One of the consequences of migration from rural to urban areas is a rise in population. This could then lead to housing shortages and increase in squatter settlements. The squatter settlement can get worse during an economic recession and pandemic outbreak. For example, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that unemployment rates among low-income urban households rose by 50% in the Klang Valley, from September to December 2020.
As these households suffer from a reduction in income, they may end up on the streets if they are unable to pay for rent or monthly mortgage instalments. Some of them might not even have enough money for food. That is why the basic need for shelter among the lower-income earners must be looked after by the government. Recognising this fact, the Malaysian governments are attempting to tackle this through several projects such as Rumah PPR and PPRT.
What is Rumah PPR?
Rumah PPR which is also known as Program Perumahan Rakyat is an initiative by the Malaysian government to provide income earners under the B40 category to find a home and eradicate squatter areas throughout the nation. According to the 2019 Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey Report by the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the income threshold for households under the B40 category in Malaysia is RM 4,849 per month.
There are two categories under this initiative, which are:
PPR Homes for Ownership
Under this category, each PPR home is open for sale at RM 35,000 in Peninsular Malaysia and RM 42,000 in East Malaysia.
PPR Homes for Rent
Alternatively, each PPR home can also be rented for RM 124 per month. This affordable rate would allow as many B40 income earners as possible to live under a safe and comfortable roof.
In February 2021, the Malaysian Minister of Housing and Local Government, Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin, announced that Rumah PPR will now be known as Rumah Malaysia. There will be a total of 4,120 new homes that will be built in 11 locations throughout Malaysia, including Kluang, Sembrong and Pengerang in the state of Johor. Houses under Rumah Malaysia would have a larger built-up size of 900 square feet.
Urban Areas: Multi-storey houses which range from 5 to 18 storeys.
Suburban Areas: Terrace houses
Built-up size
Not less than 700 square feet.
Housing configuration
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, and kitchen.
Based on the built-up sizes, Rumah PPR would be suitable for families. Lower-income earners have the opportunity to move into a more comfortable home without bearing an additional burden on their financial commitments. The option to rent a property also allows more flexibility to the B40 income earners who might not be able to purchase a property. Mostly, it would allow lower-income earners an opportunity to upgrade their lives.
Rumah PPR also has a range of facilities for the convenience of residents. Child-friendly facilities include a kindergarten and a playground. There will also be a community hall that residents can use to host social gatherings and celebrate special occasions, as well as a surau where Muslims can pray. There are also facilities for the disabled in the area.
The full list of facilities are such as below:
Kindergarten
Playground
Community hall
Surau
Garbage disposal area
Retail space
Facilities for the disabled
Where Can I Find the List of Available Rumah PPR?
The full list of available PPR homes for purchase or rent can easily be found here.
Upon clicking, select ‘All Schemes’ and choose either ‘PPR Owned or PPR For Rent’ before clicking the ‘Look For’ button.
Examples of available projects under PPR For Rent:
These are the available projects under ‘PPR for Rent’ as of Feb 20, 2021.
wdt_ID
State
District
Project Name
1
Kedah
Langkawi
PPR Kuah
2
Kedah
Langkawi
PPR Ulu Melaka
3
Sabah
Kota Belud
PPR Ulu Pirasan
4
Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan
Labuan
PPR Batu Arang
At the time of writing, there are no available projects under ‘PPR Owned’. However, both lists will be progressively updated in the future.
Who can apply for Rumah PPR?
So, how do you know if you qualify to apply for Rumah PPR? Here are the basic criteria:
Malaysian citizen
18 years old and above
Total household income is less than RM 3,000 per month
Do not own a property.
Examples of Income Calculation:
Scenario A: Both husband and wife are income earners.
Husband: Earns RM 1,800 per month
Wife: Earns RM 1,000 per month
The total household income is RM 2,800 (which is less than RM 3,000) and therefore, this household qualifies for the PPR home scheme.
Scenario B: The husband is the sole income earner for the household, and he draws a monthly income of RM 2,700. Therefore, this household qualifies to apply for PPR home.
However, do take note that there could be additional criteria stipulated by the state governments in Malaysia. This could also vary from state to state. To find out more on these additional criteria, feel free to get in touch with the respective state departments:
If you have fulfilled all the criteria to apply for Rumah PPR and you are now ready to apply, you can proceed to submit your applications may be submitted online via the National Home Management System website.
Below is a step-by-step guide for online applications:
Step 1: If you are a new user, select ‘Account Register’. If you have already registered before, you may proceed to Step 4.
Step 2: Key in your name, identification card (IC) number, email address, and then click ‘Sign Up’.
Step 3: A verification email will be sent to you. Click the link in the email and you will be directed to the page below to set-up your password:
A: Key in your preferred password under ‘Password’. Do take note of the requirements for a password creation which will be displayed.
B: After you have successfully created your preferred password, you will need to key in your password again under ‘Password Verification.’
C: Once you have completed both steps, click ‘Save’.
Step 4: You will then be routed back to the main page. Remember to ensure that the ‘Applicant’ tab is selected (instead of ‘secretary’, ‘developer’, or ‘agent’). Key in your IC number, your saved password, and click ‘Log in.’
Step 5: Select your preferred PPR scheme (either PPR Owned or PPR For Rent) and then proceed to submit your application.
If you need further clarification about the application process, it can easily be found in this guide here.
Rumah PPRT, which stands for Program Perumahan Rakyat Termiskin, is also another initiative by the Malaysian government to help the poor and the hardcore poor in Malaysia. However, this programme comes under the purview of the Malaysian Ministry of Rural Development (Kementerian Pembangunan Luar Bandar).
Its objective is to improve the quality of life among the poor and the hardcore poor in Malaysia, by repairing existing homes or building new affordable homes, so that they can have a safer and comfortable place to call home and grow a family. In 2019, the Malaysian government allocated RM 200 million for this initiative, and this allocation was subsequently increased to RM 264.2 million in 2020.
The Rumah PPRT initiative covers rural areas in Malaysia and other areas that are selected by the Malaysian government.
Scopes of Rumah PPRT
There are two scopes under this initiative, which are:
Repair
There are three elements under this scope which are maintenance, home improvement, and requisition. Aid will be given if it is deemed economical for the said property to be repaired. However, the aid only includes the repair of basic components of the house such as roofing (trusses and beams), roofs, ceilings, stairs, kitchens, toilets, bathrooms, doors, floors (made out of cement or wood), windows, plumbing, drainage (perimeter drains/outlets), sewerage, electrical wiring, and walkways to the entrance of stilt houses.
Aid will also be extended to repair properties that suffer minor damages as a result of fires, floods, landslides, or heavy storms. However, this aid does not include building or repairing the exterior of the house such as fences, wells, garages, and others. The building materials used must be the same or equivalent to the specifications of new building materials.
If the said land is partially or fully owned by another party (the land is either owned by parents, siblings, relatives with blood-ties to the applicant, government-owned land, or Waqf land), the applicant is required to submit a Land Use Permission Form, which can be obtained here.
The maximum amount of aid under this category that an applicant may receive is RM 13,000 in Peninsular Malaysia and RM 15,000 in Sabah, Sarawak, and Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan.
New Buildings
Below are the criteria under this scope:
Aid will be provided for applicants who do not own a property.
The current property is run-down.
The current property is not safe to live in.
It is not economical to repair the current property.
Applicant fully owns a land; or
Owns part of the land or obtain permission from the landlord (the land is either owned by parents, siblings, relatives with blood-ties to the applicant, government-owned land, or Waqf land. In this case, the applicant is required to submit a Land Use Permission Form, which can be obtained here.
The table below indicates the amount of aid that an applicant may receive:
wdt_ID
Area
Property Type
Rate
1
Peninsular Malaysia
3 Bedrooms (660 sq ft)
RM 56,000
2
Sabah, Sarawak, & Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan
3 Bedrooms (660 sq ft) Longhouse or Rumah Panjang (715 sq ft)
From this target group, the eligibility criteria are such as below:
Certified as poor or hardcore poor and registered in the National Poverty Data Bank (e-Kasih).
Confirmed and certified eligible by the District or State Level Poverty Eradication Focus Group meeting, or its equivalent committee at the state level; or
Confirmed by government agencies involved in poverty eradication programmes; or
Confirmed by a ministry-level committee.
However, do take note that priority will be given to:
Senior citizens
People who suffer from disabilities (also known as ‘Orang Kurang Upaya’ or OKU in Malaysia).
Single parents with multiple dependents
Victims of small-scale disasters
Ultimately, Rumah PPRT initiative will be focused in Malaysian states and districts which have high hardcore poverty rate.
What Are the Forms That Needs to Be Submitted to Apply for Rumah PPRT?
These are the forms that you will be required to fill up and submit:
Should you require any further assistance or clarification, you may click this link for the list of contacts (including contacts of the respective state offices).
FAQ for Rumah PPR and PPRT
Rumah PPR
Can I opt for a Rumah PPR for Rent now, and buy the property under the Rumah PPR for Ownership later?
It can only be converted upon receipt of guidelines from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan) that the said property is eligible for purchase. The selling price would be dependent on the current market value.
I am the sole breadwinner of my family and I earn a monthly income of RM 2,500. My aged parents are not working, and my younger siblings are still schooling. Am I eligible to apply for Rumah PPR?
Yes, as the total household income is less than RM 3,000.
I am not familiar with applying online. Are there any other options for me?
Yes, in-person applications can be submitted at the respective state department offices.
Is there a maximum number of applications that each household can submit?
Yes, only one application can be submitted per household.
Rumah PPRT
Should I apply for aid under ‘Repair’ or ‘New Buildings’ under the Rumah PPRT scheme?
If it is not economical for the current property to be repaired, you can apply for aid under ‘New Buildings’.
One of the eligibility criteria to apply for Rumah PPRT is to register under the National Poverty Data Bank (e-Kasih). If I have not registered, how can I do so?
You may begin the registration process at your respective State Development Offices or District Offices.
Are there any other ways for me to fulfill the eligibility criteria apart from registering with the National Poverty Data Bank (e-Kasih)?
Yes, these are the other options:
Confirmed and certified eligible by the District or State Level Poverty Eradication Focus Group meeting, or its equivalent committee at the state level; or
Confirmed by government agencies involved in poverty eradication programmes; or
Confirmed by a ministry-level committee.
Can I submit a PPRT application online?
Unfortunately, all applications must be submitted in-person at the respective state offices. You may clickthis link for the addresses of each office.
Conclusion
In late 2020 and early 2021, the East Coast of Malaysia suffered what residents described as the worst flood in half a century. Several lives were lost because of the floods and many had to be temporarily evacuated. Many homes were also left damaged and those without the means to repair their homes would suffer the most as they have no choice but to live in depilated homes and find another home.
On Feb 12, 2021, the New Straits Times reported the plight Chin Kok Choy, a former carpenter, and his family are going through.As a result of a stroke, he was no longer able to work and his wife had to take over the role as the family’s breadwinner. She obtained a job as a kitchen helper and earns RM40 a day. Her meagre income is used to support the whole family and they only have enough to get by. The house they live in is run-down, but they do not have the means to repair their home.
There are many more such tragic stories in Malaysia, of homes destroyed by natural disasters, of families barely surviving and in desperate need of funds to repair their homes and living in deplorable conditions until they receive assistance. It is easy for their suffering to go unnoticed by the rest of society, but with initiatives such as Rumah PPR and Rumah PPRT, these Malaysians have hope to live in a better home.
The information on this website is subject to change at any time without prior notice from Properly. Quantitative metrics are taken and used based on recency at the time of writing. While the Properly team takes information accuracy seriously, we are not liable for any losses due to incorrect information. The information provided is solely to inform users and is not in any way a form of offer or contract unless stated otherwise.
These are the forms that you will be required to fill up and submit: