KUALA TERENGGANU: A central database on home ownership could help solve housing issues, said Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah.

"Without a database, how can we properly ascertain the demand for housing?" he said on the sidelines of a dialogue on home ownership problems here on Friday (Aug 3) night.

He said a database could help identify Malaysians who have yet to own a house and those who already own several units.

This could potentially help with demand-and-supply issues within the sector, especially for low-cost and affordable housing, as authorities and developers would have information on potential buyers.

Raja Kamarul, who is an architect by profession, claimed that deserving and qualified Malaysians were often sidelined in their attempt to own (low-cost and affordable) homes as units are often taken up by others who have "the right connections".

"Some Malaysians have waited for years to own a house but their chances are always taken away by others. It is very disheartening," he said.

However, establishing a database, he said, would require political will from various parties including developers and relevant agencies.

"Basic information is all that is needed, and I don't see why it is a challenge for those involved in the housing market," said Raja Kamarul, who is also Terengganu Pakatan Harapan chairman.

He added that the ministry may need to make it a compulsory requirement or law for the database to be set up, though he feels they don't need to go to that (legal) extent for now.