KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah, Sarawak and Kelantan are among the states facing housing affordability challenges, with closer cooperation between federal and state authorities needed to increase the supply of suitable homes, Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said today.
She said efforts to address the issue must also take household needs into account, particularly amid concerns over rising property prices and shrinking residential spaces that could affect families requiring larger homes.
The issue was raised by Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud), who told the Dewan Rakyat that some homes in her constituency accommodated between two and four families, highlighting the difficulties residents faced in securing suitable housing.
She proposed that the federal government work with the Sabah authorities to develop planned residential areas offering affordable three- or four-bedroom family homes, complete with water, electricity and road infrastructure.
Responding to the proposal, Aiman Athirah said housing needs could be addressed through existing cooperation mechanisms involving the federal and state governments.
“What the Honourable Member raised earlier is indeed true.
“Sabah, Sarawak and Kelantan are among the states facing difficulties in terms of housing affordability.
“As for the proposal raised by the Kota Belud MP regarding cooperation with state governments, I believe this has always been one of our priorities,” she said.
Aiman Athirah said the National Affordable Housing Council, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and attended by chief ministers and menteris besar, provided a platform for discussions on housing needs in individual states.
“Discussions on innovative models to provide more affordable homes are ongoing, including joint ventures with state governments, local authorities and private housing developers.
“Cross-subsidies, land swaps and public-private partnerships are also among the approaches being considered,” she said.
She added that the proposals raised by the Kota Belud MP would be taken into account in future discussions on national affordable housing policies.
Earlier, in response to Isnaraissah’s original question on housing shrinkflation, Aiman Athirah said the government recognised concerns over rising property prices despite residential units becoming increasingly smaller, particularly in urban and suburban areas.
However, she cautioned that imposing a uniform nationwide minimum floor area for privately developed affordable homes could increase construction costs and ultimately affect buyers.
“Such a proposal must be examined comprehensively, taking into account differences in land prices, development costs, locations, housing types and household needs.
“We must ensure that such a requirement does not ultimately increase development costs and house prices for buyers,” she said.
She cited existing floor-area guidelines of 600 sq ft for one-bedroom homes, 700 sq ft for two-bedroom homes and 800 sq ft for three-bedroom homes. The government’s People’s Residency Programme (PRR), meanwhile, sets a minimum floor area of 750 sq ft.
Aiman Athirah said compact homes could still be suitable for certain households, provided their design met residents’ needs without compromising comfort or quality of life.
Separately, Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Abd Muttalib (PN-Maran) sought updated figures on the number of completed affordable homes out of the 511,544 units previously announced.
Aiman Athirah said she did not have the latest figures immediately available and would provide a written reply.