Low-cost housing applicants will no longer have to fill up complicated forms because all state governments will be supplied with simplified forms once the draft is fine-tuned soon, announced Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting today.

He said the new forms will have only the most important 20-point criteria out of the nearly 70 that applicants presently have to complete.

"We unanimously agreed to standardise the application forms and procedures to ensure greater transparency, consistency and to simplify the entire process at the state level," he said after chairing a National Housing Council meeting.

"Of course, weightage will be given to people like single mothers, the disabled and those with more dependents. Cost of living and other factors will also be taken into account."

The three-hour meeting in Kuala Lumpur was attended by top ministry officials, representatives from all the state governments and related agencies.

Long-standing issues

This decision is expected to resolve issues which have long plagued the selection, allocation and distribution of low-cost housing by the states due to the varying application forms, criteria and procedures.

Details of the problems and recommendations have been compiled in a 220-page report released by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia on Nov 9 which held that housing is a basic right and not a luxury.

Copies of the report were sent to the relevant ministries, government agencies including local authorities and the housebuyers' tribunal.

Ong said marks would be given based on a 20-point evaluation criteria which includes income, age, applicant's status, number of dependents, present residence and other factors.

"Applicants also no longer need to attach a copy of their birth certificate, marriage certificate or salary slip as currently required.

"Only a copy of their IC and a sworn declaration or certification by a department head is needed. Verification of personal details will have to be done by the respective state governments," he added.

Although the federal government is introducing this new uniform policy, the minister stressed that all states will retain the power to allocate low-cost units based on the demand-supply factor.

The council also discussed other proposals including rent-and-buy of public low-cost units and the viability of two-generation housing loans.

Ong said feedback from today on both the proposals would be reported to the Cabinet for further deliberation.

"There is no room for marking discrepancies when evaluating the applications because the procedures are detailed enough to handle each case appropriately.

"(What we have) is a very scientific way of marking the applications," he said.

Computerised system

The government is also working on a computerised registration system to complement and enhance the low-cost housing selection, allocation and distribution mechanism.

"The extra budget allocation to make this a nationwide online and real-time database would come under the 9th Malaysia Plan," said Ong.

In an immediate reaction, social activist S Arutchelvan welcomed the move to streamline the application forms for low-cost housing.

"A standard policy is good and would help to resolve some of the long-standing problems that have been plaguing the implementation of our low-cost housing policy.

"But there must also be room for special cases and to handle applicants from different background," he cautioned.

Arutchelvan, who works closely on grassroots housing woes, was disappointed over the unilateral decision-making employed by the government in dealing with grassroots issues.

"Although this is a good move, civil society bodies and non-governmental organisations should be involved in the process to provide the relevant input for a better understanding of related issues," he said.

"The political influence in the selection of low-cost houses should also be totally eliminated. As long as the political quota exists to the advantage of the ruling party, there isn't much anyone can do for fair distribution of houses," he added.

Selling to 'outsiders'

He said the political quota has been practiced since the low-cost housing policy was introduced years ago.

"The government must guarantee that the new selection, allocation and distribution process is independent, which is why it should involve other groups to ensure transparency," he added.

He said an attempt to computerise selection of low-cost housing in Selangor had failed not because of insufficient units but due to bad planning.

"Although there are available housing, people still refuse to move in because there is no public transport, no basic amenities, bad construction quality and poor location," he pointed out.

Arutchelvan said there are cases of politicians who were known to sell low-cost units to 'outsiders'.

"It's an open secret that has survived on a tacit understanding within the ruling party and state administration.

"Prosecuting the perpetrators would be a good deterrent but no one has been caught for corruption or abuse of power so far," he added.