Wan Azizah to remain DPM regardless of PKR election outcome
Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will remain the Deputy Prime Minister regardless of the outcome of the PKR election. The consensus reached by Pakatan Harapan was that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would be Prime Minister, Dr Wan Azizah the Deputy Prime Minister, and that Anwar would assume the Prime Minister’s post later, said party secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Should Anwar be voted as PKR president, he would remain in that position without holding any government post. “Being the president, Anwar does not have the standing to hold any post in the Government. He has to contest to become an MP, but we have yet to reach that stage.” (The Star Online)
Penang to review charges imposed on property developers
The Penang state government is reviewing all charges currently imposed on developers to make property prices more affordable for consumers. State Housing, Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee Chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the charges inflated the prices of properties which would be borne by the consumer, but upon review, is expected to fall. Upon compilation of the charges, the committee would seek suggestions from Redha before making any final decision. He said among the charges to be reviewed are those for development, infrastructure and amenities. (Malay Mail Online)
Malaysia’s Public Sector Home Financing Board, MBSB Bank to provide joint loans
Malaysia’s Public Sector Home Financing Board (LPPSA), a statutory body under the public sector Home Financing Board Act 2015, is teaming up with MBSB Bank to provide a joint financial scheme to public sector employees for owning their first homes. The scheme allows spouses or parents and children to apply for a joint loan to purchase a house, provided at least one of the joint applicants is a public sector employee. Separately, joint applicants who work in the private sector can obtain funding from MBSB Bank. The scheme will be ready for application by this year. The main purpose of the scheme is to assist the borrowers, especially public sector employees, to obtain a higher amount of financing than individual housing loans. (The Edge Markets)
New national housing policy in December
A new national housing policy is scheduled to be unveiled in December and will contain elements that will make it easy for the people to own and finance a home. Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the ministry held discussions with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), bank representatives and relevant associations to ensure that the new policy is capable of resolving issues pertaining to home ownership. “Our goal is to see lower prices for homes and make them more affordable,” she said. (NST Online)
Penang mulls lease for affordable homes
The Penang state government is considering a proposal from Rehda Penang to lease affordable housing for a 30-year or a 60-year period. The state government was looking into this option because of the difficulty to obtain bank loans nowadays. “We need to re-explore the concept of public housing to provide a roof and not a house for those who can’t afford to buy property. The state government can build these houses for lease or the private developers can build and then surrender such houses to the state at cost to rent. A price mechanism has to be worked out,” he added. Rehda Penang chairman Toh proposed that the state government look into leasing affordable housing units. “If affordable housing are only for leasing, then no one can speculate on it, as the units cannot be converted for Airbnb use or for any commercial purposes,” he said. (The Star Online)
