BEFORE every New Year, plans and preparations are made to usher in the new lunar year. Most would also want to start the New Year with new resolutions. For me, I would like to usher in the Year of the Goat with a wish list.
To many, the Year of the Goat holds worthy personalities in facing the current uncertainties and challenges of the world economy. It symbolises gentle, calm, stable, sympathetic and amicable natures, brimming with a strong sense of kindheartedness and justice.
On this premise, my top 10 wishes for the Year of Goat are listed below without order of preference.
1. Government to be fully in-charge of affordable housing
The key factor to affordable housing is affordable land. I wish our Government would focus on opening up large tracts of government land, including agriculture land, for housing.
The various authorities and government bodies should also pool resources in building affordable homes. While everyone can play a part in developing the nation, our Government, like any other government globally, will always remain accountable when it comes to providing affordable homes for the rakyat.
2. Shift subsidy savings to the right channel
The Government scrapped the fuel subsidy in December last year and in turn, introduced the floating fuel price system. Almost instantaneously, the Government is able to save billions of ringgit a year.
It is estimated that the total accumulated fuel subsidies from year 2006 to 2013 alone was almost RM120bil. That is enough to fund three MRT lines and subsidise two million affordable homes.
Wouldn’t it be better to wish for the savings to be channelled back to the rakyat via an improved public transportation system and more affordable homes?
3. Allocation of low cost-homes to deserving rakyat
The National Property Information Centre (NAPIC) stated that the total residential homes in Malaysia at the second quarter of 2014 was 4.76 million. Low-cost houses and flats account for 22% (1.06 million) of the total units. Yet the domestic news reported that many qualified applicants faced difficultly acquiring low-cost houses.
My wish is for the authorities to enforce strict measures on the ownership of low-cost units – they should only be in the hands of the needy and not speculators or landlords.
4. Proper utilisation of limited land in city centres
Our cities will be more efficient and vibrant if the authorities allowed higher density in the city centres supported by an efficient public transportation system.
High-rise living enables land conservation, preserves the environment, slows down urban sprawl and, with proper planning, will allow for the creation of a more efficient mass transportation system.
Here is wishing for a greener city for ourselves and our future generations.
5. Better enforcement of Housing Development Act (HDA)
While Malaysia has one of the most comprehensive and stringent housing development Acts in the world, the same cannot be said on its enforcement.
In 2012, it was reported that there were 195 unlicensed developments in our country. It is puzzling as to how these “developers” were able to operate in the first place without detection. It is without doubt that these irresponsible developers have affected the industry’s image, leaving many would-be home owners in delirium, and all the responsible developers in the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda) with the unfair blame.
Wishing for stricter enforcement of the HDA has become a priority. Anything less will have serious implications not only to the property industry but also to the nation and authorities.
6. Greater transparency in housing approval process
Wishing is hoping, so, let’s hope for greater transparency of the housing approval process and the procedures that can be simplified to lessen bureaucracy and to improve efficiency.
A shorter approval time will lead to more home units being supplied to the market as and when required to meet the demands of the urban growth and the nation, and to make it more affordable for the rakyat.
7. Incentivise SME developers to build affordable homes
Small and medium enterprise (SME) developers should be encouraged to build affordable homes by giving them some form of incentives, such as removing certain restrictions. For example, the requirement to build 30% low-cost home priced at RM42,000 each is a challenge for small developers or any developers to stay in business, especially when selling affordable homes below RM250,000.
It would be great for the authorities to help the developers to help the rakyat.
8. Bank’s CSR on affordable housing
Most of the banks in Malaysia are generating a significant portion of their business and profit via housing loans.
As high as one-third of their loan portfolio comes from housing. It would be beneficial for the rakyat if banks can set aside a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund to contribute to the provision of affordable housing.
This can be done via lower interest rates for a low-cost housing loan and to have certain requirement imposed on banks to provide loans for affordable housing.
9. A comprehensive public transportation system
It is my hope that there is greater urgency to establish a comprehensive public transportation system in the Klang Valley in the fastest time possible if we are to meet the 10 million population growth envisaged for 2020. Crucially, the public transportation system should be operated by the Government based on a service-oriented paradigm as practised in many countries, instead of by private sector based on profit-driven.
10. Have a goat (good) year ahead!
The above are my top nine wishes for the Year of the Goat. I hope all Malaysians would benefit from them when they are materialised.
Last but not least, I wish everyone a wonderful year ahead. May the Year of the Goat bring joy, health, prosperity and peace to you and your family. May you also look forward to the day where travelling through the city is a pleasure!
FIABCI Asia-Pacific Regional Secretariat chairman Datuk Alan Tong has over 50 years of experience in property development. He is also the group chairman of Bukit Kiara Properties. For feedback, please email feedback@fiabci-asiapacific.com.a - The Star
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