Developers: Stop blaming us, banks are culprits

“As Prime Minister and Finance Minister, we hope that he will fully understand the situation and command Bank Negara to be less stringent with those who are looking to apply for housing loans, especially for first timers,”

KOTA KINABALU: The government must stop faulting developers for profiteering and standing in the way of affordable housing when it is the banks which are the “biggest stumbling block.”

Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Associations (Shareda) president Francis Goh said profiteering banks were simply not giving back to society on the housing issue.

“Banks play a big role when it comes to purchasing property yet they have never been requested by the government to play a role in corporate social responsibility in terms of housing issues.

“Developers have long been painted as the big money rollers profiting on high-priced property when in fact, banks are the real winners,” said Goh.

Last year, Shareda members reported a RM7.6 billion gross development value while Maybank, for example, had a profit of RM6.5 billion.

“The numbers we reported was shared between 183 members and it was just only a gross value.

“It’s only fair that banks should be placed in the position to provide help to those who cannot afford housing as well.

“Much of their profits have been generated from property developers, such as housing loans, it is only fair that they play a role in the government’s initiative of MyHome, “ he said.

Goh said there were over 2,00 branches of local banks across the country.

“If each of them adopt a quota of 500 affordable home applicants, we will meet the 1 million target in no time,” he said alluding to the government aspiration.

Meet Najib

Federal Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government, Abdul Rahman Dahlan is also in agreement, according to Goh.

“It was his (Rahman) suggestion that Shareda, along with the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) and Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Sheda), meet Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak (on the issue).

“As Prime Minister and Finance Minister, we hope that he will fully understand the situation and command Bank Negara to be less stringent with those who are looking to apply for housing loans, especially for first timers,” Goh said.

Developers from across the country met on Friday at the 19th Malaysian Developers’ Council (MDC) meeting here and resolved to raise the issue with Najib.

Following the meeting Goh said it was important that the banks provide accessible financing facilities to home buyers, especially the low income group to ensure that they afford to buy the houses built for them.

He said failure to secure housing loans due to stringent requirements imposed by banks was the main reason low income families were unable to buy a house, despite many assistance and schemes provided by the government.

MyHome is the latest scheme developed by the federal government to provide affordable homes for people of all levels. The scheme targets 1 million years nationwide every year. - Free Malaysia Today

Rumah dijanjikan Rahman Dahlan belum dapat

Kira-kira tiga tahun lalu sebuah keluarga daif di Kampung Kelawat dekat sini dilawati ahli parlimen Kota Belud, Abdul Rahman Dahlan apabila salah seorang anak dalam keluarga besar berkenaan menjadi pelajar terbaik SPM sebuah sekolah di daerah ini walaupun dalam keadaan serba kekurangan.

Pelajar berkenaan, Syevesther Liew, 19, kini pelajar tahun pertama Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) namun keluarganya dan neneknya masih belum mendapat rumah yang dijanjikan Abdul Rahman, kini Menteri Perumahan, Kesejahteraan Bandar dan Kerajaan Tempatan Persekutuan.

Bapa pelajar berkenaan, Liew Fui Lit, juga terpaksa mencari pekerjaan sehingga ke Johor Baru, bagi menampung perbelanjaan keluarga dan adik-beradik Syevesther di sini.

“Kami memang mengharaplah kerajaan akan membantu keluarga kami sebab sudah janji kan…” kata Syevesther ketika ditemui wakil FMT di Sabah, Kanul Gindol, baru-baru ini.

Keluarga pelajar berkenaan tinggal dalam rumah neneknya Tiah Solindod, 70. Rumah lama berdinding bambu mereka pula sudah sangat uzur dan sudah senget tetapi masih didiami oleh keluarga salah seorang pakcik Syevesther.

Menurut Tiah, seorang balu, dia risau dengan keselamatan anak dan cucu-cucunya kerana masih tinggal di rumah lama bambu mereka. “Kamu sendiri pun dapat lihat keadaan rumah itu, atap pun sudah bocor sana sini, bila hujan semua tempat basah,” katanya.

Keluarga ini memang patut menerima bantuan kalau bukan dua rumah, sekurang-kurangnya sebuah rumah, bagi menggantikan rumah lama yang sudah senget dan mereput, menunggu tumbang dan amat membahayakan keluarga.

Ramai penerima rumah PPRT sebelum ini mempunyai rumah jauh lebih elok dari rumah bambu yang sudah uzur keluarga ini, namun mereka sudah lama menikmati kemudahan bantuan kerajaan itu.

Kenapa keluarga ini belum mendapat rumah mereka tidaklah diketahui tetapi apa yang nyata mereka diberi janji oleh Ahli Parlimen mereka sendiri yang kini menjawat kementerian perumahan pula.

FMT sedang berusaha mendapatkan ulasan pejabat ahli parlimen berkenaan. - FMT Borneo Plus