Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) managing director Datuk Mohd Zaihan Mohd Zain said these delayed building as time was needed to secure documents to support applications and to conduct interviews to ascertain the eligibility of applicants.

He also said applicants who failed to secure land within a certain timeframe would delay contractors from starting work.

Mohd Zaihan said other factors that delayed construction included the time taken to appoint new Class F contractors to replace those who had failed to carry out the work.

He also said SPNB rejected some applications because they were from civil servants or from those with a fixed income.

"The scheme is actually meant for fishermen, farmers, poor families and single mothers," he added.

The scheme, which was introduced in 2002, allowed applicants from low-income groups to apply for houses, the cost of which would be partially borne by the Government.

SPNB was tasked to build the houses under the scheme. Some 2,500 houses worth RM40.000 each are to be built.

Mohd Zaihan said that up till August last year, 125 houses had been built and 506 under construction.