ONLINE HOME REGISTRATIONS OPEN EARLIER
Organisers didn’t give out forms due to security reasons
CHUAH BEE KIM JOHOR BARU news@nst.com.my
FOR the second day in a row, there was an overwhelming response for Rumah Impian Bangsa Johor registrations through its website: www.yayasansultanibrahim.org.my. The total number of people who registered for the housing scheme, spearheaded by Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, reached 265,000 as of noon yesterday.
Johor Corporation (JCorp) president and chief executive Datuk Kamaruzzaman Abu Kassim said the response came after a lot of people gathered at the launch of the project in Galleria@Kotaraya here on Wednesday.
On what had happened during the launch, he said the organisers did not to give out the forms due to security reasons, as the crowd was huge and it would have led to chaos if the forms were insufficient.
He said the organisers had initially wanted to open online registrations a day after the launch.
“After receiving advice from security teams following the large crowd that had gathered, and to avoid any untoward incidents, we decided to open online registrations earlier than planned.
“We are aware that people were disappointed after gathering since early morning.”
The Rumah Impian Bangsa Johor project will be developed under the Sultan Ibrahim Foundation.
It comprises more than 1,800 units of prime freehold houses with below-market prices, which will be built in Bandar Dato Onn, Bandar Baru Majidee and Bukit Saujana, here.
Kamaruzzaman said the ruler would screen the applicants to ensure every criteria was met.
“This will ensure that only those deserving will get a chance to own a unit, which is the objective of the project.”
State Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda) chairman Datuk Steve Chong said everyone should support the ruler’s gesture in giving the people a chance to become home owners.
“We have a kind-hearted sultan. His kind gesture must be supported.
“This gift cannot be seen from a commercial point of view. It is priceless.”
Meanwhile, housewife Shanifa Nasir, 29, from Kota Tinggi lauded the move.
She said her husband, a masseur, had been applying to buy a house since they got married seven years ago.
“We have yet to receive any response for our application. My husband has submitted his application online as he is a Johorean.
“If we can get a unit, we won’t have to rent anymore. Our rent is RM800 a month, we can set aside that money for retirement.”