THE residents of Halaman Damai Block 9 of Sungai Pinang were elated to receive RM324,000 from the state government, through the Penang Housing Assistance Programme (HAPPY!), for maintenance and upgrading work in their area.
“We did not delay the aid as it concerns the basic necessity to live comfortably,” said exco for Housing and Town & Country Planning Jagdeep Singh Deo after handing over the cheque to the residents’ representatives on Aug 15.
Jagdeep, who is also Dato’ Keramat assemblymember, added it is upsetting that the federal government only approved 14 out of 119 applications for TP1M since 2012 with only three in the Pakatan Rakyat constituency.
Penangites should feel lucky since Penang is the only state in Malaysia that supplements the cost of upgrading and repairing low and medium cost housing that is not covered under the TP1M programme, added Jagdeep.
Meanwhile, chairman of the housing unit, Abdul Razak Mohd Sultan, voiced out his gratitude to the state Housing division which acted quickly so that the repair of water tank, elevator, painting and so on could proceed smoothly.
“Any government should not politicise the wellbeing of the people,” said Abdul Razak to the press at the event.
He added that this is the first time the block will be repainted.
Also present at the event was Lim Siew Khim, Sungai Pinang assemblymember, who advised the management to use the aid wisely.
