Property threshold proposal not set in stone, says Tok Pa
Mustapa Mohamed says changes to the budget have been made in the past following feedback from the public.
Mustapa Mohamed, the chairman of the Special Parliamentary Select Committee on the Budget, said the government had often made adjustments to past budgets after taking into account public feedback.
“There have been precedents where, after the people gave their opinions, the government made changes. And in this case, there’s a possibility,” he said.
“That’s why there needs to be dialogue on the budget where we collect input that’s reasonable from the people, then the government will listen and make the adjustments.”
However, he did not elaborate on the kind of adjustments Putrajaya might make, saying: “What the actions are, I don’t know.”
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng proposed the lowering of the threshold from RM1 million to RM600,000 when tabling the 2020 Budget last Friday. He said the lower prices would help reduce the glut of condominiums and apartments.
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin later said state governments would be able to set their own property price limit for foreigners, and that each state could look at its needs and re-examine the budget proposal.
Some, like the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association, welcomed the proposal, saying it would facilitate the release of unsold properties.
However, others are concerned that developers may raise the price of properties to reach the RM600,000 threshold for foreigners.
Mustapa said foreigners would only be allowed to buy condominium and apartment units, not landed property.
He also said the lower threshold was only a proposal from the federal government to the state administrations.
“We have received the input of the Selangor and Johor governments, and they have different opinions,” he said.
“As stated earlier, state governments have the right to determine the price threshold.”
Speaking to reporters after the forum, Mustapa, who is the assemblyman for Air Lanas and MP for Jeli, also said he was not surprised by the resignation of Kelantan’s opposition leader Alwi Che Ahmad.
He added that this was bound to happen following the PAS-Umno charter signed last month.
“What’s important is that we all stay loyal and work hard for the country,” he said.
“What’s important is for us to debate in an orderly manner. We have to spread mature principles in politics.”
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Alwi’s resignation leaves Mustapa, the sole Pakatan Harapan assemblyman in Kelantan, the only opposition representative in the state.