KUAlA LUMPUR: Applicants for low-cost houses nationwide will be given marks in six categories under a standard format to determine their eligibility soon.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, who described the categorisation and weigh-tage (see table) as "scientific and objective," said it was done by a consultant.

Elaborating on the categories, he said dependents would refer to children, parents and siblings while status referred to whether one was single or married, a single mother or disabled.

The category on other factors would, among others, refer to whether one is employed or retired, a civil servant or having disabled family members. Ong said applicants would only need to submit their forms together with their identity cards and a declaration of oath or certification by a government head of department.

"All state governments have agreed to implement this standard format. They also have the right to verify the applications and decide on them.

"The Federal Government will not intervene," Ong told reporters after chairing the National Housing Council meeting here yesterday.

The meeting also discussed the rent-and-buy scheme for the low-cost apartments under the government rental scheme, which charged a monthly rental of RM124 per unit.

On the proposal to stretch the housing mortgage payments over two generation to make it easier for the poor and hardcore poor to buy low-cost houses apartments, Ong said his ministry would come up with a Cabinet paper on it soon