SIBU: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government has always been implementing policies that benefit the people, said Michael Tiang.
The Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, said was is very fortunate to have had visionary leaders like Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg who has the people’s well being at heart.
“He has said countless times that his hope is for every resident in Sarawak to be able to afford a house to call their home and that is also my wish and hope too,” he said while officiating the SHEDA Home and Property Roadshow 2022 here today.
Towards this end Tiang revealed that as of Sept 30, a total of 566 Housing Deposit Assistance Scheme (HDAS) applications had been received and 400 approved involving 68 per cent of those in the B40 group and 32 per cent M40 group.
“Through the scheme, managed by Mutiara Mortgage & Credit Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), the Sarawak government would provide a maximum house deposit of RM10,000 or 10 per cent of the house value to eligible recipients. The deposit given is for the recipient, no repayment is required.
“We understand the first and hardest threshold for a youth or a young family to own their first home is to fork out the housing deposit or down payment to purchase a house. The state government therefore introduced HDAS to enable the youth and first-time home buyers to own a home.
“This initiative will also benefit all the stakeholders like housing developers, hardware suppliers and more,” he stressed.
He also pointed out that the state government is committed to helping low income families by targeting to build 2,391 units of affordable houses through HDC under ‘Rumah Spektra Permata’ in the 12th Malaysia Plan with the selling prices ranging between RM90,000 and RM160,000.
Tiang promised that this government administration will continue to study various ways for the people to not just afford a house but also have an environment that is liveable and sustainable.
“I will continue to bring some very constructive suggestions and opinions from SHEDA to further improve the housing development industry and home buying experiences in Sarawak,” he said.
Also present were Sibu SHEDA Branch Chairman Cecil Lau, Sibu Municipal Council Chairman Clarence Ting and Sibu Rural District Council Chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai.
