KUALA LUMPUR: The government is looking into improving the quality of affordable housing, with minimum floorspace varying according to the number of rooms and local needs.
Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said affordable homes developed by the private sector generally had floor areas of 600sq ft for one-bedroom units, 700sq ft for two-bedroom units, and 800sq ft for three-bedroom units, with prices determined according to location.
She said a uniform minimum floor area nationwide would require careful consideration of land prices, construction costs, location and household needs to avoid pushing up development costs and house prices.
"The objective is not merely to ensure that people can afford to buy a house, but also that the home they purchase is comfortable, liveable and suited to their needs," she said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Oct 20).
Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud) asked about the ministry's measures to address the trend of rising house prices and shrinking unit sizes, particularly in urban and suburban areas.
Aiman Athirah said the National Housing Policy 2026-2035 adopted a "Humanising Housing" approach, which emphasised affordability alongside quality, comfort and suitability for different households.
She said compact homes could still be liveable if the layout and size matched the needs of occupants, ranging from single people to young couples and senior citizens.
However, smaller units should not come at the expense of comfort, functionality or quality of life, she added.
Housing standards are guided by the National Housing Standard CIS 26:2019, while the Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 stipulate minimum requirements for certain spaces within residential buildings.
Housing developments must also comply with state planning policies and local authority guidelines.
For government housing, the ministry has raised the minimum floor area under the Residensi Rakyat programme to 750sq ft.
The Madani Inclusive Housing initiative also provides for different sizes and designs to cater to varying household needs.
Aiman Athirah said the government was moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach towards housing that better reflects household profiles, while maintaining minimum standards for safety, comfort and liveability.
In a supplementary question, Isnaraissah highlighted Sabah’s housing affordability challenges, noting that prices were among the highest in the country despite lower median household incomes than Selangor.
Aiman Athirah said cooperation with state governments remained a priority, particularly in addressing affordable housing needs in Sabah, Sarawak and Kelantan.
She said proposals could be discussed through the National Affordable Housing Council, chaired by the Prime Minister and attended by chief ministers and mentris besar.
Possible approaches included working with state governments, local authorities and private developers, as well as cross-subsidies, land swaps and public-private partnerships to increase the supply of affordable homes.
She said the concerns raised would also be considered in future discussions on national housing policy.
