Soaring House Prices 屋价飙升2012.6.14 Chinese & English Text.

砂罗越州吉都隆区立委周政新，砂行动党署理主席及行动党民都鲁支部主席2012.6.14文告如下：

吉都隆区立委周政新呼吁政府積極正视州内屋价飙升的狀况。

他说，州内屋价已涨到了一个地步，且已导致许多中等收入的人士，特别是那些剛成立家庭，欲買第一间住屋的年青配偶们，他们心里很想要，可是卻没有能力買，只有感叹万千。

「而致於那些低收入的人们，那更是不用说了。」

周氏指出，在过去一整年來，砂州各大巿塡都感受到屋价飙升的压力，双层排屋旳价格在马幣35万到40万之间，而民都鲁的卻是在38万8千到40万之间。在民都鲁，一间半独立屋的价格则是48万8千到73万之间，达到了一个驚人的高记录。

「有间屋子住，是毎一个人天生的心願与需要，也是一个好政府对人民最基本的责任。」

「可是，今天我们有许许多多的年青人，在面对这么贵的屋价，在没有辦法可施之下，很多只好跑到外国去工作，虽然是苦了自己和家人，他们希望能找到一份比较好的、工资较髙的工作，加上该国更髙的𣿬率，能存到足够的一笔錢回来買一间屋子给家人住。」

很讽刺的是做为一个资源丰富，地广人稀的砂州，郤要依靠我们的子弟到国外去赚外资回來買屋子。難到今天我们已淪落到与邻国的「女佣政策」一样。

我们了解屋价是隋着巿㘯的需求与供应而波动，但那也只有在一个有决对自由经济巿㘯，才会起那种的作用。可是今天在砂州，当许多货物被特定集團垄断，特别是许多主要迠築材料，土地等都被控制，肯定都是导致州内屋价飙升的主要因素。

因此我呼吁政府放松垄断巿场的作风，让巿場有更多操作的空间而发挥其本身巿㘯的効能。与此同时，政府也应该开放更多砂州的土地好让市㘯能自行调整价格。

此外我也呼吁政府有效的執行产业税以制止炒风的吹击。

周政新。

Media Statement by Chiew Chin Sing, State Assemblyman for Kidurong, Sarawak, Sarawak DAP Deputy Chairman and DAP Bintulu Branch Chairman on the 14th of June 2012.

State Assemblyman for Kidurong Chiew Chin Sing urge the government to seriously look into the escalating home prices in the State.

He said that the prices of houses had gone up to such an extent  that it is becoming increasingly difficult for the young middle income group,  especially the newly married couples, to buy their first home. They just could not afford it.

And as for those in  the lower income group it is even more difficult for them.

Chiew pointed out that over the past year, major Sarawak towns are facing the pressure of rising home prices. A double story terrace house costs between RM350,000 to RM400,000, while in Bintulu, it is between RM388,000 and RM400,000. A double story semi detached costs an alarming record price of between RM488,000 and RM730,000 here in Bintulu.

Shelter is a basic human need and providing such need is the duty of a good government.

What happen today is that they are so many of our young people when faced with such high home prices, though difficult to leave behind their loved ones,  have no choice but to go to other countries, hoping to find  better jobs with higher income, plus the favorable foreign exchange and be able to save some money to come home and buy a house for the family.

What is ironic is that, Sarawak, a state which is so rich in natural resources, with so much land and scarce population, yet her people have to go out of the country to earn foreign exchange to come back to buy a house. Since when have we take up the 'House maid policy' of our neighbouring countries.

We understand that the prices of houses flatuate with the forces of market but that can only happen effectively in a truly free economy. In  Sarawak today, so many of our materials are being monopolized by certain groups, especially the major building materials and land as well, are being controlled. Surely this is also a major contributing factor to the rising house prices.

I therefore call on the government to loosen up the monopoly on the market, to allow more space for the market to operate more  freely and effectively. I would also like to urge the government to open up more land so as so allow the market to adjust its  own prices.

And I also call on the government to effectively run the the property taxes law so as to avoid speculation on the housing market.

Chiew Chin Sing.