The Penang government will seek the endorsement of the state opposition leader for a joint motion to urge Putrajaya to resolve two issues affecting house buyers in the state.

This follows the commitment made by Jahara Hamid, the Telok Ayer Tawar assemblyperson, during the Penang state legislative assembly meeting last month to table the joint motion.

According to state Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee head Jagdeep Singh Deo, apart from the joint motion, the state government will also submit a similar letter to the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry.

Jagdeep said Jahara's endorsement for the letter would also be sought.

"I will get the motion endorsed by the state executive council by next week and we will then obtain the signature of state opposition leader before sending it to the federal government," he added.

He thanked Jahara and opposition lawmakers for agreeing to be part of the joint motion and described it as a "historic" move.

Housing woes, said Jagdeep, should not be politicised.

He said the first issue involved the relaxing of lending conditions imposed on first-time house buyers, noting that the rejection rate at present was 70 percent.

The second issue involved the abuse of low-cost and public housing projects by owners who purchase such properties for rental income.

"At the state level, we find that we cannot enforce any restrictions as legally. We have no law to address these problems," he said.

Citing Schedule H of the Housing Developers Act, Jagdeep said public and low-cost housing projects do not necessitate occupation by owners.

"So, it was agreed in the recent state legislative assembly sitting that these issues need to be addressed by the federal government as it involves federal law," he added.