ISKANDAR PUTERI: Johor is ramping up its efforts to give every segment of society, particularly those in rural areas and the B40 group, access to quality and affordable housing.
Housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the state government has committed to building 100,000 units of Rumah Mampu Milik Johor (RMMJ) by 2030, with 16,845 units already completed as of the first quarter of this year.
“The state government remains committed to achieving our target of 30,000 units by 2026, and the momentum will continue to reach 100,000 units by the end of this decade,” he told the state assembly here on Monday (May 19).
He was replying to questions from Muszaide Makmor (BN-Sedili), Mohd Yusla Ismail (BN-Senggarang) and Ng Kor Sim (PH-Jementah).
Jafni added that this commitment includes efforts to expand projects under the Rumah Kasih Johor (RKJ) and Rumah Prihatin Johor (RPJ) programmes, to support low-income groups listed under the e-Kasih system as well as those that are not.
He said the RKJ programme provides free housing to hardcore poor families on their own land, with 500 units targeted for completion by next year with an allocation of RM67mil.
The RPJ programme, launched this year, is tailored for those in the B40 group who own land but are not registered in the e-Kasih database.
“Each RPJ unit costs at RM86,000, of which RM30,000 is subsidised by the state.
"Through RPJ, eligible recipients only need to pay RM56,000 for a 660sq ft home with three bedrooms and two bathrooms,” Jafni said, adding that a pilot project involving 20 units in Kulai and Kluang was underway.
Jafni also said some 31 RMMJ projects were offered last year, comprising 2,326 units, while the number of eligible applications received via the e-rumah portal stood at 20,276.
He said 14 state constituencies currently have fewer than 20 RMMJ units each and this would be prioritised under plans involving government land and strategic partnerships with district offices and local authorities.
Among the new strategies being explored are the construction of affordable apartments on waqaf land, the use of land under the South Johor Development Authority (SSI) and Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), and enhanced policies on bumiputra lot pricing.
“We have also activated a state-level housing task force to identify viable land in all 10 districts for future affordable housing projects,” Jafni said.
He added that the state government, under the leadership of Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, remains focused on inclusive development, particularly in ensuring safe shelter for all.
