KUANTAN: An opposition assemblyman today called upon the Pahang government to review the eligibility criteria to own the PR1MA Pahang affordable housing units after some owners chose to sell their premises or convert them into homestays.
Datuk Andansura Rabu (Pas-Beserah) said the state government's commitment to building and providing housing units for lower-income groups across the state appears to have hit a snag when some buyers sub-let the units to a third party.
"Two days ago, someone shared with me several advertisements for PR1MA units put up for sale and even made into homestays. There appear to be some weaknesses in the screening and selection of buyers," he disclosed during his speech in support of the state budget bill at the Wisma Sri Pahang assembly today.
Later, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail stood up to clarify that there is a 10-year moratorium for the resale of PR1MA units in Pahang, which he introduced three years ago.
"Maybe, the Beserah assemblyman can go through the requirements for PR1MA buyers and the moratorium for buyers... what the buyers (reselling their units) are doing is wrong and I hope the housing exco (Pahang Local Government, Housing, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Datuk Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohd Ariff) can take action," he said.
Meanwhile, Fakhruddin said PR1MA houses sold at RM150,000 each were subsidised by the state government and received huge demand.
"Some individuals might have entered a side agreement with the buyers for 10 years and this is an offence. We will revoke the unit ownership if the owners do not abide by the regulations. They are misusing (sub-letting to a third party) the government's assistance," he said.
Andansura said that his major concern is that there were weaknesses in the selection process where aspiring PR1MA unit buyers have to apply online, and those with a household income of about RM10,000 and below are entitled to be considered for the units.
When met, Andansura said there were those who resold the RM150,000 PR1MA units for between RM230,000 and RM260,000 each, and some were doing homestay businesses.
"The Pahang government has to review the PR1MA housing selection process. Maybe some buyers already have their own units before deciding to purchase the affordable homes," he said.
The Pahang government oversees the PR1MA Pahang project, which sells each unit at RM150,000.