PENAMPANG: All government policies and programmes currently being planned must be people-centric to ensure that every level of society benefits from the development being carried out, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
In line with this commitment, he said, the state government continues to prioritise providing comfortable housing for all levels of society, especially for those in the low- and middle-income groups.
According to him, besides building low-cost housing and affordable public housing, the government is also continuing the construction of Rumah Mesra SMJ, which was launched in 2022.
As of October 2024, a total of 4,482 Rumah SMJ units have been built.
“For 2025, RM250 million, a 100 per cent increase in allocation, has been set aside for the construction of 3,000 Rumah SMJ units across all 73 state constituencies in Sabah,” he said during the launch of the Sabah People’s Housing Scheme (SRRS) at the project site of 360 Boulevard Bundusan yesterday.
Hajiji’s speech was read by the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing, Datuk Isnin Aliasnih.
He stated that property development is a key driver of economic multiplier effects, in addition to stimulating the entire market supply chain.
The planning, construction, sale, and occupancy processes trigger economic activities that benefit sectors such as construction, finance, retail, transportation, and technology.
Hajiji noted that the official launch of SRRS marks a new and significant chapter in the state government’s efforts to drive economic development while increasing home ownership among the people of Sabah.
He said SRRS aligns with the government’s aspiration to ensure that every individual in the state owns a home, particularly in light of the rising cost of living, which poses various challenges and difficulties for people, especially in major urban areas like Kota Kinabalu.
“The launch of this innovative housing scheme will transform the landscape of home ownership in the state.
“This scheme will benefit 10,000 eligible individuals in Sabah by enabling them to purchase their first homes in major urban locations at prices not exceeding RM500,000, with simple entry requirements.
“The state government, through the Ministry of Finance and Sabah Credit Corporation as the sole provider of financing for this scheme, will work closely with CFS Usaha Tegas to develop and refine the framework of this housing scheme,” he said.
Hajiji urged eligible Sabahans not to miss this unique opportunity offered by the scheme. With simple entry requirements, benefits such as lower and fixed interest rates, longer loan repayment periods, 100 per cent full financing, and special repayment plans, the scheme is highly advantageous.
Additionally, he said the scheme would indirectly foster a sense of identity and aspiration among young people to own their own homes.
He also expressed gratitude to local developers who have joined the scheme, particularly Borneo Kemuncak Riang, which has offered Boulevard 360 Bundusan as the first SRRS project.
“I hope that with the launch of this scheme, we will foster more partnerships between the state government and developers to meet the housing needs of all income levels in Sabah,” he said.-pr/BNN
