MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon has spoken out against his Umno counterpart Khairy Jamaluddin's his call to introduce racial quota in the 1Malaysia People's Housing Scheme (PR1MA).

"MCA Youth disagrees with the proposal by Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin that a 30 percent quota for bumiputras and youths be allocated in the balloting system of PR1MA.

"By implementing a quota system, it contradicts the government’s intentions of helping the lower-income groups own affordable housing," Chong said in a statement today.

On Wednesday, Khairy urged a review of the balloting system for the affordable housing scheme because it did not guarantee 30 percent bumiputera or youth successful applicants which is the norm for medium and low-cost housing projects.

He had said that this was Umno Youth exco's collective decision.

However, Chong insists the balloting system showed the government is being fair and impartial in the allocation of affordable housing but racial quotas will not bode well for the government.

"This (racial quota) will cause many people to be unhappy, and they will then start to question the government’s sincerity in implementing PR1MA because it will seem that there is bias or discrimination," he warned.

'Better to improve system'

Nonetheless, Chong said the system can be improved by implementing a screening system to ensure strict vetting of applicants' financial status.

"This will then allow fair and equal treatment for those who are genuinely in need of a home, regardless of their race or age," he said.

Chong said practising the spirit of 1Malaysia alone will not lead to a breakthrough in racial harmony if racial quotas are perpetuated.

"This will prevent us from reaching across the racial lines which separate us, thus wasting the government’s good intentions," he added.