Iskandar Abdul Samad, head coordinator of the Research Centre for the Advancement of the Community and Housing, suggested that Putrajaya buy over housing projects from the private sector to quickly meet the demand.

“It may be too expensive to build more PPR units and it takes time, so the government could buy over private housing projects and rent them out to the people at subsidised rates,” he told FMT.

Iskandar, a former Selangor exco member in charge of housing, said the government could also set specific rental rates for all types of affordable accommodation to protect tenants from excessive charges.

“Rental, of course, varies according to the area. It will be higher in urban areas than the suburbs. But for affordable housing such as low and low-medium cost houses, the government needs to control the prices by setting a maximum rental rate,” he said.

He also urged the government to monitor and control the number of occupants in rented premises to prevent overcrowding similar to workers’ dormitories, which may pose several social problems in the future.

“Landlords cannot rent to as many people as they like. When I was the Selangor housing exco, the state government, through the local authorities, inspected all low-cost flats to ensure they were not being used like staff dormitories.

“The landlords were charged if the number of occupants in their homes exceeded the limit,” he said, adding that this strategy ensured people were living in safe and comfortable conditions.

FMT had previously highlighted the plight of young workers living in “store room-like” conditions in the Klang Valley as a result of expensive rental rates.

They revealed their struggles to rent houses in Kuala Lumpur, saying most cost at least RM1,200 a month, on top of a four or five-month deposit.