GEORGE TOWN, Aug 24 — The state government, serious in fulfilling the people’s desperate need for housing, will build 22,575 units of low and medium-cost homes by 2016.
Housing committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the projects would be built at 12 locations on the island and mainland.
The areas are SP Chelliah, Jelutong, Pintasan Cecil and Sandilands in northeast district, Teluk Kumbar in southwest distrtict, Ampang Jajar, Kampung Jawa, Mak Mandin and Ujung Batu in Seberang Prai Utara, Bandar Cassia in Seberang Prai Selatan and Bukit Mertajam in Seberang Prai Tengah.
Jagdeep said work on 149 medium low-cost units and 371 affordable homes at Bandar Cassia had since started last year.
The fourth phase of works at Teluk Kumbar, SP Chelliah, Bandar Cassia’s and Kampung Jawa, involving 1,633 low medium cost and 371 affordable home units, are expected to start later this year.
Speaking at the launch and first road show of the “Mission Home — Possible” event yesterday, Jagdeep described the projects as an unprecedented move taken by the state government to provide a roof for Penangites.
“Never in the history of the state, so many low-cost and low-medium cost and affordable homes are being planned and built for the people,” he said.
“These projects are being jointly undertaken by the state government and Penang Development Corporation (PDC). We have also engaged private sectors to help out in building low and medium cost and affordable homes.
“At present, three developers have pledged their commitment to build about 10,000 affordable homes in Penang to help the state government’s vision to provide adequate homes to the people.”
He said that from 2008 to May this year, a total of 12,471 low cost units from 64 projects in the state’s five districts had been built along with 7,608 low-medium costs from 28 projects.
“At the same time, 23 projects with 3,796 low cost and nine projects with 5,246 low-medium cost had been approved,” he said.
Jagdeep urged the people not to be duped by unscrupulous quarters who promised them that they could be given guaranteed unit for such homes.
“Do not believe them. There is no such thing as guaranteed units. Come straight to me if anyone of you come across such offer and report to us,” he said.
