The Youth Housing Scheme, to be offered to married youth couples, will provide an opportunity for youths to own a house.

Information Technology Youth Movement president Khaireel Azlee Abdul Aziz, in welcoming the scheme, said it was good as it could be a long-term investment plan for the young generation.

"It is a good move to start youths to own permanent assets and the RM200 monthly incentive for the successful applicants helps to reduce their burden in paying the monthly installments," he said when contacted by Bernama.

The scheme was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last Monday as part of the pro-active economic measures to be taken by the government.

The Youth Housing Scheme will be offered to 20,000 married youths aged between 25 and 40 to buy their first house on a first-come, first served basis.

It will be offered to youth couples with a monthly income of less than RM10,000 for purchase of property worth between RM100,000 and RM500,000.

Meanwhile, Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong welcome the announcement by the prime minister to expedite construction of affordable homes.

Mah, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said the Youth Housing Scheme was the best way to deal with the current challenges facing the country, at both micro and macro levels.

He said the announcement by the prime minister on pro-active measures to be taken by the government to address the current economic challenges was apt to alleviate the public's concern, including with the rising cost of living.

"The announcement on additional measures to ensure sustainable economic growth should be praised with emphasis on the people's well-being," he added.

Malaysian Tamil Youth Club president K Murali said the introduction of the Youth Housing Scheme was a good move to help newly married young couples with low income to own their own house.

"The scheme will be of great help, especially for those staying in big towns where the house price exceeds RM100,000," he added.

Meanwhile, Farrah Balkish Abdul Hamid, 34, from Cheras, said the housing scheme offered for youths by the government would help to realise the dreams on the low income youth couples to own a house.

"This scheme can help me and my husband to own a house and improve our standard of living. It is better to invest in paying installments for our own house than to pay high house rental," she said.

Wong Wai Hon, 32, from Setapak Jaya, said the announcement by the government on the Youth Housing Scheme and to expedite construction of affordable homes would provide more opportunities for the people to own a house.