SEREMBAN: 1MALAYSIA Housing Programme (PR1MA) homes are expected to solve the woes of the middle-income group  which   is finding it more difficult to buy homes due to rising costs.

The programme will be launched when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak visits the state this weekend as part of the Jelajah Janji Ditepati programme.

The main objective of PR1MA is to promote greater home ownership, especially among the middle-income earners, by providing affordable residential properties in key urban centres.

PR1MA will be the sole authority to develop, manage and maintain PR1MA communities built under the programme to promote vibrant and active communities.

To participate in the programme, applicants must meet several key criteria, especially an income of RM2,500 to RM7,500 a month.

PR1MA chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Mutalib Alias said since the launch, PR1MA had continuously engaged with the relevant stakeholder groups within the government and industry to develop a blueprint for a sustainable solution to promote affordable housing for middle-income earners.

"These stakeholder sessions have been very beneficial to PR1MA as it has provided us an opportunity to share the prime minister's vision for the programme and in turn receive useful feedback from those within the industry."

He said applicants needed to be above 21 years old and should work or live in the area where the project would be developed.

"An applicant also cannot own more than one house in Malaysia."

He said PR1MA would embark on a nationwide registration by year-end to gauge the need for PR1MA homes and identify areas in each state where demand might be greatest.

For more details, visit www.pr1ma.my