Kota Kinabalu: Sabah is the first State to have a pledge of providing free home deposit for first-time house buyers by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) if it is given the mandate in the Nov. 29 state election.
Former Senator Datuk John Ambrose said no other states have initiated such a move that would benefit especially young married couples.
He said the ground-breaking policy could help thousands of young Sabahans secure a home of their own.
“To ensure this pledge materialises, GRS must first be given the mandate in the coming election,” he said.
John, a GRS Supreme Council member, said GRS deserves credit for promising full deposit assistance, a cost that typically accounts for 10 per cent of the price of a property, which is widely recognised as the single biggest barrier preventing young Sabahans from purchasing a house.
He said the initiative shows GRS understands the realities faced by young workers in the State, where the combination of rising property prices and stagnant wages has made homeownership increasingly difficult.
“Having a roof over one’s head is a basic right. But for many young Sabahans, it’s a big challenge because of various factors, including deposit,” he said.
John’s remarks highlight a challenge that has been building for more than a decade where young Sabahans are being priced out of homeownership faster than ever before.
Multiple studies have shown that Sabah’s property prices remain among the least affordable in Malaysia relative to local incomes.
John noted that the Malaysian House Price Index in Sabah has been steadily climbing, with many urban houses in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Likas and Tuaran priced far beyond what a young worker earning RM2,000 to RM3,000 a month can afford.
“A national survey found that only a small percentage of Malaysian youths own a home, with the initial 10 per cent deposit cited as their most difficult hurdle.
“For Sabahans, this challenge is even more severe due to the State’s lower median salary levels, making it nearly impossible for young workers to accumulate the RM20,000 to RM40,000 or more typically needed for down-payment,” he said.
In addition, John said, urban rentals in Sabah have surged in recent years, with many tenants reporting that Kota Kinabalu rents now rival Kuala Lumpur’s despite wages being significantly lower.
As a result, young Sabahans often find themselves stuck in a cycle of renting without being able to save enough to enter the property market.
Under the GRS proposal, first-time house buyers would no longer need to pay the deposit, effectively removing the largest upfront financial barrier.
John said the deposit pledge sends a strong message that the needs of young Sabahans are being prioritised.
“Many young people want to start families and settle down in Sabah, but the deposit remains the stumbling block.
“This policy offers them a real pathway to owning their first home,” he added.
John said ensuring young Sabahans afford homes is not just a housing issue but a key factor for long-term economic stability, talent retention and social well-being in the State.
“As homeownership rates among youths stagnate and cost pressures rise, the GRS proposal comes at a time when many Sabahans feel pushed to the margins of the property market.
“With experts warning of a deepening affordability crisis, the deposit pledge could be one of the most significant interventions in years, offering hope to a generation that has increasingly feared being shut out of homeownership,” he said.
John urged Sabahans, especially the young, not to pass this chance of a lifetime.
“Give the GRS the mandate to govern again,” he said, adding that if the coalition is returned to power it will allocate 50 units of SMJ homes in every constituency, out of which 10 units will be for young people in the B40 and e-Kasih bracket, especially the newly-weds.
