12MP review: 800 houses to be built in KL, S'gor, Penang under pilot Madani project

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 800 units of houses of various sizes will be constructed in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Penang under the pilot Madani Inclusive Housing project, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

While tabling the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) Mid-Term Review in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Sept 11), the Prime Minister said the project would cater to people of different income groups.

Anwar also said he was confident that with private-public sector collaboration, the target of building 500,000 units of affordable houses under 12MP would be achieved.

"The government is always cognisant of housing matters and that will be our main agenda without any compromises. We are aware that house prices and rental rates are burdening the people," he said.

As of the end of 2022, a total of 108,373 units of affordable housing have been built.

Anwar added that public housing would continue to be improved by transitioning from the concept of ownership to the concept of residence.

He also noted that the rent-to-own scheme would be expanded to ensure that targeted groups can own a house.

"Aside from that, the initiative for renting houses for those who are not able to not afford (buying one) in urban areas implemented in Johor and Selangor will be expanded," he said.

While tabling 12MP in September 2021, then-prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said 500,000 affordable housing units would be built under the 12MP, adding that improvements would also be made to facilitate home financing, including the Fund for Affordable Housing, Youth Housing Scheme and Rent-to-Own Program (RTO) to allow more people from the B40 and M40 groups to own homes.