PARLIAMENT |   Second Finance Minister Johari Abdul Ghani has promised to ensure that opposition representatives will be able to support their constituents to apply online for affordable housing.

The minister said this at the Dewan Rakyat today, after Oscar Ling (DAP-Sibu) complained that opposition lawmakers were unable to support their constituents to apply for "Rumah Mesra Rakyat 1Malaysia (RMR1M)" on the Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd's (SPNB) website, which is compulsory in the application.

"Cannot, (when you surf the net,) I cannot click the word 'Sibu', it wouldn't appear (in the 'support' column). But an MP's support is compulsory and needed in the process," Ling said.

"The opposition nationwide has faced this problem. In Sibu, only one MP can offer the support. In Kuching, no MP can do that," the DAP MP added.

"RMR1M is meant for the people. So, the people are entitled to apply for it if they qualify for it, regardless of which MP supports them in the application," Johari said during the ministerial winding up of 2018 Budget.

He also said he will meet with the management of SPNB, which is in charge of building the affordable housing scheme.

"I will tell SPNB that the rakyat should be allowed to apply regardless where he or she stays. I think we should allow this process (to take place)," he added.

RMR1M is an affordable housing scheme by SPNB, which is under the Finance Ministry. Eligible buyers are entitled to subsidies amounting to RM20,000.

It was reported that SPNB has constructed 40,000 units housing since its launch in 2002.