The National Affordable Housing Council (MPMMN)'s "One Family One House" target has given hope to Malaysians to finally secure a forever home at an affordable price.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the initiative to ensure that financial institutions facilitated loans for the B40 and M40 groups to buy People's Housing Project (PPR) and affordable houses. The focus will be on direct purchase and rent to own (options).

He added that the MPMMN meeting also discussed strategies to build 500,000 affordable homes nationwide during the 12th Malaysia Plan. This will involve the federal government, state governments and private developers.

“The government is committed to ensuring the provision of adequate and quality affordable housing to meet the needs of a growing population,” he said.

The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) has introduced the Home Ownership Programme (HOPE) to ensure a more comprehensive ecosystem for housing development and financing as well as programmes that can help Keluarga Malaysia (the Malaysian Family) own homes.

The Prime Minister said that Bank Negara will need to review financing models to make home ownership much easier for the B40 and M40 groups in line with the “One Family, One Home” target. The government is also committed to having more affordable housing units for the younger generation, and for the M40 group in the suburbs and smaller towns.

Professor Ts. DR. Anuar Shah from the School of Business and Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia, welcomes the government's efforts on the provision of affordable housing and the RMM implementation strategy in small towns and the suburbs areas. 

"Building affordable housing units in the suburbs and rural areas is a good effort that can revive and reduce mass migration to urban areas through rural socio-economic development and it would also increase employment opportunities in the rural areas," he said.  

Criterias that the government should take account on building affordable homes

Professor Ts. DR. Anuar Shah said that the government should take into account the income of B40 and M40 households. It is no secret that the prices of properties have soared several times in the past 20 years while salaries have not kept up.

Plus, the space in an affordable home should have at least 3 rooms or preferably 4 rooms with an area of ​​over 1000 square feet. Affordable housing units should be targeted to Malaysians who do not yet have a home. One of today’s issues is that most houses are bought by people who already have several houses. Therefore, this initiative should be focused on those who do not yet have a home.

"Public facilities and accessibility are also very important because the majority of the M40 group work in nearby cities," he explained.

He further commented that the next aspect is the financing scheme and housing loans should be simplified for the M40 and B40 groups.

How to buy a house if it is difficult to get a loan?

In the 2022 Budget, the government has announced a guarantee of up to RM2 billion through the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme to provide access to financing to those who find it difficult to buy a house because they do not have a fixed income. To apply under this scheme, the average monthly income of the applicant must be at least RM1,000.00.

Building affordable housing options for the younger generation

For Batrisyia, 27, from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, she hopes that the affordable housing proposal can be implemented as the current house price is too costly.

"For people who are already married like me, owning a house is very important because it is an asset that can be inherited."

Sanjeevan, 28, from Ulu Tiram, Johor, said that the 'One Family One House' is a good initiative proposed by the government. The new People's Housing Program (PPR) which takes into account elements such as connectivity and Internet access 'fiber to the home' (FTTH) is important as people need these facilities to perform their daily tasks.

Faris, 23, from Pontian, Johor, hopes that the government can facilitate more affordable housing units for the youths.

“It’s not easy for the younger generation to buy a property nowadays. They are mostly renting a flat or some even just a room. If the government can facilitate more affordable houses this would ease the burden of young people to own their own home.