IT was a double joy on a Sunday morning as Taman Kumbar Permai (low medium-cost) flat residents had their application for the upgrading of five lifts approved by the Penang government, and the Penang Housing Board to lead it for the first time ever.
State Housing, Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo was looking exuberant over the not one but two extremely delightful news, and has vowed that the Penang Housing Board would mirror all initiatives undertaken by the then state Housing Department (known as Penang Housing Board now) thus far for the betterment of the people.
“This project is the first to be led by the Penang Housing Board since it was operational from Jan 1 this year, and as a start, this is a great motivation for the board to lead many more projects in the future.
“We have come a long way before the board could be officially announced, and I have to thank all the staff from the Penang Housing Board for making this a reality,” Jagdeep said during the press conference at Taman Kumbar Permai flats in Teluk Kumbar today.
Jagdeep said the application to upgrade five lifts cost about RM86,000.
The upgrading works are expected to start on Jan 14 and to be completed on April 13 this year.
“Under the Penang Maximum 80% Maintenance Fund (TPM80PP), the state government will pay 80% (RM68,953.60) while the Joint Management Body (JMB) will pay 20% (RM17,238.40),” Jagdeep said.
The 20-year-old flat project has five blocks and 10 lifts. It has a total of 472 units, housing some 5,000 residents.
According to Jagdeep, the initiative (TPM80PP), which was started by the Penang government in 2010, has received encouraging response.
“Under this fund thus far, a total of RM38.35 million has been spent by the Penang government, involving some 259 applications with 418 projects.
“Out of the 418 projects, 222 projects were approved for the upgrading and replacement of lifts, making it the highest number of projects approved so far,” Jagdeep added.
Similarly, Jagdeep also said the Penang government has spent a total of RM262.88 million on various housing maintenance funds.
The RM262.88 million includes maintenance works for housing schemes under Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), all private and public housing schemes and the Penang Maximum 80% Maintenance Fund (TPM80PP),” Jagdeep added.
Also present were Bayan Lepas assemblyman Azrul Mahathir Aziz and Penang Housing Board general manager Ainul Fadhilah Samsudi.
Story and pix by Kevin Vimal