URBAN renewal or regeneration is much needed for old public housing schemes in Penang, according to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
He said this in his speech at the opening of the two-day Penang Property Summit 2019 at Spice Arena today.
For the urban regeneration of public housing schemes to happen not only in Penang but also nationwide, Chow said he hoped the Federal Goverment would look into amending certain laws.
“This is an issue we’ve been pondering over the last two years as some housing projects, built some 30 to 40 years ago, are currently in poor conditions.
“With factors like population increase and the physical decay of facilities and living space, it is high time that strategic steps are made to adopt the 3Rs – re-planning, rebuilding and rearranging – to rejuvenate these projects.
“Due to land scarcity in Penang, inevitably old public housing schemes need to be torn down and rebuilt. Public facilities need to be re-planned to meet the current needs of occupants and the capacity of such public housing schemes need to be increased once they are being rebuilt.
“I know this is a very challenging task. We’ve been talking about it a few years now. Sometimes political will is not forthcoming because it involves buying back all the units, then rebuilding them.
“We’re not in Singapore where the various legislations were already in place. We hope that legislations that enable such projects to take place can be enacted at the Federal level.
“And of course, this must come along with some funding so that the state can collaborate with Federal agencies to move into one very important area if we want to talk about community building and nation building.”
Among those present were Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, state Local Government, Housing and Town & Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, Rehda Malaysia president Datuk Soam Heng Choon, Redha Penang chairman Datuk Toh Chin Leong, Penang Island City Council mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang, Seberang Perai Municipal Council president Datuk Rozali Mohamud, Fiabci Malaysia chairman Michael Geh and PPS event director Ong Ban Seang.
When asked about the legal issues at a press conference after a round-table meeting with developers, Zuraida said there are some amendments that have yet to be submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
“We’re going to look into the law so that it will enable us to do something about old social housing projects that are dilapidated or very worn-out. We have to redevelop those buildings and produce better homes for this B40 group,” she said.
“This can be done by this year, just a little amendment as the general Act is already there.”
Zuraida said as Penang island has shortage of land for housing development, she said it should continue to focus on tourism initiatives whereas housing projects be done in Seberang Perai.
She also said the Federal Government would build 100,000 low-cost and affordable houses this year to try to meet the target of building one million homes in 10 years.
Jagdeep, in his speech, said he was delighted that a Federal Minister was present for the first time since the inception of the Penang Property Summit five years ago.
He also announced that in his discussion with Zuraida a day earlier, the latter gave a commitment that Penang would receive at least a block of low-cost homes in the city.
For developers, Jagdeep said he would be looking at revising charges imposed on them so as not to burden them.
This, he said, would help invigorate or spur the industry.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Chan Kok Kuan