Over RM93m to aid B40, M40 house buyers

THE Sarawak government, through Mutiara Mortgage and Credit Sdn. Bhd. (MUTIARA), has approved 1,499 applications, totaling RM93.129 million as of October 31, to address the end-financing issue for low-income group (B40) and middle-income group (M40) house buyers. 

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said RM75.562 million has been disbursed to 1,170 house buyers at an annual interest rate of one percent for B40 and three percent for M40. Additionally, RM122 million has been allocated for this purpose in 2024.

“Under the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (12MP) Mid-Term Review for Sarawak Government-funded projects, my ministry through Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has been allocated a ceiling of RM262.8 million for the implementation of 38 projects consisting of 35 physical projects and 3 non-physical projects. 

“The 35 physical projects cover the implementation of Rumah Mampu Milik (RMM) and Rumah SPEKTRA Permata (RSP) in Kuching, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu, Kapit, Mukah, Miri and Limbang including the implementation of roads in Bandar Baru Sibu Jaya, upgrading of infrastructure and amenities at 3 traditional kampong in Kuching and project feasibility studies for RSP Teku, Sibu and Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) Kidurong Bintulu. 

“The 3 non-physical projects are financial grants to Mutiara Mortgage and Credit Sdn. Bhd. (MUTIARA), including grant for issuance of strata title for HDC flats and housing needs and demand study,” he said.

An allocation of RM242.04 million has been designated for 8 Projek Rakyat, including upgrades to infrastructure in Skim Pembesaran Kampung (SPK) Igan and Skim Pembesaran Kampung (SPK) Tian. Additionally, there are 6 projects under the Rumah SPEKTRA Permata (RSP) programme, involving four Skim Pembesaran Kampung (SPK) in Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Betong, and two Skim Penempatan Semula (SPS) in Limbang and Lawas.

Dr Sim also mentioned that, as part of the Long House Scheme Initiative, the loan limit for constructing a new long house has been raised from RM30,000 to RM50,000 per unit, with a maximum of RM30,000 per unit for long house upgrades and repairs.

“As the funding by the federal government is very limited, the additional funding from Sarawak Government has been introduced starting from 2020 with a RM50 million ceiling annually.

“This is to expedite the transformation of the living environment in rural areas and to reduce the long waiting list of longhouse loan applications throughout Sarawak due to overwhelming applications received by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC).

This programme has benefited a total of 1,084 longhouses comprising 23,653 doors with a total combined allocation of RM453.3 million comprising of RM250.96 million from federal government and RM202.34 million from Sarawak government over the last 4 years,” he said.

As for 2023, a total of 78 long houses consisting of 1,698 doors have been approved. Currently, there are 287 longhouses consisting of 5,702 doors in the waiting list.

In a similar development, he also mentioned that the number of cases related to tribunal for housing purchaser claims presided over for the past three years from 2020 up to October 31 are 320 cases. 

“There are 110 cases solved in the year 2020, 97 cases solved for the year 2021, 82 cases solved in the year 2022 and as to date, for the year 2023 there are 31 cases.

“All cases solved are in various districts such as Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu,” he said.