We'll help clear low-cost house glut - Dr Mohamad Khir

utusan.com.my  15/04/2004

PETALING JAYA April 14 - The Selangor Government will find ways to help clear the glut in low-cost houses in the state, including through its proposal to open up low-cost house ownership to the rich and bachelors, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said Wednesday.

He said the move was crucial to prevent developers from stopping to build such houses in future.

The current over-supply of low-cost houses in the market must be cleared so that developers would not face financial problems, he said.

"We do not want developers to stop building low-cost houses for reasons that all the houses cannot be sold," he told reporters.

Dr Mohamad Khir announced recently that the state government proposed to open low-cost house ownership to all groups, including the rich and bachelors.

Currently, only those with a monthly household income of not more than RM2,500 and with families are allowed to own low-cost homes in Selangor.

Dr Mohamad Khir said usually the rich would not buy low-cost houses and even if they bought, it would be to provide quarters to their gardeners or drivers.

"There's yet a record in Selangor to show the rich have bought 30 to 40 houses to be rented out," he said.

He also urged associations to submit a list of their members who are low-income earners and did not own a house to the Selangor Housing and Real Estate Board to help them apply for a low-cost house in the state.