Malaysia renews focus on affordable housing projects for 2019

Tens of thousands in residential properties for low-income segments have been approved for development this year

The Malaysian housing ministry is speeding up efforts to bring more affordable homes to underserved segments of the populace, Bernama is reporting.

The government is currently implementing the National Housing Policy (DRN) 2.0, and two other new policies, namely the National Affordable Housing Policy (DRMM) and the National Community Policy (DKN).

DRMM aims to build 100,000 affordable home units, with the government having approved 13 projects under the policy this year, said housing minister Zuraida Kamaruddin in a press briefing this week. The projects represent some 30,000 units on offer.

The ministry would give special focus on promoting home ownership among young couples and single individuals through the Bandar Malaysia project.

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Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced last month the MYR140-billion (USD33.8 billion) project, set in the Sungai Besi area of Kuala Lumpur, that would yield 10,000 units of affordable homes.

“I want to look into the component for young people as well. We plan to allocate 30 percent (of the units) to young people, single and those married with no children,” said Zuraida.

One-room units, which come in sizes of about 600 square feet, will serve as “transit” homes.

The new housing policy also plans to innovate on the units’ amenities. “Under the DRN 2.0, we’re talking more about smart development where we want houses to be equipped with smart technologies so that people may enjoy a better living, better monitoring and for us to have better management of the property as well,” Zuraida said.