Wong: Authorities should review applications on a case-by-case basis.
THE Real Estate Housing Developers Association (Rehda) hopes the state government will review terms for the sale of Johor affordable housing (RMMJ) units.
Johor Rehda chairman Wong Boon Lang said while the move was good to stop irresponsible parties from abusing the policies, there should not be a blanket rule for all.
Beginning Jan 1, owners of RMMJ units worth RM150,000 and below are only allowed to sell their houses to third parties 10 years from the date of purchase.
Under the old policy, buyers could sell the units to third parties after five years.
“The new policy is good to curb speculation but at the same time, we should not deny genuine buyers,” he said when contacted by StarMetro.
Wong cited an example of a civil servant working in Johor Baru transferred to Kuala Lumpur to work.
He said the RMMJ owner would not be able to sell the unit and would have to fork out money for another place in the country’s capital city.
“He cannot rent out his house as it is not allowed either and at the same time he still has to pay the housing loan,” he said.
Wong said the authorities should review applications on a case-by-case basis.
“I think a 10-year period is too rigid,” he said.
Johor Consumers Movement Association chairman Md Salleh Sadijo, however, said the move was needed to prevent speculators from manipulating the market.
“It is a known fact that for years, certain irresponsible parties have been abusing the allocation of RMMJ units, which are meant for the B40 group,” he noted.
He said this included renting the unit to others, including foreigners.
Home ownership was a critical issue in Johor especially Iskandar Malaysia, said Md Salleh.
He said as Johor was one of the top investment destinations in the country, many job opportunities would be created, leading to an influx of new residents from outside Johor.
“This will push demand for houses, including to rent.
“Hopefully, the authorities can consider allowing owners to rent out their place if they have plans to upgrade and move elsewhere after 10 years,” he said.
State housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Jafni Md Shukor said RMMJ units provided by the state government were to help the B40 group own their own homes.
Under the new policy, the land office will prevent the transaction from taking place and change of owner’s name in the grant will not be allowed.
