KUALA LUMPUR – Low-income communities stand to benefit from caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s One Home One Family initiative as housing prices are expected to spike in the future.
The programme will also provide an opportunity for Malaysians to become homeowners, a title they may have been deprived of previously due to financial restrictions.
According to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia senior lecturer Mazlan Ali, the targeted government initiative is needed to ensure proper housing accommodation for the people.
“The targeted government programme provides a guaranteed housing credit scheme during uncertain economic conditions,” he told Getaran, The Vibes’ sister portal.
“(The scheme) benefits those with no stable income, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic saw many people lose their jobs.”
Mazlan added that the programme caters to the needs of the B40 community and addresses contractors from Class D, including Bumiputera citizens.
Yesterday, Ismail Sabri promised that every family in the nation will have their own home, in line with the One Home One Family initiative, if his administration remains in control of Putrajaya after the upcoming national polls (GE15).
He added that under Budget 2023, tabled in Parliament on October 7, the programme has an allocation of RM372.3 billion, including a housing scheme.
“I guarantee that all housing schemes will be implemented if my administration is re-elected in GE15.”
Meanwhile, Putra Business School economic associate professor Abu Sofia Yaacob recommended that a census be carried out through the national housing development company to survey the number of unsold houses under PR1MA Corporation and other projects.
The unoccupied houses could then be sold to those from the B40 and M40 socioeconomic category, he said.
“We should simplify matters. For family heads with low or unstable incomes, we could also sell the houses to them and ask their children with set incomes to become co-buyers.
“If the family head cannot afford to pay (for the house), then the children can help and the house can be passed down to the next generation.The issue of unresolved house payments does not arise then and there will be no issues when the house is put up for sale.”
He added that once houses from PR1MA have been filled, the government can then offer apartments – preferably equipped with the standard three bedrooms and two bathrooms – to those who have yet to secure their own homes.
Besides that, he said that the housing programme should prioritise individuals and families without their own homes.
“Those from the B40 community who are working with low income and do not have their own house should be given priority.
“We should simplify the process for them to secure their own homes. Only then does the One Home One Family initiative fulfil its objective.” – The Vibes, November 4, 2022
