JOHOR BARU: The Johor government has expanded its housing assistance under the second phase of the Perumahan Kasih Johor programme.
Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced improved aid to help more locals own or rent homes on Saturday (Apr 25).
Onn Hafiz said housing remained a core priority under the Maju Johor 2030 agenda to ensure no local is left behind.
He said the state's economic growth must translate into direct benefits for the people.
"When the state’s revenue increases, it becomes our responsibility to return that prosperity to the rakyat through meaningful initiatives," he said.
More than 2,000 recipients are benefiting under the second phase, which covers three categories of financial assistance.
The first category provides 1,800 first-home buyers with RM5,000 each for homes priced below RM300,000.
A second category offers RM2,000 to help recipients move into their first homes, covering utility deposits and basic furnishings.
Recipients who qualify under both categories could receive up to RM7,000 in total assistance.
For tenants, the one-off rental assistance payment has been increased from RM2,000 to RM2,500.
The eligibility ceiling has been raised to include homes renting for up to RM2,500 a month.
The household income threshold for rental aid was doubled from RM5,000 to RM10,000 a month to include middle-income families.
"The reality is that not only the B40 group needs help. The M40 group also deserves support," Onn Hafiz said.
The RM2,500 rental assistance will now be paid in a lump sum instead of monthly instalments.
The state will also consider applications from Johoreans who own homes in other districts but must rent closer to their workplaces.
The assistance is open to all races in Johor, including Malays, Chinese, Indians and orang asli communities.
The state is also considering home purchase assistance for Bumiputera buyers in the M40 group for properties up to RM650,000.
Onn Hafiz said Johor aims to deliver 30,000 affordable homes in the near term and 100,000 units by 2030.
