PENANG should be given priority by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government after being treated as a ‘stepchild’ for the past 10 years under the previous administration.
State Housing, Town, Country Planning and Local Government Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said his number one task for 2019 is to seek federal funds to help resolve some old and pending projects that were not given due attention before.
“We’ve officially sent a letter seeking an allocation of RM14 million. And I hope the Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin would consider our request and help applicants with low income,” Jagdeep told a press conference at Taman Soon Boon Kee in Jalan Makloom, Datok Keramat, today.
“Penang has submitted many applications but unfortunately out of the 149 applications, only 29 were approved according to our records.
“Now that we’re the same family (under Pakatan Harapan), I hope they will look at our applications and approve them. I hope they will not only help Penang but also all states.”
Jagdeep visited Block 33 Taman Soon Boon Kee today to meet residents who wanted to thank the state government for helping them build a new perimeter wall. It cost about RM50,000 with the Penang government chipping in RM20,000 (40%) and the residents RM30,000 (60%).
He said the state would continue with its Penang Maximum 80 percent Maintenance Fund (TPM80PP) which began in 2013.
The scheme would see the state government contribute a maximum 80% of the total cost for the maintenance of low-cost or low-medium cost housing projects like upgrading, repairing or replacing their lifts, roofs, water tanks, railings and etc. The remaining 20% expenses would be borne by the residents’ associations.
Jagdeep added that since 2013, the state government has spent RM31.2 million in approving 210 applications for 361 projects under TPM80PP.
Block 33 Taman Soon Boon Kee joint management body (JMB) chairman P. Kumarasamy said the residents were thankful to receive some financial aid from the state to hire a contractor to erect a new perimeter wall.
“The old wall was not safe for residents and passersby as there were cracks. Now, there a sense of safety for all,” said Kumarasamy.
Also present at the press conference were JMB vice-chairman Mohd Ebrahim, secretary M. Gopal, JKKK Kampong Dodol chairman Mohd Azlan Hyder Ali, contractor P. Kumar and some of the residents.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud