THE Federal Government has provided 114,652 People’s Housing Project (PPR) units in the country. However, only 999 units were supplied by the Federal Government at four PPR locations in Penang.
The number of PPR units in Penang was equivalent to 0.87% of the total number of PPR units provided by the Federal Government nationwide.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the supply of PPR units was crucial, especially for the low-income group.
“This is the best alternative before the low-income earners can afford to own their home.
“The Penang government is very concerned about the situation. In 2019, we have identified and proposed sites, totalling 72.3 acres, that are suitable for the building of PPR units,” Chow told a press conference in Komtar today.
It was reported previously that the sites were in Jelutong (northeast district), Jalan Mayang Pasir (southwest district), Ujung Batu (north Seberang Perai), Kampung Tongkang (central Seberang Perai) and Batu Kawan (south Seberang Perai).
Chow hoped that the Federal Government would prioritise the supply of PPR homes to Penang to cater to the needs of the people.
On a separate matter, Chow hoped that the Federal Government would consider the state’s application for allocations under the Housing Maintenance Programme (RM21,110,000) and the Malaysia Home Maintenance Fund (RM65,830,100) this year.
“The Federal Government has set aside RM1.2 billion under the Budget 2021 to provide comfortable and quality homes for the low-income group. From the total, some RM125 million has been allocated for the maintenance of low-cost and low medium-cost stratified homes,” he said.
On the Penang Housing Board operations, Chow said that the Housing Board would continue the works (relating to housing) of the State Housing Department and State Secretary’s Office.
“The works include the offering of affordable homes and rent-to-own homes; the rental of state homes and PPR units; as well as the management and maintenance of public homes and eligible private housing schemes,” he said.
Penang Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the Penang Housing Board was an initiative of the state government to drive development, preserve the supply of housing (especially affordable housing) and to work on urban rejuvenation in the state.
He urged the Federal Government not to politicise the supply of PPR units to Penang.
“The Penang government will continue to help the rakyat to access affordable homes,” he said.
Also present were the board member of the Penang Housing Board Datuk Toh Chin Leong, Penang Housing Board general manager Ainul Fadhilah Samsudi, and the Board’s chief business officer Fakhurrazi Ibnu Omar.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Alissala Thian