Kuala lumpur: The government is strengthening the housing sector through data-driven planning to ensure homes are built according to the people's actual needs, while curbing rising house prices and addressing the mismatch between housing supply and demand. Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said the evidence-based planning approach uses data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), the National Property Information Centre (NAPIC), the Malaysian Urban Observatory (MUO), as well as housing supply and application data from various agencies.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the use of such data enables the government to plan housing development based on the actual needs of residents by state and locality, including determining the type, location, and number of homes to be built in line with market demand and household affordability. 'This approach is further strengthened through the National Affordable Housing Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, to coordinate affordable housing policies at the federal and state levels, monitor the implementation of initiatives and resolve strategic issues related to the provision of affordable housing,' said Aiman Athirah.
Addressing a question from Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (MUDA-Muar) during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat, Aiman Athirah detailed the government's measures to curb rising house prices and prevent the uncontrolled construction of houses. She also highlighted the establishment of the Special Task Force (STF) on Delayed, Sick, and Abandoned Private Housing Projects in December 2022 as part of the measures to address delayed, sick, and abandoned housing projects.
Aiman Athirah revealed that as of May 2026, a total of 1,615 housing projects involving 190,422 housing units with a gross development value (GDV) of RM150.8 billion had been successfully revived. She also mentioned that the government is finalising the National Housing Policy 2026-2035, which will adopt a more dynamic approach to setting affordable housing prices based on local data.
The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) is also mapping affordable housing prices using median household income data by state and district based on the 2024 Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey by the DOSM. In response to a supplementary question from Syed Saddiq on renovation and maintenance costs borne by first-time homebuyers, Aiman Athirah stated that the government takes into account overall housing affordability, including access to financing.
'Through the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme (SJKP), the government provides a guarantee of up to 120 per cent of the value of a house, with the additional 20 per cent available to cover renovation costs and related expenses,' she said.