A TOTAL of 52,925 affordable housing units under 79 projects will be developed in Penang to solve the issue of house ownership for low- and middle-income groups.
State Implementation and Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister’s Department director Datuk Syed Shaari Syed Abdullah said this was in line with efforts by the Federal Government to safeguard the welfare of the people.
This shows that the Federal government has not sidelined Penang, even though it has been governed by the opposition party for the past two terms.
“According to the latest projection, 27 projects comprising 5,895 affordable housing units have been built in the state at a cost of RM579.86 million.
“The figure does not include 26 projects involving 7,977 affordable housing units, which are being built in several areas at a cost of RM867.6 million.
“The number of units will solve the of house ownership, especially those from the low- and middle-income group in the state,” Syed Shaari said in an interview with the New Straits Times Press recently.
In the 13th General Election (GE13), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that 9,999 low- and -medium cost and affordable houses would be built for Penangites.
Syed Shaari said the construction of affordable houses was carried out through agencies appointed by the Federal Government.
“It involves the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry, Department of Wakaf, Zakat and Haj, Penang Regional Development Authority, Perda Ventures Corporation, JKP Sdn Bhd and Uda Holdings Berhad.
“Affordable housing projects were also implemented through 1Malaysia People’s Housing Programme, Malaysia Civil Servant Housing Scheme and Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd.” He said they faced difficulties implementing the 26 projects involving 39,053 units in the state.
He said overall, the projects that cost RM5.2 billion were at the discussion stages, following the additional requirements set by the state government.
“This includes the need to sell the houses based on the lists issued by their administration, without taking into account the applications made through the agencies.
“The state government also requested for a number of units from the affordable housing projects, apart from other requirements, which are illogical.”