BANTING, July 15 — The government has no plans to raise Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) home prices despite rising construction costs, said Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu.
She said Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB), the agency responsible for implementing the RMR programme, has adopted various strategies to manage cost increases, including the use of the Industrialised Building System (IBS).
“This is one of SPNB’s proactive measures to absorb cost hikes without burdening buyers.
“In fact, IBS not only helps keep prices stable but also improves construction quality and enhances the overall home design,” Athirah said after attending a briefing and key handover ceremony for 10 new RMR homeowners in Kampung Sungai Kelambu, Sepang, today.
Also present was SPNB chairman Datuk Prof Azmi Mohd Lila.
RMR homes, aimed at the B40 income group, are currently priced at RM75,000 per unit, with the government providing a subsidy of RM20,000.
Athirah added that SPNB is exploring the option of allowing eligible buyers to make lump sum payments instead of the current instalment plan of RM300 per month over 16 years, to ease the growing backlog of applications.
This approach could expedite both the sales and construction processes, as SPNB would have faster access to revolving capital compared to the quarterly disbursements currently received from the Finance Ministry.
“We are receiving between 3,000 to 5,000 qualified applications annually.
“If some applicants are able to pay in full, the government would only need to provide the RM20,000 subsidy rather than cover the entire RM75,000 cost, which would help speed up construction,” she said.
To date, 3,000 RMR units have been completed or are under construction, out of the 5,000 targeted for this year.
— Bernama
