Kedah's 50% bumi housing quota 'being resolved'

Nov 14, 08 3:52pm

The controversy over the 50-percent bumiputera housing quota in Kedah is being resolved, said DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang today.

MCPX"I raised this issue at the Pakatan Rakyat leadership council in Parliament on Tuesday and I am given to understand that there is no change from the previous position on bumiputra housing quota in the state.

"Hopefully, this matter can be clarified and set to rest without further prolongation of the controversy," he added in a brief statement.

Lim also said he is prepared to meet Kedah Mentri Azizan Abdul Razak in Alor Setar over the matter.In October, the PAS-led Pakatan Rakyat state government in Kedah had increased the quota from 30 percent to 50 percent effective Sept 1 for new housing projects in the state.
The quota allows bumiputeras to buy houses at a discount.

Azizan said then that the state government would get government-linked companies to build affordable homes for Kedah if private developers were reluctant to do so.Cries of protestFollowing this, DAP and MCA voiced their disapproval over the matter.Among others, MCA's Gurun assemblyperson Dr Leong Yong Kong had warned that the move would cripple the housing and related industries in the state as well as cause serious damage to the state's economy.

"The new requirement will discourage private developers from undertaking new housing schemes," he was quoted as saying in The Star.According to Leong, even with the current 30-percent quota system, private housing developers were having problems selling units.The state rep suggested that the state government carry out a survey to find out why Malays could not buy houses or shoplots in private housing schemes."It should then come up with solutions to help them instead of imposing a higher housing quota," he said.