GEORGE TOWN: The waiting period for Penang’s affordable housing programme Rumah MutiaraKu (RMKu) applications has been shortened to just three to six months compared to three to five years previously.
State housing and environment committee chairman Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu said the Penang housing board (LPNPP) has implemented several reforms including a data-cleansing process for applicants in the Housing Information System (SMP).
He said the move was taken after the state identified that a large number of previously registered applicants were no longer eligible due to changes in household income and the failure to update their application details.
"Only applicants who update their complete information and upload the latest documents within the stipulated period will remain active and be considered for an offer.
“This data-cleansing process not only speeds up approvals but reduces the number of inactive applications in the system," he said at the Penang state assembly on Wednesday (Nov 19).
The Perai assemblyman said currently there are now only 6,249 applications on LPNPP’s waiting list, a figure significantly lower compared to before this process was carried out.
He said this in response to a question from Bukhori Ghazali (Perikatan–Pinang Tunggal) regarding the guidelines for applying for RMKu A, RMKu B and RMKu C units.
He said that the state government’s commitment to simplifying public housing applications was further strengthened through the implementation of fully online RMKu applications since August 2023.
“This digitalisation initiative allows applicants to register and upload all documents through the official LPNPP website, reducing reliance on manual applications.
“In the approval process, every application goes through three screening stages, document completeness check, verification of requirements and eligibility, and the final selection process chaired by the chairman of the state housing and environment committee.
“Only applicants who meet all the stipulated requirements will be offered eligible units,” he said.
Sundarajoo informed that from 2020 until October 2025, a total of 8,567 RMKu Type A and Type B units had been completed, comprising 3,420 RMKu A units and 5,147 RMKu B units across the state.
“These developments cover several districts including north Seberang Perai, northeast, southwest, central Seberang Perai and south Seberang Perai.
“To ensure more residents have access to application updates, LPNPP has also introduced the ‘Meet the Customers Day’ roadshow programme at various strategic locations.
“This programme helps applicants who face time constraints, limited access to technology or distance from LPNPP offices to manage their applications without needing to be present at the official counters.
"LPNPP’s official social media channels are also widely used to inform the public about the dates and locations of these programmes,” he said.
He added that applicants who fail to comply with application requirements will be rejected at the verification and screening stages.
