Good public housing boosts productivity, spurs economy, says academic

 Zairul Noor of UPM suggests that savings from targeted subsidies also be used for housing initiatives.

The government has allocated RM900 million to build 48 Program Residensi Rakyat and 14 Rumah Mesra Rakyat projects across the nation. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Government funds saved from the implementation of targeted subsidies can be redirected to public housing programmes to improve people’s quality of life and productivity, says an academic.

Zairul Noor of Universiti Putra Malaysia said a comfortable living environment can shape a healthy and resilient society, who can contribute in a greater measure to long-term economic growth.

Zairul said many from the M40 and B40 income groups, as well as youths, would benefit if the public funds saved from targeted subsidies were strategically channelled in this way, especially those living in urban areas.

Towards that end, he proposed the introduction of urban infrastructure that promotes better mental health, and an integrated youth housing policy to support those starting families.

“For example, housing projects like Groene Mient at The Hague in the Netherlands, which include green spaces, community gardens, and communal designs, have been proven to reduce feelings of isolation and improve the quality of life of residents.

“The government could also offer incentives to encourage the use of modular construction and industrialised building systems to accelerate the development of high-quality affordable homes,” the deputy dean of UPM’s design and architecture faculty told FMT.

Under the 2025 budget, the housing and local government ministry was allocated RM5.9 billion, with spending focused on building and upgrading affordable housing.

Of this amount, RM900 million was allocated to build 48 Program Residensi Rakyat and 14 Rumah Mesra Rakyat projects across the nation.

Improve maintenance, says Fomca

The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) said the government should look to improve the maintenance and overall quality of infrastructure in affordable housing, which it described as “unsatisfactory”.

Fomca treasurer Nur Asyikin Aminuddin  said many affordable housing units exceeding 30 floors often lacked sufficient lifts to support the number of residents.

“This causes congestion during peak hours and affects daily life, especially for the elderly, disabled, and pregnant women. It’s worse when one of the lifts is out of order,” she said.

She suggested that the government introduce mandatory technical guidelines, such as requiring one lift for every 80 units of homes and an additional lift for every 10 floors of a building.

“At the same time, developers should be required to appoint independent bodies to audit the quality of lifts, emergency staircases, and the safety systems of buildings before handing them over to residents,” she said. - FMT