I am very proud to be here today to deliver this keynote address at the Penang State Government Affordable Housing EXPO, Series 2, 2017.
The Penang State Housing Department should be commended for having such an Affordable Housing EXPO, which initially began as “Mission Home-Possible” Roadshows commencing in 2014. Since then, a total sum of 10 Mission Home-Possible Roadshows and EXPOs have been conducted. This is the second Penang State Government Affordable Housing EXPO for this year alone, the first one having been held at Prangin Mall which was a resounding success.
As you are aware, the Penang State Government, in the delivery of affordable housing to Penangites, has in the pipeline some 17 projects which will see some 27,230 units of various types of affordable housing ranging from RM42,000 to RM300,000 being delivered to Penangites.
Under this administration, a total sum of 21,535 units of Affordable Housing Type ‘A’ and ‘B’ (Low and Low Medium Cost) built from 2008 until May, 2017, as opposed to the 5,154 units built from 1999 to 2007.
We maintain that these are the correct figures, as they are obtained directly from both our local authorities, namely MBPP and MPSP, which have issued Occupancy Certificate (OC) or Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) for such Affordable Housing Type ‘A’ and ‘B’ (Low and Low Medium Cost), whereby the price are controlled at RM42,000 and RM72,500 respectively.
In fact, it should be the previous Minister of Housing, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan that should be reprimanded for allowing an increase of the price of such Affordable Housing Type ‘A’ and ‘B’ (Low and Low Medium Cost) from RM42,000 and RM72,500 to RM60,000 and RM100,000 respectively. I challenge the Federal Government to review their stand especially having regard to the fact that applications for housing loans by applicants of Affordable Housing Type ‘A’ and ‘B’ (Low and Low Medium Cost) priced even at the current RM42,000 and RM72,500, are suffering high loan rejection rates.
This is a fact which cannot be denied even by the BN-led Federal Government. This is because where Penang is concerned, the BN Opposition had agreed with the Penang Pakatan State Government to issue a Joint Motion dated 22 February 2017 to the Prime Minister and Bank Negara Malaysia to address the said high loan rejection rate issue. Unfortunately, to date there has been no progress on the said joint motion as not a single meeting has been convened to discuss this. This clearly shows the insincerity of the BN-led Federal Government in addressing this issue.
In any event, where Penang is concerned, we will continue to ensure various affordable housing ranging from RM42,000 to RM300,000 are made available to Penangites. The 17 projects will deliver 27,230 units of various types of affordable housing.
This is totally unlike the Federal Government which has completely failed Penang where under the 1 Malaysia People’s Housing Programme (PR1MA), to date not even one unit of PR1MA has been built. On the other hand, the Penang State Government project in Batu Kawan is due to complete by end of this year, and also affordable housing by the private sector such as the project by M Summit, which is participating in this EXPO, is scheduled for completion by early next year.
With these words, I wish to congratulate the entire Penang State Housing Department on their successful organization of this Penang State Government Affordable Housing EXPO Series 2 for 2017. They are striving to organize one more before the end of this year to showcase and to enhance awareness of eligible Penangites of the various affordable housing projects that are available.
Syabas and all the best!