Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email I fail to see the logic of this move by PAS-led Kedah. This Pakatan Rakyat state announced that its new policy is to have 50% bumiputra quota for housing schemes. The Menteri Besar said that it was to compel developers to build affordable homes for all Kedahans, while EXCO Phahrolrazi said:
among the policy’s main objectives was the need to check racial polarisation as racial homogeneity could be observed in some new housing schemes.
He said housing schemes should have a healthy mix of people from various religious and racial backgrounds to promote racial integration, tolerance and understanding.
The Menteri Besar, Azizan Abdul Razak, was also quoted in NST that the policy would not deprive other communities of the right to own houses. He said that this decision was made because it was found that many Bumiputeras could not purchase houses because the quota was already taken up.
A majority of 1.5 million people (out of the estimated two million people) are Malays and the rest a mix of Indians, Chinese and others, and we have proof that when a Bumiputera wants to buy a house, the developer would say they have been sold.
In other words, the MB says that developers are lying in order to maintain a certain exclusivity for the housing projects.
The MB disagreed with the comments made by Housing Developers Association of Malaysia (Rehda) Kedah/Perlis chairman Ricque Liew that property developers in Kedah might have to close shop if the state government did not revoke the policy.
Liew had said that the state government should stick to the national policy where the Bumiputera quota was fixed at 30 per cent because even some Malays did not want to buy Bumiputera lots as they could not make much of a profit when they sold them later on.
He had said that the value of Bumiputera units did not appreciate much and buyers often had problems reselling them as they must sell to Bumiputera buyers only.
Liew added that “such a policy will only restrict the Malays from making a profit at market value.”
Now, the idea that this policy would not deprive other communities is a joke. You are taking a bigger slice of the pie, and there’s no indication that the pie is getting bigger. So, essentially, you are reducing the leftover pie. Unless there is proof that non-bumiputra units are not sold completely, indicating lack of interest, its pretty clear that this is a discriminatory and depriving policy. So, I hope the MB can clarify.
Secondly, why not get rid of the such handout mentality, and just have a policy based on income-level? In this way, the poor Chinese, Siamese, Indonesians, Indians and others can also benefit. Isn’t that more fair, even in Islam? Hopefully the mufti or other learned people can explain better?
Let’s see now what Pakatan Rakyat team members (DAP and PKR) have to say. Also, Waytha of Hindraf may want to issue a media statement on this. Then, it will be the turn of the opposition parties – MCA/Gerakan/MIC to attack PAS. There’s a caveat though, there must be numbers to substantiate the demand for houses in Kedah for both bumiputra and non-bumiputra lots in the past few years.
House should be built for people need not for profit…building excessive houses and make one rich guy own 10 houses is sheer wastages as it is contributing to environmental degradtion everywhere.
Property in major towns of kedah namely alor setar and sungai petani is mostly owned by the chinese, i can see tht the chinese are always reluctant to mix with people of other races namely the malays and indians some of the housing are fully conquered by them
)n your left is chinese,right is chinese,front is chinese,back is chinese…how to enhance racial interaction if they always prefer to isolate themselves and deal only with their community.
As long as the quota doesnt effect other races its perfectly OK for state gov to implement such policy…..it could help to create healthy mix of people from various religious and racial background as said by the menteri besar.
hope selangor also will follow suit and make some decision on housing area to enhance racial unity…if possible state gov should ban “gated community” which is equal to having caste discrimination
50% of quota??gotta be kidding!its a backward move.are you sure that chinese is the one who always demand for chinese neighborhood?how sure you are?i have been in this industry for 15 years and majority of my customers are malays but they post the same question to me…who is next to this plot of house..indian?chinese??hey it is only human nature and accept it that there’s always racial differences and it not discrimination but racial preferences(we are different in culture and religion).We all are human being and should have human right to choose whever we like and it happen to all kind of races.honestly speaking this policy doesn’t affect me that much as i mention before most of my clients are bumi but when we look at this issue in modern competitive economy-it is totally not acceptable nor it is feasible.Fact number 1)most of my clients don’t want to buy malay reserved house as it will be a big constraint when they want to sell it.buying a house could be for your own stay but on the other hand it is also a stable investment.why should it be restricted in selling to all races?more option and choices is always better.too many restriction will only slow down development and economic growth.Let the market determine the course of action taken by greedy developers. the modern and realistic economy always tell us demand and supply.if there is excess of supply then you know what happen.right?2nd fact)don’t think there will be big specultion in kedah’s property market(it is not penang or KL where the rich and forigner gather).Somebody said that houses should be built for peoples’ need not for profit but pls find out the truth before you make the statement.Most low cost houses required by gov are left unsold and wht is that?material cost rised but price of low cost houses is not reviewed and developers are making loses on that.Building for peoples’ need should be left to gov as we pay tax every year.quota doesn’t promote healthy mix of races it is totally irrelevant.It is the income level and area that really determine the ratio of racial mix.Anything below 150k will see good mix of races according to state’s percentage of races(ex:example more malays and less chines and indian according to ratio).Knowing the fact that chinese is more affluent most higher end houses are owned by chinese.Of course existing racial popultion should also be taken into consideration(if the existing area is 99% of malay i can be very sure that most house buyers will be malays and vice verser for the indian and chinese)If the gov reallly want to promote heathey mix of races in neighbourhood pls raise the income level of the people so that everybody can afford good and luxurious house OR make them all poor enough to stay in one community which is built by the gov FOR PEOPLE’S NEED NOT FOR PROFIT.Finally,pls wish the gov do something constructive and not driving the state backward.
To share my experience, when I was looking for house to rent, some agents asked about race and occupation. The agents explained that some landlords only prefer Chinese tenants. Yeah, its discrimination, but that’s the reality. Anyway, I stayed in two rented houses, and both had Chinese owners, so its not so prevalent. Their main concern is that the tenant has a stable job and able to pay rent on time.
Even though housing is a basic need, some make a living out of it, so I guess its not easy to maintain a social responsibility. That’s why rather than based on race, it should be on income or economic status. In this way, if indeed certain race is poorer than others, then automatically they will get priority to buy the house.
One thing that attracts the Chinese community in buying house is the proximity of Chinese schools. Can’t say that for Indians, though 🙂