The country's new housing rules and policies will focus on providing affordable homes to the people.

"Affordable homes will be one of our priorities. This is a challenge for private developers and government agencies as the new system needs to be updated" Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah said today after officiating and event, reported the Malay Mail.

He also said that a central database on homeownership and the distribution of affordable homes are important issues.

"Without a database, how can we properly ascertain the demand for housing (and) to know the right status of eligibility.

"The central data will certainly 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 said.

He said a database will be able to identify Malaysians who have yet to own a house and those who already owning several properties, reported the English daily.

Raja Kamarul also said the issue of young people, especially those who were newly married, finding it difficult to own their own homes in Kuala Lumpur is a challenging problem.

Last month, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin announced that the new national housing policy is scheduled to be unveiled in September.

The policy will address the definition of affordable housing, the future building concept, size, as well as amenities which the ministry intends to encourage.

The authorities are also planning to coordinate all housing-related entities under the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

At present, various agencies and Ministries are involved in housing projects, such as in the development of the 1Malaysia Mesra Rakyat Housing by Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd; 1Malaysia Public Servant Housing under the Prime Minister's Department; Housing Aid Programme under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry; and Federal Territories Housing (Rumawip) under the Ministry of Federal Territories.