KOTA KINABALU: Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Hj Hajiji Hj Noor yesterday welcomed various measures announced by the Prime Minister in the 2014 Budget speech to curb rising house prices and provide adequate affordable housing for the people.
He pointed out that the moves indicated that the Barisan Nasional government is a caring one that is sensitive to the needs of the people.
In his Budget speech on Friday, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who is also Finance Minister announced that the Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT) will be increased to 30% for properties disposed of within holding a period of up to three years.
The minuman price of property that can be purchased by foreigners will also be increased from RM500,000 to RM1 million.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also announced that 223,000 units of affordable houses will be built by government and the private sector in 2014,
He also revealed an allocation of RM578 million for the National Housing Department (JPN) to build 16,473 Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) units.
In addition, RM146 million will be given to JPN to build 600 units of PPR Disewa (Rental) and Perumahan Rakyat Bersepadu (PRB).
Najib also announced an allocation of RM1 billion to PRIMA to provide 80,000 housing units at prices 20 per cent lower than market prices.
Meanwhile the national housing company SPNB will build 15,122 units of affordable houses, 3,000 units of Rumah Idaman Rakyat and 8,000 units of Rumah Mesra Rakyat.
The Finance Minister also announced a new category of Rumah Mesra Rakyat introduced with sales price from RM45,000 to RM65,000 and subsidy of RM15,000 to RM20,000 per unit.
He also said the Private Affordable Ownership Housing Scheme (MyHome) would be introduced with subsidy of RM30,000 to private developers for each unit built.
The Prime Minister also said RM1 billion will be given for Housing Facilitation Fund under Public-Private Partnership Unit (UKAS).
Hajiji also welcomed the setting up of the National Housing Council announced by the Prime Minister to further strengthen real estate market and increase opportunities for the people to own houses.
The council members would comprise federal government agencies, state governments, JPN, PRIMA, SPNB and the private sector.
Meanwhile, Hajiji said the Sabah government is also doing its best to provide adequate affordable housing for the people and at the same time do all it can to help curb rising house prices, including working closely with federal housing agencies.
He cited the recent launch of a 500-unit PPR project by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in a prime location in Kota Kinabalu, pointing out that the land provided by the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority (LPPB) alone costs RM30 million.
He added that his ministry and LPPB are also working closely with the private sector via the Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Shareda) to build more affordable houses for the people.
Hajiji concluded by expressing the hope that the federal government will consider Sabah favourably in dispensing the allocations or projects announced by the Prime Minister.
He pointed out that Sabah still needs a lot of public housing, be it PPR or houses by PRIMA or SPNB, but expressed confidence that the agencies will allocate accordingly.