Latest news with #StateHousingandLocalGovernmentCommittee
New Straits Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Johor to build homes for low-income group excluded from e-Kasih database
ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor government will begin constructing subsidised homes in August under the state's Rumah Prihatin Johor (RPJ) initiative, targeting low-income residents previously excluded from the national e-Kasih database. e-Kasih is the country's national poverty database designed to identify and assist low-income households, including those in Johor. It serves as a centralised system to plan, implement, and monitor poverty eradication programmes nationwide. State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the move aims to close the gap for low-income individuals who do not qualify for government housing aid due to their absence from the e-Kasih list. "This RPJ programme targets those in need who are not registered in the e-Kasih system but still fall within the low-income and poverty bracket," he said after a state housing development engagement session here today. The pilot phase began in Machap and Bukit Permai and will soon be extended to all 42 state constituencies in Johor. Eligible applicants must own land or have written permission to use family owned land. The new houses, either two or three bedroom units, will be completed within seven months. Two housing options are offered: a three bedroom home priced at RM86,000 and a two bedroom home priced at RM66,000. Both are subsidised by RM30,000 from the state government, with the balance payable through personal financing by the applicants. Applications are now open and can be submitted at the nearest district offices. Jafni said approvals are expected within three months for applicants who meet the eligibility criteria. "This initiative is aimed at those who own land but lack the means to build. With the state subsidy, they will only need to bear RM36,000 or RM56,000 depending on the house type," he said. He added that under a separate scheme Rumah Kasih Johor (RKJ) the state government has committed RM67.5 million to build 500 units between 2023 and 2025. "So far, 50 units have been completed and handed over, 120 are under construction, and another 165 are in the implementation phase," he said. Jafni said both RPJ and RKJ are designed to provide not just housing, but also to significantly uplift the quality of life for Johor's underserved communities. "These are game-changing efforts to help those who have long lived without the dignity of a home to call their own," he added.
New Straits Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
No agents appointed for Johor affordable housing applications
JOHOR BARU: The Johor government has not appointed any agents or middlemen to handle affordable housing applications, including those under the Rumah Mampu Milik Johor (RMMJ) scheme. State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor stressed that all applications must be made directly by the applicants via the official e-Rumah Johor online portal. "Since the implementation of e-Rumah Johor at the end of 2022, developers are required to register and sell their units transparently through the online platform," he said today after the Johor Housing Development engagement session. "The system is legally enforced to eliminate fraud and prevent third-party interference in the application process," he added. Prior to 2022, applications were submitted manually and handled directly by developers. Jafni urged the public not to fall prey to advertisements or individuals claiming to offer affordable homes on behalf of the state or private developers. He said that despite the mandatory digital system, scams involving fake agents were still reported. "There were 18 fraud cases in 2023 alone, involving losses totalling RM155,000. "In some cases, applicants were charged up to RM15,000 by individuals posing as housing agents," he said. "Most victims were desperate applicants whose documents did not meet the eligibility criteria." He warned the public against engaging with any so-called agents claiming to secure housing approvals. "All applications must go through the e-Rumah portal. Those needing assistance should visit the state secretariat office in person," he said.
Barnama
23-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Johor Govt to Engage Local Councils In Reviving Unused Mykiosks
GENERAL ISKANDAR PUTERI, May 23 (Bernama) -- The Johor government will convene a meeting with all 10 local authorities in the state to address the high number of unutilised MyKiosk units. State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the meeting was necessary to come up with solutions and ensure the initiative to support small traders continues to thrive. "Before these kiosks existed, many single mothers, single fathers, and poor families were eager to start a business. Some were even evicted from their trading spots. "Many traders are struggling, so I've directed that the kiosks be rent-free for the first six months. In my view, this is a good initiative as they provide legitimate spaces for many who previously lacked licences. 'Single parents and others now have a proper place to operate," he said during the Johor legislative assembly sitting in Kota Iskandar today, addressing an additional question from Puan Gan Peck (PH–Penggaram) on the current status of the MyKiosk initiative. Expanding on the matter, Bukit Permai assemblyman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said a brainstorming session involving all 10 local councils will be held to come up with creative approaches to revitalise the kiosks and support small traders. "When I visited some of these kiosks, traders told me there's no water supply. They're relying on solar power and don't even have proper setups to cook food. 'Can we relocate the idle kiosks to better spots and ensure they have access to water and other facilities? We want these kiosks to truly benefit the people, so we need to place them in strategic locations,' he said. 'If needed, we can arrange skills training for traders. The point is, if we're going to help people, we can't do it halfway,' he added.
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Johor govt to engage local councils in reviving unused MyKiosks
ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor government will convene a meeting with all 10 local authorities in the state to address the high number of unutilised MyKiosk units. State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the meeting was necessary to come up with solutions and ensure the initiative to support small traders continues to thrive. "Before these kiosks existed, many single mothers, single fathers, and poor families were eager to start a business. Some were even evicted from their trading spots. "Many traders are struggling, so I've directed that the kiosks be rent-free for the first six months. In my view, this is a good initiative as they provide legitimate spaces for many who previously lacked licences. "Single parents and others now have a proper place to operate," he said during the Johor legislative assembly sitting in Kota Iskandar today, addressing an additional question from Puan Gan Peck (PH–Penggaram) on the current status of the MyKiosk initiative. Expanding on the matter, Bukit Permai assemblyman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said a brainstorming session involving all 10 local councils will be held to come up with creative approaches to revitalise the kiosks and support small traders. "When I visited some of these kiosks, traders told me there's no water supply. They're relying on solar power and don't even have proper setups to cook food. "Can we relocate the idle kiosks to better spots and ensure they have access to water and other facilities? We want these kiosks to truly benefit the people, so we need to place them in strategic locations," he said. "If needed, we can arrange skills training for traders. The point is, if we're going to help people, we can't do it halfway," he added. This comes in response to widespread social media posts highlighting how many MyKiosk units, a national initiative by the Housing and Local Government Ministry, have remained empty or abandoned, largely due to inconsistent trader participation. – BERNAMA
New Straits Times
21-05-2025
- Climate
- New Straits Times
Johor allocates RM213mil for 353 flood management projects
ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor government has allocated RM213 million for the implementation of 353 flood management projects in flood hotspot areas, involving 16 local government authorities (PBTs) since 2023. State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said that for 2025 alone, the state government has allocated RM106.2 million to implement 104 projects in flood hotspots involving 16 PBTs. He said the Johor Bahru City Council received the highest allocation of RM42.4 million to implement 16 flood management projects, followed by the Iskandar Puteri City Council (RM36.1 million; 13 projects), Pasir Gudang City Council (RM9.1 million; 16 million) and the Kulai Municipal Council (RM5.7 million; 15 projects). Implementation of the projects involved, among others, upgrading reservoirs, building small dams along drains and raising the drain walls to avoid flooding in the low-lying areas, he said, adding that the methods for solving the flood issue vary from area to area. Apart from that, he said, there also needs to be control in terms of development. "We have found over the past three years that among the causes of areas that used to be flood-free but are now flooded is because of uncontrolled development," he told reporters here today. Jafni said there was also a need to improve the conditions and specifications for drainage and flood management in planning permission in line with the rapid pace of development and changing rainfall patterns. "The specifications given to these developers are specifications that are 10, 15 years old and are not relevant to the amount of rainfall that falls now, which has increased five or six times. "If we control the development part, and we solve these flood hotspot areas, InsyaAllah, the (flood) problems can be resolved," he said.
