Malaysia is going to celebrate its 65th anniversary of independence this year! To help you get in the patriotic mode, we have listed a few financial privileges only Malaysians get to enjoy in this article.
Housing schemes for all income groups in Malaysia
No doubt, housing prices are getting ridiculous nowadays but thanks to housing schemes that are now available for all income groups, home ownership has become possible. #FYI, Malaysians are categorized into three different income groups: Top 20% (T20), Middle 40% (M40), and Bottom 40% (B40). Let's find out what housing schemes are available for all income groups.
T20 housing scheme
PRIMA
Aiming to provide high-quality housing for Malaysians, PR1MA houses are priced between RM100,000 and RM400,000. Technically PR1MA housing is not exclusive to T20 income groups however you are eligible to apply if you have an individual or combined household income of RM2,500 – RM15,000.
Other eligibility criteria:
- Malaysian citizen
- Be over the age of 21
- Own no more than one property between you and your spouse
Related: Find out which income groups you belong to, here.
B40 and M40 housing schemes
Rent-To-Own (RTO)
First announced in Budget 2020, Rent-To-Own (RTO) is one of the government initiatives to help out Malaysians that couldn’t afford to own a house. It's a scheme that allows you to lease a selected property for up to 5 years before purchasing it. You can then purchase the property at a price stated in the rental agreement when the lease was first signed!
Read more on RTO, here.
Residensi Wilayah
Previously known as RUMAWIP, Residensi Wilayah is an affordable housing program for those who were born, working, or living in any Federal Territories to own their first property. All Residensi Wilayah units are below the market price. Here are details on the types of properties you can purchase under the program:
Low-priced house
Built-up: 700 sq ft
Price: RM63,000 (KL and Putrajaya), RM52,000 (Labuan)
Medium low-priced house
Built-up: 800 sq ft
Price: RM63,001 – RM150,000
Medium-priced house
Built-up: 650 sq ft
Price: RM150,001-RM300,000
For freelancers or with irregular incomes
BSN MyHome Program Perumahan Rakyat
BSN MyHome is a housing loan offered to freelancers and people with irregular incomes to buy their first home by Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN). The minimum income required to apply for the BSN MyHome initiative is only RM1,000! With the loan amount capped at RM300,000, you are entitled to 100% financing.
Healthcare
Malaysia doesn’t offer free healthcare (yet) but the government heavily subsidizes the cost of healthcare at public facilities. Take a look at the below initiatives by the government to extend help to Malaysians in need.
mySalam National Health Protection Scheme
mySalam is a government initiative to provide eligible Malaysians with free takaful protection. Recipients of mySalam are entitled to a one-time RM8,000 cash payout upon diagnosis of one of the 45 Critical Illnesses and RM50 daily hospitalization income replacement up to RM700 per annum at any government, military, or university hospital. Find out if you’re eligible for the mySalam scheme, here.
Peka B40
Peka B40 or Skim Peduli Kesihatan for the B40 income group aims to provide healthcare needs by focusing on non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This scheme is eligible for those aged 40 and above and recipients of Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat and their registered spouses. Among the benefits you get to enjoy with this scheme are:
- Health screening at MOH or private clinics
- Up to RM20,000 of the health item value
- Completing cancer treatment incentive up to RM1,000
- Transport incentive up to RM1,000
i-Lindung
Launched by Employees Provident Fund (EPF), members can purchase protection products such as insurance/takaful products from Insurance & Takaful Operators (ITOs) via i-Lindung. Currently, FWD, eTiQa, and Prudential offer 10 different insurance products through this initiative. Of these 10 products, some offer protection benefits for death, total permanent disability (TPD), and critical-illness policies. Learn more about i-Lindung at this link.
Our powerful passport!
Do you know that the Malaysian passport is ranked the 9th most powerful passport in the world by the 2022 Passport Index?
Yes!!!
We are free to travel to 111 countries without a visa! Tourist visa requirements can be expensive and complicated. Let us look at an example: If you're planning to travel to Italy, you are required to pay around RM428.00 (USD96) for a tourist visa however, if you hold a Malaysian passport, you get to enter the land of pasta, pizza, and gelato for FREE!
Malaysia’s subsidies
Malaysia’s subsidies have been such a hot topic in recent years. This year alone, the total amount of subsidies is expected to reach RM80 billion! But do you know what’s been subsidized?
To help fellow Malaysians with rising living costs, the government has provided various consumption subsidies including:
- Petrol
- Cooking oil
- Diesel
- Flour
- Electricity
- 6 other government aids and subsidies
Finally, we must know what privileges we are entitled to as Malaysians. You may not need it but would be helpful to pass the information to those in need. If you’re eligible for any of the listed schemes and privileges, make sure to utilize them!
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