Press Statement by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in Komtar, George Town on 6.11.2012
The Objective Of The Penang State Government’s HAPPY! Programme Is To Make People Happy And Not For Political Gain.
According to news reports yesterday, Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin was quoted as saying that the Penang state government’s Housing Assistance Programme of Penang, Yes! (Happy!) should not be politicised. He also added that the state government should be aware that it is the Federal government which is putting up 70 to 90% of the cost needed to repair and paint the low-cost (LC) and low medium-cost (LMC) flats under the 1Malaysia Maintenance Fund (TP1M).
The Penang state government regrets Raja Nong Chik’s statement as there is no intention whatsoever of politicising the issue. The purpose of the RM50 million HAPPY! programme is to supplement the balance of the cost of upgrading or repairing low-cost housing by the Federal government’s TP1M programme. This is to help the Federal government by ensuring that people living in LC and LMC flats will be able to live in dignity.
Before the introduction of the TP1M programme, a Housing Maintenance Fund was set up under the 10th Malaysia Plan. This fund was based on a matching grant where half of the contribution would come from residents through their joint-management body or management corporation. Unfortunately, this programme received poor response because people simply could not afford to produce the 50% required. Hence, the TP1M programme has been introduced to change the formula to 90-10 for LC housing and 70-30 for LMC housing, in which the Federal government will pay the 90% and 70% while the residents are required to pay for the remainder 10% and 30%.
However, even 10% and 30% is difficult for the residents, which is why the state government has stepped in to bridge the gap by paying for the remainder 10% and 30% through the HAPPY! programme.
At the same time, there is no question of politicising the issue as we have guaranteed the 10% and 30% remainder so long as the Federal government guarantees to provide the 90% and 70%. This is what we call a win-win situation that will bring direct benefits to the residents.
In the recent Penang Budget 2013, RM50 million has been allocated for the HAPPY! programme, and thus far 42 applications have been received.
Without the HAPPY! programme, the RM500 million fund provided by the Federal government will make no one happy because people will not be able to afford the remaining balance needed in order to tap into the fund. However, by topping-up the remaining balance on behalf of the people, the Penang state government’s HAPPY! programme will bring cheer to the people and ensure that they will really be happy.
Lim Guan Eng
—Mandarin Version —-
槟州首席部长林冠英于2012年11月6日在乔治市发表声明：
槟州政府的快乐房屋计划是为了让人民快乐，而不是为了政治利益。
根据昨天新闻报道，联邦直辖区及幸福城市部长拿督拉惹隆仄说，槟州政府的房屋援助计划“快乐房屋计划”不应该被政治化，他也说州政府应该知道，在一个大马组屋修复基金下，联邦政府拨出70%至90%的费用来修复廉价屋及中廉价组屋。
槟州政府对于拉惹隆仄的声明表示遗憾，因为我们从来没有想过要政治化房屋课题。州政府拨出5000万令吉给快乐房屋计划，是为了辅助联邦政府在一个大马组屋修复基金的提升或修复廉价屋成本的余额。
在介绍一个大马组屋修复计划时，政府在第十大马计划下成立房屋维修基金，这项基金是一项配搭拨款，意味着一半的费用来自居民本身的管理组织或机构。不幸的是，这项计划的反应冷淡，因为人们根本没有能力负担剩余的50%。因此，一个大马组屋修复基金推介新的方程式，通过90：10的拨款修复廉价屋、70：30的拨款修复中廉价组屋，联邦政府将负责支付90%及70%的费用，而居民本身需要支付剩余的10%及30%.
但是 ，要人民负担10%及30%还是很困难的，因此，州政府唯有介入，通过快乐房屋计划，补上剩余的10%及30%。
同时，这当中绝对没有政治化的问题，只要联邦政府保证支付90%及70%，我们已经保证补上剩余的10%及30%。这也是我们所谓的双赢，也直接让居民受惠。
最近的2013年槟州预算案，我们已经拨出5000万令吉给快乐房屋计划，我们已经接获42项申请。
如果没有这项快乐房屋计划，联邦政府的5亿令吉基金将无法让人受惠及快乐，因为人们无法负担修复金的余额，但是，州政府通过快乐房屋计划，补贴修复基金的余额，将让人民真正受惠，让他们真正快乐。
林冠英