TANJONG KARANG: Price controls on houses is under consideration for the government’s national housing policy which is being reviewed, says Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Noh Omar.
Noh said under the current policy, the government could only control the price of low-cost houses, those costing not more than RM42,000 and 600 sq ft in area.
He said price controls might be necessary to enable the people, especially the middle and lower income group, to own their own homes.
“Looking at the present policy, the prices of houses, apart from low cost houses, are determined by the free market,” he said.
Noh also criticised PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli for describing as “crazy” the ministry’s proposal to grant moneylending licences to housing developers to provide loans to homebuyers who faced problems getting loans from financial institutions.
He said Rafizi should understand the matter first before making a statement.