Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has hit out at criticism of the state's restrictions on the re-sale of affordable housing units.

 

The rules, which will take effect on Feb 1 next year, are intended not only to help first-time buyers of such units but also to prevent a property bubble, Lim reiterated in a statement.

 

NONE"Those who heartlessly oppose the new housing rules can do so because they already own houses, but forget about those first-time buyers...," he said.

 

"These groups include not only the opposition - BN parties - but even NGOs and mainstream media, which have shown their true and ugly colours of hypocrisy and double standards in criticising the state government for not doing enough for affordable housing.”

Lim (above) vowed that the Pakatan Rakyat state government would not "bow to or be cowed by its critics".

He said the state's policy included compelling private developers to build public and affordable housing.

The state had also started a RM500 million fund to help the Penang Development Corporation build 20,000 units of public and affordable houses.

Public housing units comprise low-cost houses costing up to RM42,000 or low-medium cost houses priced up to RM72,500.

Affordable housing units are those above RM72,500 but below RM400,000 on Penang island and below RM250,000 in Seberang Perai.

 

azlan"The Penang government only commenced the construction of affordable housing because we need to save and accumulate funds," Lim said.

The federal government is building only 70 units of public housing for the poor in Penang, the lowest number in the country, he claimed.

Unlike BN-led state governments, he noted, Penang does not receive any funding from the federal government for public or affordable housing.

Yet it has set up the largest housing fund in Malaysian history, amounting to RM500 million.

"This is done through competent administration, prudent spending and anti-corruption measures such as open competitive tenders. This historic fund is a testimony of clean government and integrity in leadership," Lim said.

 

"Although the money may not be sufficient for the proposed 20,000 units in all the five districts of Penang, we are prepared to increase the amount where necessary.”

Housing forms distributed

 

The state last Saturday distributed 50,000 application forms free of charge for these houses, instead of charging applicants RM1, as has been done in previous years.

The forms are available at Komtar and the offices of Pakatan Rakyat representatives who have been instructed to work closely with Jagdeep Singh Deo (left), the state executive councillor for housing.

 

For some 30,000 people who had previously registered their interest in buying these houses, the state will post the  application forms to them within a week, Lim said.

"The state government needs to know how many are interested, so that we can plan and be assured that there will be sufficient buyers for the 20,000 units," he added.

"Sending the application forms to them by post is the state government’s way of thanking them and not leting them lose out after registering their interest.”

The forms must be submitted to the state government by June 30, while those interested in buying the Jalan SP Chelliah flats have to send in their forms by March 31.