‘Pay-as-you-use' mulled at new affordable housing schemes
Published on: Tue, Jul 22, 2025
By: Bernama Text Size: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (third from left) and housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming (left) looking at a model of the Rumah Bakat Madani project at its launch in Seberang Jaya, Penang, on Saturday. (Bernama pic) Kuala Lumpur: The Housing and Local Government Ministry is exploring a 'pay-as-you-use' model for maintenance fees in future affordable housing developments, as part of housing sector reforms. Minister Nga Kor Ming said the initiative is part of efforts to elevate the real estate industry and promote more equitable access to housing for all Malaysians. Speaking to reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Architecture Week (KLAW) 2025 Monday, Nga said the Ministry plans to introduce a system which allows residents to pay maintenance fees based on actual usage of shared facilities. 'Under this proposed model, residents will receive access cards that track their monthly usage of shared facilities. We are starting with the Rumah Bakat Madani initiative led by Skyworld Pearlmont in Penang, which features a pay-per-use clubhouse with an infinity pool, pickleball and badminton courts, a children's playground, and gyms,' he said. Nga added that the concept will serve as a reference for future public housing projects. 'This will serve as a reference model for future public housing projects, which may also include vertical schools to provide better access to education for vulnerable communities,' he said. In addition, the ministry plans to engage private sector players to develop Industrialised Building System (IBS) facilities, aiming to expand the use of modular construction methods such as Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC). Nga said this initiative aligns with Malaysia Madani aspirations and the nation's role as President of the UN-Habitat General Assembly, supporting sustainable urban development by reducing construction waste and minimising pollution. Commenting on KLAW 2025, Nga highlighted the importance of architecture in rejuvenating heritage buildings. 'Architectural elements play a vital role in breathing new life into heritage buildings, preserving their cultural significance while integrating modern design,' he said. KLAW 2025 is held as a prelude to the Asean Real Estate Conference (AREC) and Archidex. The series of large-scale events, being held this week at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) and Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), is expected to attract over 50,000 foreign visitors, generating an estimated RM2 billion in transactions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
21 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
PM: Tokenisation and digital assets must benefit all
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will continue to ensure that the implementation of tokenisation and digital assets is inclusive, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. In a post on X last night, the Prime Minister said the implementation would also deliver broad benefits to the people and be strictly regulated to ensure the safety and stability of the country's digital ecosystem. Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, chaired the second Digital Assets and Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council meeting of the year today, which focused on the future of digital assets in Malaysia's capital market. "Among the main agenda items discussed were developments in blockchain technology, tokenisation, post-quantum cryptography, and the launch of the Malaysia Blockchain Infrastructure (MBI), which is a key driver of the nation's digital ecosystem." "This meeting also served as a platform to exchange views on global market trends, the potential of digital assets, and future performance expectations based on technical perspectives from strategic partners," he added. On May 6, the Malaysian Securities Commission issued a consultation paper to gather public feedback on the proposed framework for tokenised capital market products. The paper seeks input on key areas including governance controls, record-keeping and registration requirements, technology risk management, and additional requirements for licensed individuals dealing with tokenised capital market products.– BERNAMA
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Chinese chambers of commerce welcomes govt's measures to ease cost of living
KUALA LUMPUR: The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) has welcomed the government's newly announced measures aimed at easing the cost of living and boosting consumer spending. "These measures would help to ease the cost of living and spur household consumption expenditure," ACCCIM said in a statement. Earlier today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made a highly anticipated announcement, which he described as an 'extraordinary tribute' to Malaysians. The measures include a one-off RM100 cash aid for all Malaysians aged 18 and above, the freezing of toll hikes on 10 highways, and continued Rahmah Madani sales. The government also announced that the RON95 petrol price will be reduced to RM1.99 per litre when targeted subsidies begin this September. In addition, Sept 15 has been declared a public holiday for Malaysia Day celebrations. The association said that the fuel price drop would benefit around 18 million car and motorcycle users, pending further details on the eligibility criteria. ACCCIM expressed hope that the targeted subsidy mechanism would be easy to implement to ensure a smooth rollout. Looking ahead, ACCCIM said it was looking forward to the tabling of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) on July 31 and the 2026 Budget on Oct 10, with a focus on sustaining economic resilience and development continuity. The chamber urged the government to avoid new tax measures or policies that could further burden businesses, which are already grappling with rising costs.
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
SejaTi MADANI Initiative: Over 1,000 Grant Applications Received, 668 Projects Approved
KOTA BHARU, July 23 (Bernama) -- The SejaTi MADANI initiative continues to record encouraging success in Kelantan, with a total of 1,135 grant applications received as of yesterday from communities across the state. The Kelantan Federal Development Office of the Implementation Coordination Unit, Prime Minister's Department (ICU JPM), in a statement today, said that out of the total, 668 projects had been approved and were currently being implemented, reflecting the people of Kelantan's strong commitment to empowering the local economy through various community projects. 'For the year 2024 alone, 1,065 applications have been received, with 523 projects approved and carried out. The increase in applications this year proves the public's growing awareness and confidence in the potential of the SejaTi MADANI programme to support community-based economic development. 'Five key sectors have been the main focus of grant applications, namely agriculture and food, tailoring and handicrafts, herbs and health, tourism and hospitality, as well as green and recycling activities. The agriculture and food sector recorded the highest number of applications, showing the community's inclination to making it a stable and sustainable source of income,' the statement read. According to ICU JPM, the districts of Tumpat, Kubang Kerian, Bachok and Pasir Puteh recorded the highest number of applications, reflecting strong interest and active participation of the community in seizing the opportunities offered by the initiative. The SejaTi MADANI programme empowers grassroots communities to plan and implement projects that suit their needs with grant support of up to RM100,000. 'Among the projects that have recorded notable achievements are the stingless bee farming project by the Tasek Berangan Community Organisation in Pasir Mas, which produces high-quality stingless bee honey for the local market and has the potential to be expanded as an agro-tourism product,' ICU JPM said. In addition, corn and vegetable farming in Kampung Paloh, Tanah Merah, and seedless watermelon cultivation in Kampung Air Tawar, Semerak, Pasir Puteh have also achieved success. 'The implementation of this programme is expected to continue serving as a key platform in sustainably empowering the people of Kelantan economically,' read the statement.
