IS the “My First House” scheme only for civil servants?
That was the question raised yesterday in the State Assembly by Luyang assemblywoman Melanie Chia.
According to her, many private sector staff have complained to her of their applications for the scheme rejected by housing developers in Sabah.
The “My First House” scheme was launched to enable young Malaysians aged below 35 to easily purchase their own houses.
To qualify for the scheme, they must meet certain criteria such as the age limit and the houses they purchase must be worth between RM100,000 and RM220,000.
They would also be entitled to a 100 per cent loan from 25 participating banks and the main criterion is that they must have been employed for at least six months.
When debating the government’s policy speech yesterday, Chia pointed out that if the scheme is only for civil servants, those aged 35 and below in the private sector or operating their own business will not be able to own their own houses.
How can those employed in the private sector get a 100 per cent loan from banks to buy their first house, she said adding, “to my understanding the government already has a special scheme for civil servants to buy houses, so there is no need to provide them with another scheme.
“This opportunity should be given to the private sector,” she stressed before expressing the hope that the government would provide an explanation about the scheme in order to clear up all confusion and dissatisfaction among the government and non-government servants.
Chia also urged the Town Housing Development Board (LPPB) to return to its objective of building more affordable houses and not compete with the private sector in developing medium and high-cost houses.
“If a government-linked company like LPPB does not assist to build more affordable houses, I am worried that the private housing developers will not be interested to do so,” she said and highlighted that if the government did not take immediate steps to rectify the problem, the younger generation, especially graduates, will not be able to own houses.
The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Wanita chief also brought up the issue of young local girls from the rural areas being involved in vice activities.
The girls were said to be from areas like Pitas, Kota Marudu and Kudat, three districts which are located in the north of the state and have also been reported to be the poorest in the country.
“We must find out why these girls resorted to vice. If poverty is the reason, then it shows that the government has failed to assist the people, especially those in the rural areas,” she said, adding that if the reason was deterioration of moral values, then the government must also find out the reason for this and resolve it.
“Maybe there is a need to strengthen moral education in schools,” she said.