KUALA LUMPUR: Affordable transit houses for youth in the Klang Valley will be implemented through the Rumah Belia Madani (RBM) initiative, says the Deputy Local Government Development Minister.
Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said this commitment came following the previous Youth Transit Housing Scheme (MyTransit) which had been announced but was not realised.
“In 2018, the then minister had announced the initiative under MyTransit, and the same was done in 2021. However, no progress has been made despite the announcement.
“Following the change of government, we reviewed and studied the failure to implement the initiative.
“In February, the ministry had detailed the agreement with the companies involved for them to agree on the (conditions),” he said in response to Datuk Dr Alias Razak (PN-Kuala Nerus) in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (May 23).
Alias had earlier asked for the status of the construction of RBM and whether or not the ministry has a timeline to expand it nationwide.
Akmal Nasrullah said to date, the ministry had signed an agreement with developer BMG Global Sdn Bhd to build 1,048 RBM units in Mukim Batu, Sentul in Kuala Lumpur.
He said the figure comprises 35% of the total units planned out of 3,044 in the Klang Valley.
The houses would be built on a “cross subsidy” basis by the ministry and the company, he added.
He said the developer would build Rumah Mampu Milik (RMM) priced at RM300,000 where the profits would be used to build RBM units as a “return in kind” to the government.
“RBM is targeted for youth below age 35 to rent the unit for a certain period until they are financially stable and can afford to buy their own house,” he said.
Tan Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng) also asked the deputy minister to explain the need to review the National Housing Policy.
Akmal Nasrullah responded that the ministry is also committed to reviewing the policy to address current housing issues.
