The Penang government's policies had allowed 20,887 affordable housing units to be built since 2008, with another 65,796 units to be built over the next 10 to 15 years.

State exco member in charge of housing Jagdeep Singh Deo said that in contrast, not a single affordable home under Putrajaya's PR1MA and PPA1M housing scheme has been built in the state.

He said the applications for the PR1MA housing scheme only surfaced in 2015 and approvals could not be granted because several compliance issues were not met.

"The delivery of such affordable housing by the Pakatan Harapan government speak for itself.

"The number of low and low-medium cost units built during BN’s rule (2000 to 2007) was only a dismal 5,124 units," Jagdeep said during a press conference today.

He was responding to a claim by Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor who said making Penang a federal territority would mean more affordable housing and better treatment of the state's Malay community.

Malays were major beneficiaries

Jagdeep said the Malay communities were not left out of the state's affordable housing scheme as "almost half" of the units were allocated to Malays.

He said 5,686 Malays, 3,029 Chinese, 872 Indians and 36 others obtained low cost homes, while 2,188 Malays, 3,498 Chinese, 550 Indians and 30 others have obtained low-medium cost homes.

On Putrajaya's PR1MA and PPA1M scheme, which launched with much fanfare in 2013, Jagdeep said the applications received in 2015 did not meet state guidelines which caused delays in implementation.

"Unlike other states in Malaysia, where such actual PR1MA and PPA1M units have been built, Penang has been completely sidelined, marginalised and neglected," said Jagdeep.

Jagdeep said the main problem with housing was Putrajaya's alleged failure to reduce the high rejection rate of first time loan applicants.

He said this was agreed by the opposition bench during the November state assembly sitting and there appears to be a disconnect between state and national BN leaders regarding Penang's needs.