MIRI: Local Member of Parliament (MP), Chiew Choon Man, conducted a working visit to the office of Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) in Kuching last Friday.
The purpose of the visit was to assess the implementation of government housing programmes aimed at assisting the Miri community.
The visit was part of his ongoing efforts to address the growing housing crisis in the region.
Chiew urged the government to increase allocations and expand housing initiatives, such as the Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) programme, to benefit more people in need.
Under the RMR scheme, eligible applicants who own land can receive government assistance to build a home with a subsidy of RM20,000.
The remaining construction cost is repayable in instalments of approximately RM300 per month over a specified period, with no interest charged.
“This initiative can significantly ease the burden of those genuinely in need of homeownership,” Chiew said.
The RMR programme is designed to assist households with a combined monthly income of RM5,000 or less, who do not own a home or are living in dilapidated housing but have land suitable for construction.
To be eligible for the RMR Programme, applicants must be Malaysian citizens, at least 18 years old, from a household with a total income of between RM750 and RM5,000 per month.
Neither the applicant nor his or her spouse should own a home, or they must be living in inadequate housing.
The proposed land must be suitable for construction, free from encumbrances, and, if not owned by the applicant, must come with the landowner’s consent.
The land area must be at least 3,000 square feet (subject to design specifications).
Monthly repayments are fixed at RM300 for all areas, with a repayment period of 16 to 25 years.
To ensure that local residents fully understand the eligibility criteria and application process for government housing schemes, Chiew announced plans to organise several town hall sessions in the city.
These sessions will feature briefings by SPNB representatives, providing detailed information on available housing loans and assistance programmes.
“This initiative aims to ensure that every eligible individual can truly benefit from the housing opportunities provided by SPNB,” he stated.
Chiew also called for collective efforts from all stakeholders to ensure that Miri residents are not being left behind in the national housing agenda.
