Sarawak is working on a middle-income housing model for M40 households, with Premier Abang Johari Openg saying the state is still calculating the house type and cost range before it decides how far the scheme can go.
The clearest local account so far is in Bintulu. DayakDaily reported that the pilot would cover Jepak and an area near Kampung Nyalau, based on remarks after the Rumah Spektra Permata key handover ceremony at Balingian on 3 October 2026. Utusan Borneo also named Jepak and Kampung Samalaju near Kampung Nyalau, and said the state wanted to test the formula in Bintulu before taking it to other urban areas.
Borneo Post and FMT carried the same policy direction but described the expected pilot locations differently, saying projects were planned in Kuching and near Samarahan. Given that difference, the firm point is not yet the final site list. The confirmed policy point is that Sarawak is trying to design a product for households that sit above B40 schemes but still struggle with urban land costs.
Abang Johari said the issue was not only demand, but land. In DayakDaily's report, he said land values were high and some urban areas were already densely developed, so the state had to look for new areas. Borneo Post reported him saying the initiative would involve state agencies including the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation, the Housing Development Corporation and the Bintulu Development Authority.
The M40 label matters because it points to the gap between subsidised low-income housing and market-priced homes. DayakDaily noted that Abang Johari first raised the initiative in February 2026, when he said Sarawak was exploring homes priced between RM300,000 and RM550,000 for middle-income families who may not qualify for B40 affordable housing but still face difficulty buying more expensive homes.
That earlier price band should still be treated as exploratory. The premier's latest remarks were about calculations now being done, not a launch with confirmed units, prices or application dates. For buyers in Bintulu, Kuching, Miri and Sibu, the next useful information will be the exact pilot sites, eligibility rules, house types and whether the final price range stays within the February guide.
Sources: DayakDaily, Utusan Borneo, Borneo Post, FMT.
