PENANG will seek the help of new Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican to provide affordable housing for its people and also an allocation of RM100 million for its maintenance programme for 2022.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said he would be sending a letter to Reezal Merican today, explaining the state’s priority for affordable housing and the need for the Federal Government to play its part.
“Although we are a small state, we pay the most tax. So, we deserve to be given affordable housing.
“We’ve done a lot (for housing). But where are the units from the Federal Government?” Jagdeep said after making a spot check at the ‘The Zen’ affordable housing project in Bayan Mutiara today.
Among those present were Penang Housing Board general manager Ainul Fadhilah Samsudi and Asia Green Group director Tan Li Mei.
Jagdeep said he hoped to have a meeting with Reezal Merican to continue a strong relationship as he has had with Reezal’s predecessor Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin. Reezal Merican held the Youth and Sports Minister’s post previously while Zuraida is now the Plantation, Industries and Commodities Minister.
“Penang has spent nearly RM300 million for the maintenance of public and private (low-cost and low medium-cost) housing schemes. The money is spent on upgrading lifts, changing leaking roofs and water tanks.
“We thank the Federal Government for allocating nearly RM30 million previously and for next year, we have requested for RM100 million allocation. And we would like to know how much will be allocated to Penang.
“Our letter will include several other housing issues, including the urban regeneration programme,” Jagdeep said.
He said the state government aims to build 220,000 low-cost, low medium-cost and affordable units for the people of Penang by 2030 in line with the Penang2030 vision for a ‘Family-Focused, Green and Smart City that Inspires the Nation’.
To date, he revealed that 120,000 such units have been built in the state.
The Zen housing project, which is being developed by Asia Green Properties Sdn Bhd, will have a total of 1,200 affordable units. Each unit is 850sq ft, costing RM300,000 and above.
Tan said the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted construction works for The Zen project.
“We had earlier planned to complete the project by the end of 2022 but with the unpredictability of the Covid-19 situation, the construction may be completed by the beginning of 2023.
“The construction is not just hampered by the lockdowns but even when we are able to operate, we have difficulties in getting the supply of materials because some industries were still not functioning.
“The Zen is now approximately 40% complete. It’s not that we want to delay it and we hope the buyers will understand the challenges we are facing too,” Tan said.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting