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Ministry Optimistic About Building 3,000 RBN Houses This Year - Ismail Sabri

Last update: 13/03/2017

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 (Bernama) -- The Rural and Regional Development Ministry is optimistic about building 3,000 units of Rumah Bina Negara (RBN) this year to enable youths living in rural areas to own their own homes.

Its minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said as facilitators funding the applicants, the ministry and the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) is working with Agro Bank and Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad for that purpose.

"Through this understanding, the ministry aims to facilitate financing for youths who do not have an income statement, especially those working in the agricultural sector, plantations and rural economic activities," he told reporters after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between RISDA, Agrobank and Bank Muamalat on financing the RBN programme today.

RISDA is the implementing agency for the RBN construction under the 11th Malaysia Plan.

This is in keeping with the provision of RM200 million for the RBN project implemented by RISDA and Felcra Berhad under Budget 2017.

So far, RISDA has received 1,518 applications from the 5,900 forms distributed to applicants throughout the country.

Through the RBN programme, the government offers incentives of RM20,000 for houses costing RM65,000 to eligible applicants.

The 700-sq ft houses with three bedrooms and two bathrooms equipped with basic amenities such as water and electricity supply is open to rural youth, aged 18 to 45 years.

The RBN houses should be built on land owned by the youths or their parents.

-- BERNAMA