You get a home! You get a home! Johor Sultan's offer of cheap landed homes drew overwhelming response

Have money. Can spend.

Chan Cheow Pong | March 25, 2017, 08:37 AM

Thousands of Johoreans swarmed the launch of an affordable housing project by the Johor Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar on Mar. 22, hoping to apply for a home that will cost them a fraction of the market price.

The low-cost housing project has attracted an overwhelming response, with more than 265,000 applications by noon on Mar. 23.

Timed to celebrate the Sultan's 59th birthday as his gift to Johoreans, the project is meant to help those in need of a home, based on criteria set by The Sultan Ibrahim Foundation. The Foundation was set up last year to address issues related to the welfare of Johoreans, especially in matters of housing.

The project will offer more than 1,800 units of bungalows, semi-detached and terrace home units in prime freehold areas in Johor Baru. Some of the units are priced below RM100,000 (approx $31,654).

Housing loans of up to 100 per cent will be offered by banks and eligible buyers need to pay only RM1 as down payment.

Johor Sultan vs former PM Mahathir

The Johor ruler has been embroiled in an ongoing feud with former Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad over remarks he had made about the Malaysian state.

Mahathir had also been extremely critical of Prime Minister Najib Razak, who he claimed was allowing mainland Chinese companies to buy huge pieces of land, particularly in southern Johor.

His line of attack has upset the Johor ruler, and through the project he is perceived to be consolidating his support and popularity in the state.

All photos from Johor Southern Tigers Facebook

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