Single mums get top priority in housing project
dailyexpress.com.my 15 May, 2006

Penampang: About 50 single mothers who are members of the West Coast South Single Mothers Association turned up at Dongonggon Square, here, Sunday for the first-of-its-kind property preview of the proposed low and medium cost Vista Seri Kiranau housing project.

Five-hundred-and-thirty-six apartment units of Type A (140), Type B (140) and Type C (256) priced from RM52,500 to RM119,500 will be built at Kg Kiranau, about 4km from Dongonggon township.

The good news is that single mothers will be given top priority and their applications for purchase of low-cost five-storey apartments (750 square feet with three bedrooms), medium low-cost five-storey apartments (750 square feet with three bedrooms plus furnishings) or medium-cost four-storey apartments (850 square feet with three bedrooms and a balcony) will be given special consideration.

Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad, a company incorporated under the Federal Ministry of Finance, has been entrusted with the task of providing affordable homes for the lower-income group.

It has officially appointed Advance Property Consultants to be the sole marketing agent specifically for the Vista Seri Kiranau project.

The preview arrangement was the initiative of the Member of Parliament for Penampang, Philip Lasimbang, who is sensitive to the housing needs of single mothers.

West Coast South Single Mothers Association Vice-President, Norhanida Annol, said Advance Property Consultants is liaising with the association in giving first priority to single mothers.

Briefing the women, Marketing Manager of Advance Property Consultants, Francis Goh, said the move was in line with the Malaysian Government's housing policy as outlined by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who said priority would be given to single mothers throughout the country for ownership of low-cost homes when unveiling the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) recently.

"There is no high deposit payment. It is RM150 for Type A, RM500 for Type B and RM800 for Type C to be paid after the bank loan approval. For ownership of the apartments, the management fee is only RM35 per month," he explained.

On the loan qualification for Federal Government staff, Goh said for those earning RM599 and below, they are eligible to get a loan of RM40,000, while those with an income of RM600 up to RM799, the loan allowed is RM60,000.

And the list goes on. Income (RM800 to RM999) = Loan (RM80,000); Income (RM1,000 up to RM1,199) = Loan (RM100,000); Income (RM1,200 up to RM1,499) = Loan (RM130,000).

He also enlightened the single mothers on the Federal Government, State Government and Commercial Loan Monthly Repayment Schedule based on the total loan, duration of loan and the borrower's age.

Speaking in the Kadazandusun dialect, Norhanida told the women that no collateral is required by the loan providers.

They were advised to return the registration forms for house purchase to the association for endorsement before submission to Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad.

According to Goh, piling works has just commenced and construction is expected to be completed within 24 months of signing of the Sale and Purchase Agreement.