The scheme, which was officially launched by Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badwai on April 2006, is to enable low-income earners to own a house at a very affordable price.

Member of Parliament for P216 Bintulu Dato Seri Tiong King Sing said  the scheme was opened to those earning less than RM1,000 per month or RM12,000 yearly.

For those in Sabah and Sarawak they are only required to pay a monthly installment of RM100 for 32 years for the single storey house valued at RM57,000 or 35 years for  stilted house valued at RM63,000. 

Tiong said  the RMR scheme reflected government's continued efforts to help the low-income group of people to own and live in a quality house with comfort and healthy environment.

His text of speech was read by his political secretary Zaedy Nor during the official handing over ceremony yesterday  held at the site where the house was built .

Bintulu Resident Dr Razali Abon handed over the mock key to the house to Sarimah during the ceremony.

Earlier, Manager of RMR Department under SPDB, Ir. Mohd Asri Madsim said the implementatioin of the RMR Scheme in Sarawak had been made possible through the strong cooperation between SPNB and Housing Development Commission(HDC) under a brand-name known as Skim Rumah Mesra Rakyat Kampung Extension, Negeri Sarawak.

“Together the two organizations have targeted to develop about 1,000 units of RMR homes throughout Sarawak by end of 2006,” he said 

Under this cooperation, SPNB will undertake the construction of RMR homes on the land owned by the State Government or land owned by Sarawakian individual aged not more than 65 years old and earning less then RM1,000 a month and cannot afford to buy a house.

Meanwhile, HDC will own and manage the development on matters related to ownership and repayment by the individual owner.

Asri also pointed out that there were two applications for RMR houses which had been approved in Bintulu while another five applications would be approved soon. 

To lessen the financial burden of the applicants, one –third of the construction costs of these houses are being subsidized by the Federal Government’s Special Fund.

The scheme offered three designs of houses with a build up area of 700 square feet and 1000 square feet for the applicants to choose from, single storey detached house, detached house on four feet stilt and the latest design, detached house on eight feet stilt.

SPNB, incorporated in 1997 is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Minster of Finance Incorporated which was set up to provide affordable quality homes for every family in Malaysia in line with the government’s housing policy.
 
Amopng those present were General Manager of Bintulu Development Authority(BDA) Haji Mohidin Ishak and  Regional Manager of HDC for Miri , Abang Mahatir.