The Johor state government today gave water rebate of 20 to 35 cubic metres to reduce the burden of the poor and the hardcore poor.     

Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the state government is deeply concerned with the people's high cost of living and always try to ensure their wellbeing.     

"The state government is aware that clean water is a basic need and hopes the people including those in rural areas can enjoy clean water supply," he said when tabling 2014 Budget in the State Assembly at Kota Iskandar in Nusajaya, today.     

Efforts to supply clean water would be enhanced and the state government hopes that 100 percent of the Johor population would enjoy the facility by 2017.     

They were not only focused on providing access to clean water supply but also on upgrading the quality and service to that of developed countries.     

Mohamed Khaled also said the state government plans to provide 28,000 units   low-cost housing and affordable housing from 2013 to 2018.     

"They will be undertaken by state-owned agencies such as Johor Corporation Berhad, Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor, Yayasan Pelajaran Johor and Perbadanan Islam in cooperation with federal government and private developers.     

"Next year, 1,550 units under the People's Housing Project (PPR) in Sungai Melana, Johor Baharu, built by federal government, will be offered for rent."     

The state government will expand the People Housing Policy outside Iskandar Malaysia from Jan 1 under schemes such as Perumahan Komuniti A (RM42,000), Perumahan Komuniti B (RM80,000) and Perumahan Mampu Milik (RM140,000-RM150,00).     

He said the state government will implement a price mechanism to ensure that housing developers did not neglect low-cost and affordable housing.     

It will also raise the minimum price of property owned by foreigners from RM500,000 to RM1 million in line with the federal government budget.     

The processing fee for each purchase will also be raised from RM10,000 for each property to 2 percent of selling price as stated in the sale and purchase agreement.     

Mohamed Khaled said both conditions on foreigners will be enforced on May 1, 2014.     

The state government today tabled a deficit budget of RM2.02 million for 2014 with estimated revenue of RM1,064.59 million against RM1,062.57 million in  expenditure.     

- Bernama