The Penang government has awarded the tender to build 1,990 affordable homes in the heart of George Town to local developer, Zubicon Sdn Bhd.

The Bayan Baru company was among the eight bidders for the RM85 million project to develop the homes in Jalan SP Chelliah .

lim guan eng Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng ( left ) said that Zubicon had offered the highest maximum guaranteed monetary contribution of RM60 million.

"Apart from this, Zubicon will add 580 units of affordable homes costing not more than RM200,000 per unit at 800 sq ft," he said at a press conference this morning.

"This brings the number of homes costing RM200,000 to a total of 883 units," he added.

"The total number of affordable homes developed by the state now stands at 1,900 units".

CM turned into dart board

According to Lim, the Penang government has allocated RM500 million to build 19,172 units of affordable homes throughout the state - a feat he described as "the largest effort by any state government" in Malaysia's history.

Lim's opponents have constantly criticised his administration for not building affordable homes in Penang and this would somehow put those criticisms to rest as the state prepares for the 13th general elections which must be called by June 28.

Lim said the company has been told that it must comply with all rules and regulations imposed by the state government and other local authorities when implementing the project.

He added that the company has proposed the concept of 'sustainable and self-contained compact development which would fit into a central business district.

Tanjung Bungah George Town view 01 Zubicon has a maximum of 12 months to start construction of the homes which must be completed in three years.

Meanwhile, Lim said that PDC had advertised the Request For Proposal (RFP) for the development of the land on Jan 17, with the tender closing the following month.

He noted that eight companies had participated in the tender, saying that to ensure that the affordable homes project is successful, the state government has fixed several minimum conditions in the RFP.

He reiterated that a total of 1,320 or 120 units per acre would be developed for the project.

There will be 770 units of low-cost homes, measuring 700 sq ft and priced at RM72,000, with 303 units of 800 sq ft costing RM200,000.

For medium cost units, 165 measuring 900 sq ft costing RM300,000, while another 82 sized at 1,000 sq ft worth RM400,000 each will be built.

"Zubicon has proposed various public facilities including a linear park, a 70 percent green space and the improvement of Sungai Pinang," he said.

"A public bus terminal, pedestrian and bicycle lanes and a big sky tree have been proposed also,"he added.

They also planning to design the building which will comply with the Green Building Index, boasting of a recycling centre and a stand-alone surau, he said.

Lim said the public facilities proposed by Zubicon would cost around RM25 million.