LETTER | The housing needs in Malaysia are no longer a reality dream. Instead, it has morphed into a nightmare for millions of people throughout the country.
Even low-cost homes meant to fulfil the dream of a lifetime roof over the head for the fast-growing B40 segment of the population are increasingly beyond the means of many Malaysians.
The middle-income, aspiring young population is finding it increasingly impossible to own homes in decent townships as these medium-cost homes cost seven to eight times more within a span of two decades.
Of course, the builders and policymakers will keep telling us that rising inflation, skyrocketing building materials, land prices, and the growing population are reasons why cheaper, affordable and quality homes cannot be built at yesteryears' prices.
But their profit margins never shrank, mind you.
Perhaps the time is now - better late than never, to transform the housing industry.
Today many progressive nations - from China to Indonesia to Australia and many other Western corridors are exploring and promoting innovative, practical, decent and affordable houses.
These nations are inventing out-of-the-box ideas to revolutionise housing for their citizens, making affordability, practicality and the incorporation of aesthetic design elements in creating comfortable houses using cheaper but durable materials.
For example, capsular homes, motor homes, container homes - all of these are being refashioned with cutting-edge architectural, designer and practical solutions that allow for the optimisation of scarce land, fight inflation and ensure every family need not sweat to death to have a roof over their heads.
Malaysia's profitability-driven, decades-old housing industry needs to be abandoned.
Building rows and rows of compact styled mortar, cement and tiled houses that barely give you space to do gardening; building high-rise cubicles that are reminiscent of pigeon homes that lead to a myriad of social ills; carving niche homes for the upmarket segments thereby turning housing into a crafty business investment while further marginalising the haves and have nots - all of these cannot build a sustainably resilient, united, progressive nation.
It is time to reinvent. Abandon the mercenary-style housing industry and in place, inject obligatory principles into the marketplace.
Therefore, the government that is preaching, peddling and working hard to get buy-in into its Madani concept of good governance must take the lead.
We need to revolutionise housing provision for citizens, taking after the advancing concepts and solutions that can be borrowed from nations with a proven track record of success.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
