The Penang housing committee has strongly refuted claims that it has neglected the people's housing scheme in Rifle Range or Padang Tembak, which its opponents say are lacking in terms of safety and cleanliness.

This was in reference to Penang Gerakan who has urged the state government to look into the safety and cleanliness aspects of the people’s housing project in Rifle Range rather than merely beautifying it.

The Star quoted Kebun Bunga Gerakan coordinator Ooi Zhi Yi as saying the sewerage and water piping replacement project at the flats were carried out three years ago and the project in Block A has yet to be completed.

“It has been three years since the project took off and the residents have to suffer while waiting for its completion," Ooi had said. 

State housing exco Jagdeep Singh Deo refuted the claims and said the state has been diligently maintaining the housing scheme which consists of nine blocks of high rise buildings, comprising 3,660 units.

Out of these nine blocks, seven have been sold by way of rent-to-buy (sewa beli) to their respective owners since the project was established in 1969, Jagdeep said.

He added that only two blocks, Block E and J, are still under the state government’s rental scheme.

"The Penang government has been maintaining these nine blocks all this while. 

"In fact, Padang Tembak housing scheme has been given the lion share of the state's maintenance fund," Jagdeep claimed.

"Since 2010, RM29,684,044.55 has been spent on maintaining the 3,660 units in these nine blocks.

"These includes civil, electrical and mechanical works such as the replacement of lifts, replacement of sewerage pipes and other related works," Jagdeep said in a press conference today.

Jagdeep said the state government has 12 plans in place for the year 2018 for replacement of lifts, upgrade works for the rubbish depot, electrical wiring upgrades, roof, water pumps and generator set upgrades which amount to RM1,240,000.00.

"In fact, it should be noted that out of the total of 50 public housing schemes in all five districts in Penang, a total sum of RM117,396,105.03 has been spent on maintenance works since 2010.

"This means this Padang Tembak housing scheme has had the lion share of the total spent on maintenance for public housing, namely more than 25 percent," he added.

"This is the commitment of the state government to ensure that all public housing in Penang will continue to be maintained," he stressed.