Johor bahru: A total of 7,417 applicants for the Johor Affordable Housing Scheme (RMMJ), who are self-employed or involved in the gig economy, have successfully obtained home financing approval for housing units priced at RM300,000 and below as of last April, despite not having regular salary statements.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Johor Housing Development Corporation (PKPJ) chief executive officer Datin Paduka Dr. Suhailizan Suliman noted that this marks the biggest achievement to date in Johor's housing sector, with total financing approvals amounting to RM3.754 billion. She attributed the success to the effectiveness of the J-Home One-Stop Centre (OSC), a PKPJ initiative that consolidates key services under one roof, including financial institutions, legal services, housing developers, and the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK).
The initiative is further supported by collaboration with Syarikat Jaminan Kredit Perumahan Berhad (SJKP), which guarantees loans for applicants without a fixed income, providing protection to banks if borrowers are unable to repay their loans. This collaboration offers more opportunities for Johoreans, especially the self-employed and those in the gig economy, to own homes.
Through collaboration with banking institutions and SJKP, PKPJ aims to address financing challenges faced by self-employed individuals and gig workers, particularly the lack of salary statements or fixed income. The J-Home OSC initiative facilitates this by allowing applicants to complete the application and approval process efficiently during open balloting sessions.
Applicants can access the services of banking institutions, legal advisors, housing developers, and AKPK directly at designated counters within the J-Home OSC. For those with no documentation or eligibility issues, an immediate financing decision can be received from partner banks. If not approved, applicants have the option to consult with other banks on-site. Applicants are advised to bring all relevant documents to support their financing applications when seeking services at the J-Home OSC.
Suhailizan emphasized that PKPJ's efforts extend beyond the development of RMMJ units, focusing on facilitating access to housing financing for Johoreans, particularly those in the B40 and M40 income groups, as well as the self-employed and gig economy workers.