“He misspoke,” she said, referring to EdgeProp Sdn Bhd chairman Tong Kooi Ong.

“After I asked him about it, he admitted that he misspoke and asked me to clarify the matter.

“The scheme is open to everyone,” she told reporters when met at the Parliament lobby today.

Earlier this month, Tong said the scheme was never targeted at middle and lower-income earners, adding that its proponents had not singled out any particular income group.

He said those interested must have enough savings to pay for the 20% downpayment, which is at the heart of criticism by those who say it is beyond the reach of most Malaysians.

He also said that housing for the poor was the responsibility of government agencies, not the private sector.

On a separate matter, Zuraida said Johor’s proposal to allocate 30% of properties in Forest City to Malaysians had yet to be raised in Cabinet.

She said her ministry had not discussed the matter with the Johor government.

“They need to present their proposal to us,” she added.

The Johor government had mooted the idea to allay fears that Chinese nationals who bought into the project would become residents.