Bumi quota for houses stays

The Star 16/04/2002

SEREMBAN: The Housing and Local Government Ministry has no plans to reduce the 30% quota for bumiputras to buy houses.

The matter is under the jurisdiction of the state and the ministry will not interfere, said its minister, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.

“It is up to the respective states to make their stand on the matter,” he told reporters after a working visit to the Mambau New Village here yesterday.

He was clarifying a news report quoting his deputy, Datuk M. Kayveas, as saying that the ministry might reduce the bumiputra quota.

Ong said each state would “know what is best for itself”.

On a suggestion that local councillors devote themselves full-time to the job, Ong said the ministry would not do so.

“It is not practical. Councillors have their own professions. “If they are full-time, they would be like other officers,” he said.

Ong pointed out that it would also mean giving them a full-time salary and it would not be fair to ratepayers.

“Don’t forget that every sen comes from the local authority and it is from the people,” he said.

“Local authorities get their money from ratepayers and it will not be fair on people if they have to pay higher rates just to pay councillors,” he said.

Furthermore, the matter was under the jurisdiction of the state, he added.