, all located in Pahang.
There are currently 21 more projects on-going
in various stages of implementation.
(iv) ProgramRumah Idaman Rakyat
(RIR)
Under this scheme propelled by the prime
minister, in line with the NHP, 3,000 housing
units are to be built this year. Prices will be
far lower than that offered by private
developing companies. Basic eligibility
requirements include:
•Malaysian citizen aged 21 and above;
• Personal income of RM7,500 or less;
• Household income not exceeding
RM10,000; and
• Preference given to first-time home
owners, people with disabilities and
singlemothers.
This scheme offers residential units
comprising bungalows, terraced and
detached houses, apartments, as well as
shop lots. Prices of these housing units range
fromRM70,000 to RM250,000. The shop lots
are priced belowRM100,000. These units will
be available across the nation, even in Sabah
and Sarawak. Those interested can log onto
the spnb.com.my official website for more
information and fill up the application form.
(v) SkimMudahMilik
This housing scheme does not just offer low-
income earners a chance to purchase their
own home but with a lowdown-payment of
merely RM250. Houses under this scheme
consists of low, medium-low andmedium-
cost units belowRM100,000. The beauty of
this scheme is that applicants can use their
monies fromAccount 2 of their Employees
Provident Fund tomake their purchase. For
more information, log onto the spnb.com.my
official website.
B) PERUMAHAN PENJAWAT AWAM
1MALAYSIA (PPA1M)
This scheme was established by the
government to assist “government servants”
to own homes of good quality. Under this
initiative launched by the primeminister in
2013, more than 10,000 houses were built
within the Putrajaya area. These were priced
between RM150,000 and RM300,000 and
measured between 1,000 and 1,500 sq ft.
Basic eligibility conditions included:
Malaysian citizen; priority given to
households earning less than RM8,000; open
to civil servants and federal government
employees; precedence given to those
working in Putrajaya; and those with no
bankruptcy order filed against them. Lots
were ballotted and results of successful
applicants for its final Phase 4 residences
were announced at the end of June.
Followour column next week for more
information on affordable homes and housing
schemes under PKNS and PR1MA.
