Johor to improve rent-to-own housing scheme

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 14): The new Johor government will continue and even improve the state’s rent-to-own housing programme started by the previous Barisan Nasional state administration.

Called the “Jauhar Prihatin”, the scheme already has 13,882 homes under its watch.

“Johor state secretary’s office (SSI) housing department is monitoring 8,459 units of the houses while 5,423 were being monitored by Generasi Takzim Sdn Bhd.

“SSI housing department will also update on the number of houses allocated for the programme in accordance with the Pakatan Harapan manifesto,” The Star reported Johor Housing and Rural Development Committee chairman Dzulkefly Ahmad saying today.

Dzulkefly was answering questions from Datuk Hasni Mohammad (BN-Benut) and Andrew Chen Kah Eng (PH-Stulang) at the Johor state assembly held in Kota Iskandar today.

He also revealed that RM20 million was allocated in the 2017 budget to buy housing projects so that needy buyers can have houses via this scheme, reported the English daily.

Another RM30mil has been allocated in the 2018 state budget presentation.

Dzulkefly explained that the programme allows buyers to purchase homes via a five- year rental leasing deal.

“Part of the buyer’s monthly rental would be kept aside as savings that they can either take back upon expiry of the lease or use as down payment for the house if they decide to buy it.

“Sale and purchase agreement will be offered at the end of the lease and if they choose to buy the house, they have to pay the remainder cost of the house,” The Star reported him saying.

Buyers cannot rent out their home to a third party during the lease period.

Meanwhile, the assembly was also told that the state government recorded strong financial performance with a surplus of RM68.21 million for the financial year ended June 30.

Menteri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian said yesterday that government recorded revenue amounting to RM707.45 million while the total expenditure stood at RM639.24 million.

“For the financial year ended June 30, the Johor state government reserve fund stood at RM2.585 billion,” Bernama reported him saying.

He was responding to a question from Ayub Jamil (BN-Rengit) who wanted to know the financial status of the state government and the plans to strengthen the finance and increase revenue.