The Johor state government has reaffirmed that foreigners, including Singaporeans, have never been offered subsidised or free houses in the state.
Executive councillor for housing Jafni Shukor said free houses in Johor were given only to the hardcore poor under the Rumah Kasih Johor, which has a target of building 500 homes by next year.
Reports of free or subsidised houses for foreigners were untrue and were part of a scam, he said, and the 19 cases of scams, with victims suffering losses of about RM155,000, should serve as a reminder for the people to be more vigilant against dubious offers and to refer to official state government channels.
Jafni said only properties with a floor price of RM1 million were available “This policy remains a measure to protect the interests of local people and ensure that affordable housing is always a priority for the people of Johor,” he said when contacted.
So far, the state government had handed over more than 17,700 affordable houses, at prices between RM42,000 and RM300,000, he said.
Yesterday, Singapore media reported that police had warned about a scam involving purported Johor-Singapore housing subsidies, which was promoted in an advertisement on Facebook.
A scam victim said the advertisement contained a link promoting the “JBSG Housing Subsidy Programme” or “Free Homes Across the Causeway” purportedly as a result of a collaboration between the Johor and Singapore governments.
Johor police chief Ab Rahaman Arsad said no reports had been received regarding the Johor-Singapore housing subsidy fraud.
