THE Rise, an affordable housing scheme by the Penang government, will be delivered to its 2,093 buyers most probably by the end of this month.
Penang Housing, Local Government, Town and County Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the state was proud that the project, carried out by Zubicon Sdn Bhd three years ago, was now ‘a reality’.
“We don’t just make announcements, we don’t just plan but we deliver. That is very important,” Jagdeep told a press conference during a spot check at the site in Jalan S.P. Chelliah today.
“And today, we’re seeing our state government project, The Rise, which is in the most strategic place in George Town, almost ready. It’s actually a walking distance from Komtar, which is the heart of the administration of the Penang state government.
“I’ve been made to understand that the project will be able to be delivered to the buyers soon. I am very happy to also note that their sales are also almost complete at 99%.”
Also present were Zubicon directors Lim Beng Keong and his son, Dickson Lim, general manager Alex Chang, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) secretary Addnan Mohd Razali, Edasas Architects executive director Ar Muhammad Md Hashim, state Housing Department principal assistant secretary Fakhurrazi Ibnu Omar, Penang Development Corporation’s Paul Raj and Shankeeta.
Jagdeep added that the project consisted of two blocks of low medium-cost (LMC) and two blocks of affordable homes. They are 37-47 floors high.
Each low medium-cost unit with an area of 700sq ft costs RM72,500 while the prices of the affordable homes for 800sq ft to 1,000sq ft range from RM200,000 to RM300,000.
There are 770 LMC units and 1,323 affordable units. The breakdown (for the affordable homes) is 883 units (RM200,000), 165 units (RM300,000) and 275 units (RM400,000).
“This is not just an affordable housing scheme but a scheme whereby it comes with additional facilities, such as two swimming pools – one for children and another for adults, a gym, a playground for children, library and many other facilities.
“I believe this might be the first project in Malaysia, not just in Penang, whereby for a RM200,000 unit, you have a swimming pool.
“These are things which I think we did not even ask but the developer gave. We want to thank Mr Lim and his team. Wherever the state, MBPP and PDC can assist to expedite (the process), we will because this is a state project. We need to work together.”
Jagdeep also praised Zubicon as the project was on the way to obtaining a Green Building Index (GBI) gold rating for its affordable homes and a GBI certification for its low medium-cost homes.
“Most of the GBIs are for the high-end projects, but this is an RMM (Rumah Mampu Milik – affordable homes) under process to be certified, the first also in Malaysia for the LMC to GBI certified,” he said.
The developer has also built a market nearby which would be surrendered to MBPP for the convenience of the residents.
Beng Keong said they were on track and were now doing mostly cleaning up works.
“We target to obtain the CCC by the end of this month,” he said.
According to Dickson, the project had a rough start as a week after signing the agreement with the state government, the Federal Government announced the imposition of GST (Goods and Services Tax).
“Many industry players said it was an impossible project to finish, but we make it possible because we utilise our own construction team. We do it as a service to the state,” Dickson explained.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan