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The proposal to cut housing loans by 10% from the current cap of 90% should only be imposed on houses costing over RM500,000, said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
He said this was to ensure that the low and middle-income groups could afford to own houses.
“Buyers who purchase houses below RM500,000 should be allowed some flexibility in choosing whether to take the proposed 80% or the original 90% loans,” he said in a press statement yesterday.
A flexible loan cap based on house prices, Dr Chua said, would better protect house buyers, although the proposed loan cap would help stabilise house prices especially in some parts of the Klang Valley and Penang.
“I urge Bank Negara to conduct a thorough study before implementing the new measure to ensure healthy growth in the housing industry,” he said.
Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai said the Government would not rush into a decision on the proposal.
He said the Government would collect more views and suggestions from various groups on the proposal, which was floated by Bank Negara as a way to curb excessive speculation on property prices.
“We are willing to listen to more views from concerned groups, including potential house buyers and stakeholders, because people have different opinions of the proposal.
“We will study the views before making a final review to the existing guidelines,” he said, adding that the Government had no plans to make any adjustment yet.
Several groups, including the National House Buyers’ Association and the Federation of Malaysian Consumers’ Association (Fomca), had cautioned that the proposed loan reduction to 80% would only be a burden to potential house buyers.
They said such a proposal would go against the Government’s plans to encourage home ownership. - The Star
"Well this is certainly good news! if this was implemented, imagine how half of Malaysia's up and rising youth are able to own a property when they reach their time to expand their family"Michael (Propertizer team)
Several groups are up in arms over a proposal to cut housing loans by 10% from the current cap of 90%, saying that the move will only discourage Malaysians from buying houses.
National House Buyer’s Association (HBA) and Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) cautioned that the proposed home loan reduction to 80% would only be a burden to potential house buyers.
HBA honorary secretary-general Chang Kim Loong said the proposal would go against the Government’s plans to encourage home ownership.
“Young professionals who are just starting out will be deprived of buying a home for themselves. How are they going to get the 20% upfront payment?
“That does not include the legal fees and stamp duties house buyers have to pay,” said Chang when contacted yesterday.
He said the move would only be good if it targeted high-end buyers, as an effort to deter speculation.
On Sept 2, StarBiz reported that Bank Negara was engaging with banks on possible measures to curb excessive speculation on property prices.
One of the measures discussed was whether the central bank will be capping the loan-to-value ratio (LVR) for mortgages at 80% in order to avert the risk of a potential property bubble.
Currently, most banks provide loans of up to 90% of the value of the property.
Fomca secretary-general Muhd Sha’ani Abdullah urged the Government to ensure there was enough affordable housing available first before implementing such proposals.
“40% of the workforce earn up to RM1,500 a month. If this proposal were to be implemented across the board, how are they going to afford houses?” he asked.
Gerakan vice-president Datuk Mah Siew Keong said that if the proposal was applied across the board, the property market, construction industry, housing and real estate industry, and economic growth would slow down.
“Bank Negara must study the plan carefully, as the present limit of home loans of 90% has helped the housing and real estate industry,” said Mah, who is also the party’s economic development bureau chairman in a statement.
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung, however, said the measure would not dampen the housing market as in the long-term, it would actually be a healthy growth for the industry.
Banking sources said Bank Negara might consider discontinuing the 5:95 and 10:90 housing loan packages and impose higher downpayment for property purchasers.
This was due to a surge of between 10% and 30% in the price of landed properties in some parts of the Klang Valley and Penang. - By Ong Han Sean (The Star)