Melaka: After 28 years of waiting, a housewife’s dream of owning a home has come true with the approval of her Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) application under Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, for Intan Rohayu Yusof, 46, from Simpang Ampat, Alor Gajah, the news was a double blessing, as she received it while recovering at Melaka Hospital after undergoing surgery on March 12. “I have been living with my mother in Simpang Ampat for the past 28 years, and the RMR unit I applied for will be built on her land in Kampung Kemus Dalam, as I cannot afford to buy my own,” said Intan. She submitted her application in September 2023 and persistently followed up with SPNB to check the status. Intan, a mother of six aged between eight and 26, expressed her gratitude for the approval.
She shared her story while speaking to reporters during the briefing and presentation of offer letters for the RMR 2025 Second Session for Melaka, which was officiated by Duyong assemblyman Datuk Mohd Noor Helmy Abd Halem, with SPNB chief executive officer Mohd Jamil Idris also present. Intan Rohayu is one of 106 RMR applicants who received an offer letter for a home built at a cost of RM75,000, but with a repayment of just RM55,000 through monthly installments.
Meanwhile, S. Emanuel Raj, 27, from Kampung Paya Buluh, Merlimau, expressed his relief and joy upon receiving approval for the RMR home. He applied for the RMR to provide a more comfortable home for his mother, R. Upagaram, 61, as their current house, which is over 30 years old, is in poor condition. Emanuel highlighted that the house would be built on his mother’s land near his current home.
Emanuel Raj emphasized that the RMR programme was a lifeline for those struggling to afford a home, especially with soaring house prices and his unstable income as a self-employed worker. He also noted that the monthly payments to SPNB were very reasonable, considering the specifications of the house. To date, SPNB has built 3,626 RMR units in Melaka to help the people of the state own homes.