Stimulate economy, approve projects if requirements met Penang Housing Dept told

Penang hopes to stimulate its economy by ensuring housing projects at the state and federal level continue to be implemented.

Penang executive councillor for housing and local government, Jagdeep Singh Deo (above), said the state has so far approved projects worth RM250.2 million in the housing sector.

He added another RM20.75 million has been approved by the federal government and both amounts will be use to implement private and public housing projects.

"I have given strict instructions to the state Housing Department to approve all pending projects if they have met the proper requirements," Jagdeep said in a press conference in George Town today.

"These projects will stimulate the economy as we are not only focussing on containing the Covid-19 pandemic but ensuring that we are prepared to get the economy running in the new normal.

"All sectors are waiting for the projects to be approved, especially the contractors and the workers," he added.

Jagdeep said the state was also monitoring the situation to ensure the federal government fulfilled its commitment in implementing housing projects in Penang.

He said the Housing and Local Government Ministry had allocated funds to upgrade 52 public housing schemes in Penang.

These projects, including the maintenance and upgrade of social amenities by local governments, are expected to begin in July and be completed by November.

Jagdeep also said the state government was firm that all industries which have reopened will continue to follow anti-Covid-19 standard operating procedures.

He was referring to the Health Ministry reminder for construction firms to take precautions against Covid-19 after three clusters of the disease were discovered at construction sites.

Jagdeep vowed never to compromise on the safety and security of Penangites as "the war against Covid-19 is not over."

“We must not be complacent. There will not be any compromise on the standard operating procedures (SOP) under the conditional movement control order. We will be stern when it comes to public health," Jagdeep said.

To achieve100 percent compliance with the SOPs, including health testing and social distancing, Jagdeep urged developers and contractors to ensure that only workers who have been tested are allowed into the construction sites.

"The same measures should also be applied to other economic sectors," he said.

It is learnt that out of 12,000 registered foreign workers in Penang in the construction industry, 7,000 have been tested.

Penang has remained a green state for several weeks now with almost 99 percent compliance with the movement control order. - Mkini