The Penang government has planned eight affordable housing projects which will provide 20,000 units, said state executive councillor on housing Jagdeep Singh Deo.

NONE Jagdeep ( left ) said there would be three such projects on the island and five on the mainland, adding that the units would range in prices from RM72,500 to RM400,000.

“We are making these affordable housing projects a priority and it is hoped that commencement of works for the Teluk Kumbar project will be at the end of this year,” Jagdeep said in a statement.

 

“Apart from this, from 2008 until June 2013, planning permission for 11,910 units of low-cost housing and 7,776 units of low-medium-cost units have been approved and are in the process of being built by the private sector,” he added.

 

Jagdeep said the state government has implemented a policy whereby developers of housing projects will have to provide at least 5 percent of units costing not more than RM200,000, 15 percent of units not costing more than RM300,000 and 5 percent of units not costing more than RM400,000.

He listed down the locations for housing projects on the island to be along Jalan SP Chelliah (1,900 units), Teluk Kumbar (696), and Jelutong (556).

On the mainland, the projects are planned in Kg Jawa Butterworth (707  units), Ampang Jajar (1,634), Off Jalan Berapit (1,000), Bukit Juru ( 800) and Batu Kawan (11,800).

 

To shorten the waiting list, Jagdeep said the newly formed Selection Process Enhancement Committee (Spec) now sits at least once a week to select applicants to be allocated such low and low-medium-cost units.

 

“Without a doubt, the provision of affordable housing is a paramount consideration and priority for the Penang government,” he added.

Jagdeep said this in response to ongoing allegations by Pakatan Rakyat’s opponents that the state government does not prioritise affordable housing.