The government must expedite the formulation of a national housing policy incorporating core human rights so that houses are provided as a basic right and not seen as a luxury, said Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) commissioner Ramon Navaratnam.

Ramon, who chairs Suhakam's economic, social and cultural rights working group, urged the government to prioritise the formulation of a comprehensive housing policy alongside major projects.

"Housing must be accepted and promoted as a basic and fundamental human right in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," he told a press conference, called to announce the release of a report on 'Adequate Housing: A Human Right' in Kuala Lumpur today.

"Suhakam's role is to keep reminding national leaders to prioritise housing as the most basic of basic needs and a national obligation for all citizens."

He said consultation with all stakeholders is vital in ensuring proper and adequate housing for the poor.

"This will also respect other human rights such as the right to participate in decision-making, the right to freedom of expression and the freedom to choose one's residence," he said.

"To live in a place and establish a home with peace, security and dignity is not a luxury, privilege or the good fortune of those who can afford a decent house but is a basic and fundamental human right."

Suhakam has found that long-standing administrative problems such as outdated lists maintained by state governments and an inefficient housing distribution network must first be resolved if a comprehensive housing policy is to become a reality.

Other dilemmas include unjustified claims by developers that house prices are high due to the highly-regulated industry, poor workmanship, failure to rectify defects and abandoned projects.

Vulnerable groups

Ramon pledged to focus on groups particularly susceptible to violations such as persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, children and the elderly, plantation workers, new villagers, transit-home communities, urban settlers, migrant workers and single mothers.

He said another 800,000 houses are needed for the poor, given the more than one million Malaysians currently live below the national poverty level of RM529.

He also felt that it was not enough to fulfill the formality of building houses for the low-income group without considering their basic requirements.

"It is very important to provide adequate housing, which includes a secure environment and access to public amenities such as health services, workplace, school and other basic facilities."

Copies of the report have been sent to several ministries including Housing and Local Government Ministry, the Prime Minister's Department, the mayors of Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Shah Alam, and the House Buyers Tribunal.

It contains excerpts from papers presented by grassroots activists, lawyers and academicians at a seminar on adequate housing held last January.

"We have also recommended a housing indicator, similar to the government's key performance indicator in the economic sector, be set up and used in approving housing projects which incorporate human rights aspects," Ramon said.

"We sent out copies of the report two weeks ago and we will pursue this with (Housing and Local Government) minister Ong Ka Ting sometime next week after the festive holidays."

Another recommendation, he said, is to set up a desk office at the ministry to handle related complaints based on a violation of an individual's right to adequate housing as defined in the report.

Commending the Third Outline Perspective (OPP3) for having a housing policy, Ramon also urged the government to review all housing-related laws.

"If the government fails to adopt any of our recommendations, then we will air our dissatisfaction through the media and continue to remind officials about this."

Suhakam commissioner Tunku Nazihah Tunku Mohamed Rus, who also sits in Ramon's working group, said the media's role is important in highlighting the housing woes in the country.

"The media has a major role to play in keeping this issue alive. It can also help raise people's awareness of their basic right to adequate housing."

She said it is important to promote related rights as found in the various international instruments and conventions.

Stricter enforcement

The 220-page report outlines seven core components for incorporation into a new housing policy - legal security of tenure, availability of services, materials, facilities and infrastructure, affordability, habitability, locality and cultural adequacy.

Among Suhakam's other recommendations are expanding access to piped water in Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak, and ensure stricter monitoring and enforcement of housing laws to protect buyers' rights.

It also recommends enhanced collaboration between the government, non-governmental organisations and human rights practitioners in the area of housing rights, and to intensify public education on related issues including on low-cost housing programmes.

The report listed the indivisible, interdependent and interrelated human rights as adequate shelter, standard of living, access to safe drinking water and sanitation, highest attainable standards of physical and mental health, safe and healthy environment, environment conducive for children's overall development and access to energy for daily use.