PARLIAMENT The Housing, Local Government and Urban Well-being Ministry has been urged to review its sudden change in criteria for the newly launched MyHome programme, which "discriminates" against low-income earners.

According to DAP's Sibu MP Oscar Ling, homes costing between RM80,000 and RM120,000, typically offered to low income earners, are now only open to households earning RM3,000-4,000 a month.

"This is different to the Prime Minister's 2014 Budget speech which states that the criteria is RM3,000 and below.

"In fact the criteria was still RM3,000 and below at March 27, but when it was launched on April 1, it became RM3,000-4,000...

"I raised this in (the Dewan Rakyat) last week and the minister said this is the PM's decision and will not be changed," he told reporters.

Speaking at the Parliament lobby, he said that checks found that state governments including Sarawak and Terengganu offer such low-cost homes to those earning RM3,000 and below.

The MyHome programme, which provides qualified individuals with up to RM30,000 subsidy, was allocated about RM200 million in the 2014 Budget.

It is also separate from the Program Rumah 1Malaysia (PR1MA) which is caters more to the middle income earners.

However, Ling said MyHome is problematic on several fronts.

For example, he said, buyers who are selected for MyHome will be locked into the programme although there are still no homes ready yet.

In fact, he said, private developers with suitable projects are now encouraged to register for the programme.

“If the government really wanted to help the rakyat, they will go out there to look for suitable projects instead of urging private developers to register,” he said.