CUEPACS URGE GOV'T TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSES FOR CIVIL SERVANTS

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has urged the government to build more affordable houses priced below RM250,000 for civil servants.

Cuepacs president Datuk Dr Adnan Mat said this would assist the group, particularly those with low income, to own their own houses.

“Cuepacs believes that the primary reason why 52.95 per cent of the 1.3 million civil servants still do not own a house is due to high prices. Most civil servants are forced to rent at rates between RM800 and RM1,200 per month, especially in major cities.

“If houses sold by developers exceed RM250,000, the inability to afford financing will inevitably become the main obstacle for civil servants to own their homes,” he said in a statement today.

Adnan highlighted that a report by the National Property Information Centre (NAPIC) revealed that house prices in Malaysia have increased nearly 100 per cent from 2010 to 2020.

Adnan added that apart from housing prices currently being too high compared to income, the rising cost of living has further reduced disposable income, contributing to the civil servants’ inability to afford buying their own houses.

He also suggested simplifying the application process for affordable housing for civil servants and urged the government to review the four per cent interest rate charged by the Public Sector Housing Financing Board (LPPSA), which he said is still considered high.

“Cuepacs believes that reducing the interest rate imposed by LPPSA could help civil servants to some extent in owning their homes,” he said.

-- BERNAMA