Penang Gerakan wants the state government to address housing for the poor by reintroducing the "rent-to-own" policy adopted by the previous BN administration prior to 2008.

The party's state secretary, Oh Tong Keong, said the policy would help lessen the housing woes faced by hardcore poor families in Penang who could not afford the downpayment on a low-cost unit.

NONE Oh ( right ) said the previous BN-led state government provided public housing where the people could "rent-to- own" houses at low rental rates of between RM10 and RM100 a month over several decades.

Among the housing schemes with such a policy were those in Rifle Range, Taman Free School, Noordin Street, Kedah Road, River Road, Taman Manggis and Macallum Street.

"The Pakatan Rakyat government did not continue the 'rent-to-own' policy after assuming power since 2008," Oh said.

"The policy that helped the poor has become extinct, lading to many being unable to own a house in Penang," he added.

Oh said the former BN government had tried its best to solve the state's housing problems through policies while the current one "makes policies" to facilitate developers to earn more money.

This can be seen in the current state government's approval of higher housing density projects for developers to build more units, he said.

Yesterday, state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow said that one of the efforts by the state to provide housing for the poor is the purchase of 50 low cost houses in Seberang Perai Selatan to be rented by eligible families.

Shocked by 'no more affordable units' statement

These houses, which cost about RM25,000 or less, are not for ownership, only for rental.

Meanwhile, Oh expressed shock over Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi's recent statement in the media that the Penang government "has no more affordable housing units to be allocated".

"This is shocking. Pakatan has governed Penang for six years and it has not been able to find proper shelter for the people," said Oh.

He recalled that previous chief ministers - the late Dr Lim Chong Eu and Koh Tsu Koon, were very concerned about providing housing for Penangites.

"They worked hard and formulated policies to address the housing needs for the people of all segments," he added.

The then-state government and private developers had built many low-cost houses costing RM50,000 a unit and medium-low-cost at RM72,500 houses for the people, Oh said.

Currently, development projects on hill slopes are approved, leading to destruction of the green environment and ecology, he added.