Keperluan dan kemampuan perumahan dalam kalangan Bumiputera Sarawak

Abstract

Issues related to rising housing prices and weak purchasing power among Sarawak Bumiputera seeking access to suitable housing have affected the housing affordability thus accelerating widespread debate on the level of problem and policy intervention that is most effective. Therefore, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluating the relationship between affordable housing need indicators and housing affordability of Sarawak Bumiputera in Kuching. Data were collected through questionnaires on 103 samples and analysed using the descriptive analysis, cross-tabulation, Chi-square test and Spearman correlation. The survey found that 58 per cent of respondents could not afford to buy a house and continue to live with their family or rent a house. Meanwhile, only 42 per cent of the respondents own a house, and most of them bought a one-storey terrace house priced not more than RM200,000. The analysis found 6 crucial indicators in determining the housing needs of Sarawak Bumiputera in Kuching Division namely financing eligibility, financing interest rate, appropriate basic infrastructure, sound public facilities, design and finishing, and expenses and cost of living. Furthermore, analysis using Spearman’s rho correlation confirms that there is also a significant correlation between the seven indicators of housing needs and housing affordability constructs, namely income affordability, purchase affordability, and repayment affordability. Next, measurement validity and conceptual frameworks were performed through peer reviews. Identification of housing affordability and housing needs conceptual network will help private and public developers to provide better quality and affordable housing for Sarawak Bumiputera. Consideration of housing needs and affordability will improve the quality of life of the target group in affordable housing schemes.