MAH SING SHARES BUDGET 2022 WISH LIST, TARGETS FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS  

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13  -- Mah Sing Group Bhd hopes the government could introduce additional initiatives to ease the homeownership journey for first-time home buyers and expedite the recovery of the property industry as part of its wish list for Budget 2022 which will be tabled in Parliament on Oct 29, 2021.

In a statement today, the property developer said enhanced measures to ease homeownership for first-time home buyers, review Malaysia My Second Home programme’s (MM2H) new criteria, and lower minimum threshold for foreign property ownership to RM600,000 are among the items on its wish list.

Founder and group managing director Tan Sri Leong Hoy Kum proposed that the government offer more measures targeting first-time homebuyers, specifically in home financing to boost homeownership. 

“This includes reinstating the maximum loan tenure to 40 years which refers to gross income rather than net income for loan applications, higher debt service ratio as well as setting a higher margin of financing up to 100 per cent for first property buyers to help the M40 and B40 groups who are affected during the pandemic,” he said.

Leong also said that the government could consider the possibility of implementing the developer interest bearing scheme (DIBS) for first-time homebuyers, as this would allow them to have the option to not service their loan interest and rentals at the same time during the construction period.

“Additionally, we propose that the government extend the Home Ownership Campaign (HOC) for another year.

“The campaign has been proven to be vital in helping home buyers while reducing the housing overhang situation since it was launched,” he said.

On the MM2H programme, Leong has made several proposals to the government such as lowering the qualifying minimum income, liquid assets, and fixed deposits instead of a drastic increase currently.

Other recommendations are to impose different classes of applications, tailor the programe for various foreign applicants, all existing MM2H pass holders should not be affected by the new rules, as well as the duration of the MM2H pass shall remain at 10 years.

Meanwhile, Leong proposed that the government reduce the minimum threshold for foreign property ownership to RM600,000, although the current minimum threshold for foreign property ownership varies according to states. 

“We hope the government can review and standardise the minimum threshold to RM600,000 across all states, especially in the areas with high property overhang such as the Klang Valley, Johor and Penang. 

“With the current currency rate, it will attract foreigners to invest in tangible investments and this will help to reduce the property overhang,” he said.

Other items on the wish list are to terminate the real property gains tax (RPGT) on properties sold after five years as an impetus to boost the secondary market, reduce the compliance cost to lower house prices to benefit home buyers, as well as to introduce incentives for developments incorporating green features.

-- BERNAMA