More public housing units for Penang under Pakatan

The Pakatan Harapan takeover of Putrajaya has led to the approval of more public housing units in Penang.

State housing exco Jagdeep Singh Deo said Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin had agreed to Penang's request and more units will be built in due time.

"We were treated like a stepchild for a long time when BN was in power as they did not want to build public housing units in Penang," Jagdeep said in a press conference in Komtar today.

"But as soon as we took over Putrajaya, we have identified a four acre plot in Jelutong for public housing. It will take time but when ready, it will provide us with about 1,000 units," he added.

Building of public housing units is the responsibility of the federal government.

Currently, there are 1,137 applicants on the waiting list, with 734 in Northeast District alone, while in Taman Manggis there are 429.

The Taman Manggis units have a lengthy waiting list with 20 applicants having waited for 11 years, while others have waited for more than seven years.

Asked if there are unsold government low-cost and low-medium cost units which may be rented out to home seekers, Jagdeep said a plan is already in the works.

Jagdeep said there are 800 units in Jawi, Bukit Minyak and Balik Pulau which are being considered for the "rent to own" scheme. 

"This is to give home seekers a sense of ownership when we rent the units out to them, and the Housing Ministry has agreed to this scheme," Jagdeep said.

Jagdeep said since there is a public housing shortage in Penang and many are on a long waiting list, the state housing department periodically checks the eligibility of the ones currently living in those units. 

"We have taken action on 20 percent of those who were not eligible, and now those who are eligible can be provided with the houses,” he said adding that those on the waiting list did not just apply for the public housing units in Taman Manggis but in other areas as well.

Taman Manggis was in the spotlight last week after enforcement officers tried to evict 22 families who have lost their eligibility to stay in the homes.

The affected families were given until tomorrow to plead their case, but should they still be deemed ineligible, they will be forced to move out.

Some of the residents complained that enforcement officers had "cruelly" barged into their homes while they were inside, and did not give them ample time to move their belongings out.

Jagdeep said the allegations of cruelty were serious, but denied that such incidents had occurred.

"We gave them ample notice and they were aware that they had to move. Besides, our enforcement officers are accompanied by local council officers and the police during the eviction exercise," Jagdeep explained.

"Do you think the police would allow the enforcement officers to be violent? We do not carry out the eviction exercise alone, but are always accompanied by the authorities," Jagdeep added.

Jagdeep said the Penang government had fulfilled its GE14 pledge of providing 76, 000 low cost and low medium cost units to the people.

"We have gone beyond that and can now provide 102,000 units come 2025.”

Of these 30, 000 have been delivered, 30,000 are being built in various stages, while 40,000 more have been approved to be delivered soon," he said. - Mkini