By Aisyah Suwardi

PETALING JAYA: Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda) applauded the Government’s efforts to extend special home financing to private developers, MyDeposit scheme and the stamp duty exemption for the abandoned house.

According to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, about abandoned housing projects, stamp duty exemption for loan agreements and letter of consent to transfer, are given to rescuing contractors and original owners of abandoned projects, effective 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2020.

Despite being granted only three out of the eight wishes from Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda)’s Budget Wishlist 2018, Rehda president Datuk Seri FD Iskandar is grateful for the apportioned budget for the property sector in the Budget 2018 presented on Friday.

In a post-budget 2018 press conference by Rehda, he said this budget provided for the property sector could help the people in B40 and M40 category to own a house.

"The government also has for the first time, introduced a tax exemption of rental income up to RM2,000," said Iskandar, adding that this is helpful for the rental market instead of just focusing on ownership.

Referring to the demand for affordable housing, Iskandar urged the state government to follow suit on the federal government's effort in providing more low-cost houses.

“The problem with low-cost homes in the Klang Valley is that a lot of people want to rent the house, but not buy them. This is something that we need to investigate and try to meet the demand instead of just providing the house and have no buyers,” said Iskandar.

Iskandar also commented on the budget provided for infrastructure as he thinks it will help ensure better connectivity for people and offered abundant choices of houses to pick from around the Klang Valley area.