Belanjawan 2027: REACH gesa insentif anak beli rumah dekat ibu bapa

Iskandar Abdul Samad, the Chairman of the REACH (Pusat Sumber Untuk Kemajuan Masyarakat dan Perumahan) has proposed a financial incentive for children who buy houses near their parents as part of the 2027 Budget. This initiative aims to strengthen the support for the elderly within the family. The incentive could be in the form of a home purchase grant for children who purchase property within a certain distance from their parents' home. If both parents and children live together in the same house, a higher incentive may be considered.

The 2027 Budget proposal was submitted to the government in May last year and should be considered as a possible measure to increase the number of elderly individuals being taken care of by their families. Iskandar believes that strengthening family units is crucial in taking care of the elderly population, and such schemes could be launched initially for low-income and simple families before being expanded based on its success.

According to REACH, living close by would make it easier for children to assist their parents with daily tasks, receive care during emergencies, and monitor their well-being. Singapore has implemented a similar approach through the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG), offering up to S$30,000 for families who buy a home to live near their parents or children, with a maximum of S$20,000 for properties within a 4km radius of their parents' or children's home.

Malaysia does not necessarily need to mimic the Singaporean scheme entirely, but the underlying principle warrants consideration as it can be used to strengthen the family unit and support the elderly. This is not just about home purchasing assistance; it is a social investment, according to Iskandar. He stated that efforts to strengthen the care of the elderly within families should also move in tandem with the Elderly Welfare Bill (RUU Warga Emas).

While they support this legislation, they believe that protective measures through legislation should move in line with the incentives that aid families in caring for their parents. Iskandar, who is also the former PAS exco for housing, emphasized that the responsibility towards parents is not solely the child's, but the government should also consider what forms of support can be provided to make it easier for families to fulfill this responsibility.