The people in Penang are reminded against being cheated by syndicates who guarantee applicants/buyers that they can get affordable and medium-cost houses for them.

State Housing, Urban and Rural Planning Committee chairperson Jagdeep Singh Deo said eligible applicants/buyers were selected from the state government list through a selection process by the Committee on Cleaning and Quality Improvement in Housing Selection Process.

“I wish to repeat the message to the public that there is no earnest payment imposed and affordable homes cannot be purchased by any agent or syndicate.

“The process is very clear. Applicants must register with the state government and if they are eligible, after the selection process, the names will be placed in the system and the applicants must wait for their turn,” he told reporters in George Town today.

Jagdeep Singh said so far there were about 50,000 applicants in five districts and only those who were truly eligible would be selected.

He said that an employee of a development company, Aspen Vision Ventures Sdn Bhd, had lodged a police report on July 22 following public complaints that there were syndicates asking for money to ensure that the applicants concerned would get an affordable home at Tri Pinnacle, Tanjong Tokong.

He said the syndicate had telephoned the applicants to ask for payment of between RM10,000 and RM30,000 to ensure they would get a housing unit in the area concerned.

- Bernama