By Marlynda Meraw
KUCHING, May 27: A total of 65 longhouses comprising 1,260 doors have been approved under the Sarawak government’s longhouse loan scheme for the low-income group as of 2025, with a total loan value of RM57.86 million.
Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government (MPHLG) Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the approvals were made through the Jawatankuasa Kelulusan Permohonan Skim Pinjaman Perumahan Untuk Golongan Berpendapatan Rendah (Rumah Panjang) as part of ongoing efforts to support rural housing needs.
“Since 2020, (the) Sarawak government has disbursed a total of RM232.05 million, benefitting 343 longhouses consisting of 7,218 doors,” revealed Dr Sim during his ministerial winding-up speech at the State legislature sitting today.
In addition to the longhouse loan initiative, Dr Sim also shared updates on several other housing-related programmes managed by Mutiara Mortgage & Credit Sdn. Bhd. (Mutiara).
Under the Housing Deposit and Repayment Assistance Scheme (HDRAS), Mutiara has received 2,525 applications to date, of which 2,234 have been approved, amounting to RM21.29 million.
As for the Mutiara Home Financing Scheme, he said that 2,031 applications have been approved with a financial allocation of RM184.27 million.
“A total of RM79.863 million has been disbursed to 1,337 house buyers at one per cent for B40 and three per cent for M40 per annum respectively,” he said.
The scheme offers low interest rates of one per cent for B40 and three per cent for M40 groups, subsidised by the Sarawak government, along with up to 100 per cent financing, a repayment period of up to 40 years, and a second-generation financing feature that allows heirs to continue repayments and retain the family home. –DayakDaily
