THE Housing and Local Ministry must review its policy of disallowing locals with foreign spouses from getting flats under the People’s Housing Programme (PPR).
“It’s a ridiculous policy in the first place. The PPR project is not a goody handout but a form of social safety net for the underserved.
“The main objective of the PPR project was to safeguard the poorest in our communities by providing a housing unit for those who can’t afford to buy or rent on the open market.
“I urge the Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin to look into the matter as soon as possible,” Selangor state assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran told FocusM.
Yesterday, the Bukit Gasing lawmaker highlighted the plight of one of his constituents, who is married to a Filipino lady.
Although the man and his child are Malaysian citizens, his application to obtain PPR flat was denied by the National Housing Department as he was married to a foreigner.
Highlighting the man’s case, Rajiv said that his constituent has met all criteria set the by the ministry, except that he was married to a foreign national.
Among the current criteria includes the income of the applicant to be less than RM3,000, aged 18 and above, do not own any other property and both husband and wife are Malaysians.
“In layman’s terms, if today he divorces his wife, the man’s PPR flat application will get approved. How silly it is for someone to come up with such a regulation,” he said.
On that note, Rajiv said that he had raised the matter with the housing department and wrote letters to Zuraida on the matter.
He also said that the man has a 10-year-old daughter, with a Malaysian citizenship.
Rajiv added that the family used to have accommodation provided by the employer for the last 10 years but due tough economic times, he is forced to look for his own place and is unable to afford to rent in the open market.
“The man is quite flexible. He is willing to move to any PPR projects around here, be it in Kepong Rawang or Shah Alam.
“And I don’t blame the officers at the National Housing Department as they are just following the stipulated regulation.
“I urge Zuraida to intervene on this matter so that the man and his family will get their home soon,” he said. – Dec 17, 2020
