Previously, reports emerged that Selangor was extending the 10 per cent discount on property purchases currently enjoyed by Bumiputeras to all buyers of serviced apartments, small office/home office (SOHO) and small office/virtual office (SOVO) in the affordable category.
Yesterday, Irmohizam issued a statement in response saying that the Selangor government will worsen the disparity between the Bumiputera and other communities if it eliminates the discount the former received for property purchases.
Clarifying the issue with FMT, Iskandar said that the state government’s new housing policy offered the people units which were much cheaper.
He explained that previously the price for real estate like SOHOs and SOVOs exceeded RM500,000 but with the new policy, it was made compulsory for developers to build affordable units between RM230,000 to RM270,000 per unit.
“This new policy has created far cheaper units which are affordable for lower income earners regardless of race. So, I do not see how this policy would oppress the Bumiputeras as alleged by Datuk Irmohizam,” he said.
“The extra discount accorded to the Bumiputeras was eliminated because of the large difference between the affordable units and the more expensive ones.”
He pointed out that the original price for affordable units agreed upon during negotiations with developers was even higher but the state government had set a lower price so that all buyers would get a discount.
He added that the policy was different from the Rumah Selangorku policy where houses are built on residential land.
“The price for these houses is still between RM42,000 to RM250,000 even though the Federal Government allows for affordable housing to be priced at RM300,000.”
He said that Selangor was the first state to implement such a policy, adding that none of the Barisan Nasional-led (BN) states have approved a similar policy.
“The Bumiputera have no choice but to purchase expensive units because there are no affordable units, so it is the citizens in BN-led states who are being oppressed.”
Iskandar urged Imrohizam to “get all his facts straight” before coming out with any statements because if not he would be seen as merely playing politics and not being sincere in his struggle to uphold Bumiputera rights.
“I hope he can go and study service apartments, SOHOs, SOVOs, the Rumah Selangorku policy and the National Land Code before he opens his mouth or his ignorance will be evident.”