Kuala lumpur: The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) is finalising the Residential Tenancy Bill to balance the rights and protections of tenants and landlords. Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu stated that the proposed law is intended to establish a more equitable rental market while offering a quicker, easier, and more affordable way to resolve disputes.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the proposed legislation seeks to establish a fairer relationship between tenants and homeowners by clearly defining the rights and responsibilities of both sides. This was highlighted during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara as a response to Senator Wong You Fong's inquiry about incentives and steps being taken to tackle rising rental costs and urban poverty faced by the younger generation.

Aiman Athirah emphasized that the government does not intend to impose nationwide rent controls, considering that multiple economic factors and local market conditions determine rental rates. Instead, the government has opted for a broader approach, including increasing affordable rental housing, improving tenant protections, and widening access to home ownership to reduce long-term dependence on the rental market.

Additionally, the government has expanded access to housing financing through the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme (SJKP), raising the guarantee ceiling to RM40 billion to help more people transition from renting to home ownership. This initiative provides financing guarantees of up to RM500,000 for first-time buyers, including those working in the gig economy who do not have a fixed income. As of April 30, RM27.4 billion in financing guarantees had been approved, covering 113,222 applications, with more than half of the recipients aged 30 or younger.

In another development, Aiman Athirah mentioned that the ministry, through PLANMalaysia, is completing draft guidelines on physical planning for older adults, which will be brought to the Cabinet for consideration. These guidelines serve as a reference for state governments and local authorities in ensuring that national physical planning and development consider the needs of all groups in society. The proposed guidelines set out a recommended ratio of one elderly care facility per 1,000 to 1,500 senior citizens, or at least one facility for every neighbourhood area with 5,000 to 10,000 residents. The draft also outlines minimum space requirements of three square metres per senior citizen and nine square metres per room in care facilities to create a comfortable and suitable environment.

These guidelines were discussed in response to Senator R. Thiagarajah's question on current policies and guidelines governing the provision of elderly-friendly facilities or spaces in new residential developments.