Following intense pressure from several quarters to provide affordable housing for Penangites, the state government has finally laid down plans for a major housing project in Batu Kawan.

guan eng on affordable housing in penang 240811 plan story image The project, which boasts of at least 7,300 units, will be developed near the exit from the Second Penang Bridge on the mainland, with the units costing between RM72,500 and RM220,000.

Announcing the plan during a press conference at Komtar yesterday, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said low- and medium-cost housing projects such as this would become a "benchmark" for affordable housing with quality living.

To ensure lesser congestion in the area, Lim said, the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) had suggested increasing the land allocated for the development from 150 acres to 200.

Lim, who is also PDC chairperson, said an open tender would be called for the project soon, and welcomed any ideas from the public to improve the plan.

NONE Priority would be given to Penangites to purchase the units.

"We would like the community to be involved the development of the project," he said. "What we do not want is for our children to live in cage-like conditions and end up as dysfunctional people."

Lim said he would like housing projects to have at least a football field for the children to play in, like the neighbourhood he had when he was a child.

State to 'heavily subsidise' the project

He also said the state government and the PDC would "heavily subsidise" the project.

Affordable housing became a hot topic when Penang Umno chief Zainal Abidin Osman criticised the state government for not building low-cost houses for the poor since 200

DAP's Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi highlighted the problem when he launched ' Ops LMC ' in an effort to call all those seeking low- and medium-cost housing to register with his service centre in Jelutong.

jeff ooi meeting dap disciplinary committee 050811 02 Ooi ( right ) lamented about disparity between affordability, house prices and black market activities, where houses costing RM72,500 are sold at RM135,000.

Refuting the allegations, Lim said since Pakatan Rakyat took over the state leadership from the BN in 2008, the state had approved the building of 11,956 houses costing between RM42,000 (low-cost) and RM72,500 (medium-cost).

PDC general manager Rosli Jaafar, who was also present, said the Batu Kawan affordable housing project would be completed within five to seven years, depending on market conditions.

Rosli said most of the buildings would be 10 and 11 storeys high, with the tallest being 20 storeys.

"About 30 acres will be set aside for open space and public facilities such as a football field, a pool, outdoor gym, surau and places of worship for non-Muslims," he said.

Eco-friendly features such as rainwater harvesting as well as good cross ventilation would also be part of the development, Rosli added.