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We urge the Government to review the conditions for low-cost housing application according to urban, semi-urban (suburban) and rural areas, so that low-income people from different areas can benefit   Press Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw (Petaling Jaya, Friday): The Cabinet has made a decision to allow only low-income people to buy low-cost houses, costing RM42,000 each unit. Let us hope that this decision will benefit poor people. There is a difference in the cost of living and buying power between urban, suburban and rural areas. Hence, the general rule of allowing only those with monthly income below RM1,000 to buy low-cost houses is unfair.   Datuk Seri Abdullah intends to weigh the cost of living of those earning RM2000 a month and below and permit them to own low-cost houses. This is a beginning. We hope that the Prime Minister looks at the whole picture of the low-cost housing woes, from construction, siting, quality, sale and purchase agreement, lawyer representing buyer or developer, and irregularities including under-the-table payment.  For several years, low-cost housing projects in various areas present intricate problems such as some units are allocated to certain bodies to make money, renting or using low-cost houses for foreign workers including the part played by developer.  Although the Government uses computers to key in information about buyers of low-cost houses, these computers can only record information fed by people. If the people involved are up to hanky panky, then computers can only store false information.  The Prime Minister depends on his subordinate to deal with the problems of low-cost housing. He has to ensure that all his officers truly discharge their duties. (18/4/2004) * Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong