The Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry will review the National Housing Policy, which will end next year, said its minister, Tan Sri Noh Omar.(www.nst.com)
Noh said he had asked his ministry to look into ways that would enable the government to control the prices of homes to be included in the policy so that people from the low- and middle-income bracket could own property. “The current policy only allows the government to control the price of low-cost homes, which are priced not more than RM42,000 and spanning 60.3sq m.
“I was told the current policy tried to avoid intervention from the government in determining the prices of homes and had made it a free market. But, now, we want a policy that will allow us to control the prices of homes so that people can own homes according to their means.” Noh said the ministry was engaging the National Council of Professors to explore the matter. He was speaking after the opening of the Tanjong Karang Umno division delegates’ meeting by Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa at Institut Pengurusan Ladang here yesterday.
Noh added that state governments could play a role in lowering prices of homes. Selangor, for example, could give its cooperation by doing away with development charges, which was done during the administration of Barisan Nasional. “In Selangor, the land premium is high and this is in addition to development charges. So, of course, the prices of homes will rise. “That is why the prices of homes in Selangor are steep. In this case, the Selangor government must play its role in reducing the price of homes,” he added.