Continuation of stamp duty exemption will help more Malaysians to be houseowners - Nga

11 Jun 2023 06:52pm

Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming. - FILE PIC

IPOH - The move to continue the 100 per cent stamp duty exemption for the purchase of a first property priced below RM500,000 is expected to help more Malaysians to have a house of their own.

Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming said the ministry’s proposal to the Finance Ministry to continue the initiative will help the people to save up to buy a house.

"So far 76.9 per cent of Malaysians have already owned a house, we are targeting 100 per cent and this is one of the ways to help achieve the target," he told reporters after a working visit, here, today.

On June 9, the Finance Ministry announced that first time house buyers will continue to enjoy a 100 per cent stamp duty exemption for purchases not exceeding RM500,000 via the Malaysian Home Ownership Initiative (i-Miliki).

In addition, the ministry said a 75 per cent stamp duty exemption will also be given for first-time home ownership for houses priced at between RM500,000 and RM1 million under the i-Miliki initiative.

The stamp duty exemption applies to sale and purchase agreements executed from June 1, 2022 until Dec 31, 2023.

The ministry said the exemption comes under the Home Ownership Programme (HOPE), where first-time buyers are given stamp duty exemption on transfer documents and loan agreements.

In the meantime, Nga expressed his appreciation to the Finance Ministry and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for accepting the his ministry’s proposal to continue the initiative to maintain the momentum of the home ownership campaign among the people in the country.