The government has never discriminated against development in states or constituencies led by the opposition in the country for the sake of the people, caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

He said this included Penang, which has never been sidelined by Putrajaya even though the state is under the opposition’s rule.

“If the federal government can be this sincere, it is only right for the people to continue giving their mandate to us come this Nov 19,” he said when officiating the ground-breaking ceremony for the People’s Housing Programme (PPR), Bandar Putra Bertam Mosque and the Kepala Batas Youth Centre (KBYC) projects today.

Ismail Sabri said the launch of the three projects in the Durian Tunggal constituency in this opposition-led state was proof of the government’s commitment to helping the people.

Malaysians will go to the polls to choose the new federal government on Nov 19. The Election Commission has also set Nov 5 for nomination and Nov 15 for early voting.

On the Kepala Batas PPR project worth RM113 million, Ismail Sabri said it would involve the construction of four-storey flats offering a total of 700 housing units with basic amenities on an 8.1-hectare land owned by the Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda) in Pongsu Seribu, Seberang Perai Utara.

He said the project also offers seven houses for persons with disabilities.

“The construction cost of each of these houses is RM161,000 but it will be sold at only RM45,000, bringing the total subsidy borne by the government for the project to RM81.2 million,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said the Bandar Putra Bertam Mosque project would be developed on the Penang Islamic Religious Council-owned land and will be able to accommodate 1,500 congregants at any one time.

He said the construction of the mosque, jointly financed by the federal government, state government and waqf fund, would be implemented with a green design concept or a low-carbon architecture, which will make it a new landmark or green building in Penang.

For the people’s comfort

On the RM45 million KBYC project, Ismail Sabri said it would be equipped with various facilities - including a hostel, football field, synthetic track, e-sports hall, music room, gymnasium and jogging track.

He said the Budget 2023 tabled at Parliament on Oct 7 also focused on the people’s well-being, with large allocations given to provide comfortable, quality and affordable housing to meet the rising need of the people.

In fact, he said the government had also allocated RM372.3 billion comprising RM367 million for the PPR programme that will benefit 12,400 new occupants and RM358 million for the Mesra Rakyat Housing Programme involving the construction of 4,250 houses.

Also present at the event were Housing and Local Government Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Penang Deputy Chief Minister Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abd Rahman.

- Bernama

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