THE Penang Development Corporation (PDC) conducted a virtual ceremony for the first time on the handover of keys to five house buyers of Jiran Residensi affordable project today.
PDC chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Bazid Abd Kahar presented the keys to the invited five buyers in the symbolic ceremony held at the PDC office in Bayan Baru.
It was witnessed online by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is also the PDC chairman, state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh, Bagan Dalam assemblyman Satees Muniandy and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) mayor Datuk Rozali Mahmud among others at their respective workplaces.
Chow commended PDC for holding the event despite being bound strictly by the SOPs during the current movement control order.
“The state government believes that by handing over the keys to the unit owners today, it is evident that the Penang state government is committed to its resolution to provide affordable housing for eligible Penangites.
“I would like to thank PDC for their contributions and hard work in carrying out the state government’s mandate to jointly plan and implement residential projects that are able to maintain a harmonious, safe and secure life for all Penang residents,” Chow said in his speech.
He added that the Jiran Residensi project, which is strategically located in Kampung Jawa, Butterworth, is the third affordable housing scheme successfully built and completed by the state government and PDC.
The earlier two projects were Suria 1 in Bandar Cassia in Batu Kawan and Dua Residensi in Teluk Kumbar which were completed in May 2018 and September 2020 respectively.
With an area of 8.84 acres, construction work on Jiran Residensi project commenced on Nov 17, 2014 and obtained its Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) on Jan 26, 2021.
Chow said the total development cost was RM126 million and was funded through the Affordable Housing Fund established by the state government of RM500 million.
Jiran Residensi project comprises two towers. Tower A is a medium-cost apartment costing between RM250,000 and RM275,000 and has 35 floors with 354 units while Tower B is a low medium-cost apartment costing RM72,500 and has 25 floors with 353 units – making it a total of 707 units.
The project is equipped with facilities, such as five floors of parking, multipurpose hall, surau and kindergarten.
Thus far, PDC has completed 1,921 units of affordable homes. Another 535 units are still under construction and 14,896 units are in the planning stages.
Among the projects are in the development stage are Cecil Residensi project in George Town which is 27.5% under construction and has 348 units and Mak Mandin Residensi project which is at five percent construction stage.
Jagdeep said the event today was historic as it was the first time held online in Penang and probably in Malaysia.
“The state will not compromise on public and health security. We cannot let the Covid-19 pandemic stop us from carrying out our programmes and we overcome that with technology.
“Most important thing is to provide a roof over the heads for those who need it. We want to ensure adequate affordable homes are available even during this pandemic,” Jagdeep said in his speech.
He said the Jiran Residensi housing scheme is part of the state’s vision to provide 220,000 affordable housing units by 2030.
Since 2008, a total of 38,000 units have been completed, 19,000 are in the process of being built and 57,000 approved to be built. This leads to total of 114,000 units.
For those who are unable to purchase low-cost units, Jagdeep said the government has 2,474 units for rent-to-own.
He said the state’s target is to provide 22,000 of rent-to-own units by 2030.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi