An architect by training, Raja Kamarul said more than 90% of Singaporean Malays owned homes from a young age, adding that the design of HDB apartments was modern and had convenient infrastructure.

He also hit out at “narrow-minded and racist” accusations that had been hurled at local government development minister Nga Kor Ming after Nga said on Tuesday that the Singaporean government would allow the country’s HDB flat contractors to visit his ministry next month to share their knowledge about building affordable housing.

Raja Kamarul’s comments came in the wake of accusations by Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan that the government was trying to undermine Malay property ownership and change the country’s demographic by consulting Singapore’s HDB.

Raja Kamarul said facilities provided at the internationally acclaimed HDB apartments included spaces for wedding receptions, communal events and areas for Muslims to perform final burial rites.

“Health clinic facilities, hairdressers, commercial shops, recreation halls and health centres are also available.

“How many affordable apartments can we provide with high-quality facilities like this?” the Terengganu Pakatan Harapan chairman said.

Noting that low-cost and medium-cost home ownership for the B40 and M40 groups had been an issue since independence, Raja Kamarul said the problem remained unsolved due to the high price of land and infrastructure.

Raja Kamarul said this was despite the best efforts of government-linked companies to produce affordable housing for the public and the Home Ownership Campaign.