The Sabah government has built 4,482 affordable homes under its Rumah Mesra SMJ initiative since the programme’s inception in 2022, with plans to add 3,000 units this year to address the state’s housing needs.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the programme’s success reflects the state government’s commitment to improving housing access, particularly for low- and middle-income groups.
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The Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) program was launched in 2022 to provide affordable housing for low-income families across Sabah. Here’s a breakdown of the planned housing units for each year:
2022:
• The program commenced with an allocation of 20 houses per year for each of the 73 state constituencies, totaling 1,460 units.
2023:
• Continuing the initiative, another 1,460 units were planned, maintaining the same allocation of 20 houses per constituency.
2024:
• The state government announced an increase in the allocation to 40 houses per constituency, aiming to construct 3,000 units statewide.
By April 2024, a total of 1,445 units had been completed since the program’s inception.
These efforts reflect the Sabah government’s commitment to addressing housing needs and improving living conditions for its residents.
- Total number of Rumah Mesra SMJ units planned from 2022 to 2025:
1. 2022: 1,460 units
2. 2023: 1,460 units
3. 2024: 3,000 units
4. 2025: 3,000 units
The Sabah government planned a total of 8,920 units of Rumah Mesra SMJ over these four years.
As of October 2024, a total of 4,482 units of Rumah Mesra SMJ have been completed since the program’s launch in 2022 .
This means 4,438 units are still pending construction out of the total planned 8,920 units for the 2022–2025 period.
For 2025, RM250 million has been allocated for the construction of new units – a 100 per cent increase from the previous budget, he said.
“The state government is dedicated to ensuring that all Sabahans, regardless of income level, benefit from development.
This includes providing comfortable, affordable homes to meet growing demand,” he said at the launch of the Sabah People’s Housing Scheme (SRRS) at Boulevard 360 Bundusan.
His speech was delivered by Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Isnin Aliasnih.
The SRRS is an extension of the Rumah Mesra SMJ initiative. The initiative is expected to provide affordable housing to 10,000 eligible Sabahans in key urban areas like Kota Kinabalu.
Each units will be priced below RM500,000, with flexible entry requirements, full financing, and longer repayment plans.
Hajiji said the scheme also aims to stimulate the state economy by boosting real estate development, which drives construction, finance, retail, and other sectors.
“This innovative scheme is not just about housing—it fosters economic growth while giving young people the opportunity to own their first homes,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude to developers like Borneo Kemuncak Riang, which contributed the first SRRS project at Boulevard 360 Bundusan, and called for more partnerships with private developers to meet Sabah’s housing needs. – January 26, 2025.
Rumah Mesra SMJ: Sabah’s ambitious housing plan
