Commercial banks must formulate special guidelines for low, middle income borrowers

Commercial banks have been urged to formulate special guidelines for low and middle income borrowers to enable them to purchase and own houses.

Penang state Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee Chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the existing guidelines are not just unfair to the lower income group, but also benefits only a small number of applicants.

"For example, if I want to buy a RM1 million bungalow and the conditions are the same as that for a low cost house, is it fair?

"So, commercial banks must be urged to formulate a different set of guidelines for those from the middle and lower income, to enable them to also own houses," he added.

Jagdeep said this when intervening in the session to debate the Supply Bill 2015 in relation to the housing issue raised by T.Jayabalan (PKR-Batu Uban) in the Penang State Legislative Assembly today.

The housing issue has been a hot topic in the current session with representatives rising daily to debate the issue.

Meanwhile, Jagdeep also clarified that he welcomed any party wanting to build affordable homes in the state for the lower income group.