KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 — Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan today expressed shock that the Penang state government had claimed it is not responsible for providing land for affordable homes.

In a statement, he said Penang was the exception, with other states all providing federal agencies with land so that affordable housing could be built.

He attacked the state government’s commitment to affordable housing when available state-owned land had been sold at high prices to private developers.

He claimed that over 10,000 units of affordable homes in Penang have been held back because the state government has not approved them.

Petty politics are hurting the residents of Penang, he added.