THAT’S HILARIOUS: Najib (right) has Faizal in stitches during the live interview as Seelan Paul (standing at left) and Kieren (seated right) look on in amusement. — Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will launch an affordable quality housing programme for houses priced at RM220,000 and below to enable the younger generation to own a house, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
He said the programme, under the My First Home Scheme and to be launched either next month or in July, would be implemented under the public-private partnership initiative.
“The government will provide the site, and the developer will implement the project based on the industrial building system.
“I’ve also said that if possible, they (the private sector) turn this into a corporate social responsibility project and not for profit,” he said in an interview with Hot FM radio station at Sri Pentas, here yesterday.
The one-hour programme, hosted by Fara Fauzana, Faizal Ismail and Kieran, was also aired live on 8TV.
Najib said the initiative was devised following comments conveyed through his Facebook page, and in newspapers, about the difficulties faced by the younger generation in owning a house within that price range, especially in the Klang Valley.
Under the My First Home Scheme launched by the prime minister on March 8, those aged 35 and below, with a monthly salary of less than RM3,000, are eligible to buy a house, priced at RM220,000 and below, with 100 per cent financing.
During the one-hour session, the prime minister was also asked about the public transportation National Key Result Area (NKRA).
Najib said the initiative had shown progress and that its impact would be more profoundly felt in the next two to three years.
Answering a caller’s query on his new media engagement, Najib said, it was in line with the new environment and the trend among the younger generation.
“I’ve decided that apart from using the conventional way, I will also utilise the new media because it allows me to convey messages in a prompt manner to those who use the platform,” he said.
Apart from a blog and a Facebook account, Najib also tweets actively and has a huge number of followers.
Najib said he normally update his Twitter tweets at night while he was at home, or while on the road between Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, after he had done the business of the day.
The interview was also punctuated by light moments and friendly banters between the hosts and the prime minister.
At one point, Najib was asked about the upcoming match between Manchester United and Barcelona for the Champions League final.
Najib, a Manchester United fan, said he hope that MU would win the match but admitted that Barcelona too, had a strong line up.
To a question on how he dealt with stress, Najib said he exercised regularly.
— Bernama