I’m sure this news will be music to many peoples’ ears. Those in the RM2500-4000 bracket would find it difficult to purchase a house, especially a landed property in KL. A double storey terrace of decent size (20×70) would easily cost RM350k if located in some corner of Klang Valley. Those in high-value areas can reach RM650k.  Want to buy apartments, may be too small and mostly rented to college students, foreign worker etc. Not exactly conducive environment once expects a graduate in a city to live in.

I just hope that houses (be it landed or high-rise) be of suitable size with enough rooms. I’ll say 1200-1600 sqft with 3-4 rooms should be the minimum.

Next will be the quality of the materials used. Hopefully there will be proper monitoring and enforcement. That’s a big IF.

Finally, not only the house, but the surrounding infrastructure is important too. No point building houses that are affordable but located far from everything. There should be access to public transport, medical services, schools, business/commercial areas, green spaces and places of worship. There should be community halls, enough lifts (for highrise), enough car parks too.

Oh ya, yet another concern is the financing. Wonder how the terms would be. Maybe combined loan, longer tenure and lowest deposit (government to provide some sort of guarantee).

BTW, would there still be discounts for certain community? Or can we consider all of them need help equally?

As it is, this is a policy. We all know how thing turn out when implemented in due time. Hope this policy works out well.

The Najib administration launched the National Housing Policy (NHP) today, focusing on houses for sale or rental to those earning between RM2,500 and RM3,999 a month, or the middle-income group that is growing to be a major urban vote bank.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today that the policy would ensure that every income group would be able to afford to purchase homes through affordable public housing (APH).

He said the policy was a follow-up to the 10th Malaysia Plan, where the government has set a target to construct 78,000 units of affordable public homes throughout the country by 2015.

“At this moment, the two challenges concerning the housing sector are the preparation for affordable homes for all segments of society and the need for a safe and comfortable housing environment in line with the country’s socio-economic status.

“The government is now working on the distribution of affordable homes as well as to strengthen our efforts in providing high quality homes,” said Muhyiddin(picture) today.

The DPM said the NHP was needed to provide direction and basis for the planning and development of the housing sector by all relevant ministries, departments and agencies at the federal, state and local levels as well as the private sector.

The NHP will be under the purview of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, which is headed by minister Datuk Wira Chor Chee Heung.

The three key objectives of the NHP are:

• To provide adequate and quality housing with comprehensive facilities and a conducive environment

• To enhance the capability and accessibility of people to own or rent houses

• Setting a future direction to ensure the sustainability of the housing sector.

Under the NHP, the government and private sector will provide affordable houses for sale and rental especially for the low-income group, and also for the disabled, senior citizens and single mothers.

The policy outlines the role of the private sector as it is encouraged to develop medium-cost houses for the middle-income group with a monthly household income of RM2,500 to RM3,999.

It is understood that the national policy will enhance the role of state governments and their agencies, as they will be given flexibility in determining the quota of low-cost houses to be built in mixed-development areas based on the sustainability of the location and local demand.

“We will be engaging the state governments, so that they will set a quota or a percentage for medium-cost houses to be built so that middle-income earners can also purchase houses,” said Chor today.

He said the NHP was not really “new” as policies on housing had existed prior to the creation of the policy.

“It’s just that it is more systematic and proper now, and it will be easier for reference,” he added.

The NHP also outlines ways in ensuring that the lower-income group can afford to purchase homes which include providing financial support for the group and setting a realistic rental rate for low-cost houses.

Prices will also be set for low-cost houses and its ownership and sale will be controlled to avoid speculation.