Budget 2020 should include low-cost housing for Penang, says exco
Penang wants a provision or affordable housing to be provided by the federal government to be included in its Budget 2020 wishlist.
This is in view of the national budget which will be presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng this week.
Penang wants a provision or affordable housing to be provided by the federal government to be included in its Budget 2020 wishlist.
This is in view of the national budget which will be presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng this week.
Penang executive councillor housing Jagdeep Singh Deo (above) said the provision for affordable housing by the federal government is to complement the state's objective to provide 180,000 units of low-cost, low medium-cost and affordable housing for residents by 2030.
According to Jagdeep, the state has reached a target of 103,000 units for its affordable housing project.
"We hope a certain percentage of tax monies could be set aside for the purpose of housing although we are the biggest taxpayers," Jagdeep said during a visit to an affordable housing project.
"We also need RM100 million for the maintenance of eligible public and private housing in Penang," he added.
"We also want more low-cost public housing in Penang (known by its Malay acronym, PPR) as we are the state with the least amount of such housing," he reiterated.
Today, Jagdeep visited Dua Residensi, the state's affordable housing project in Teluk Kumbar, located south of the island.
Jagdeep said the project has been completed and its Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) was expected by December.
"I have repeated my instruction to Penang Development Corporation to ensure that the units that are delivered to prospective purchasers are in proper condition and of good quality," Jagdeep said.
"I will not tolerate affordable housing projects being delivered not according to standards that are required," he warned.
He said the Penang government took seriously the quality of all its affordable housing projects and will ensure they are delivered accordingly.
"In this regard, we view very seriously the complaints by purchasers of units at the SP Chelliah affordable housing project.
"I have instructed PDC as the project manager to monitor closely these complaints and ensure that the developer remedies all defects soonest," Jagdeep added.
