GEORGE TOWN, Nov 19 — Putrajaya's delay in approving the advertising permit and developers licence (APDL) for projects here has affected 10 affordable housing schemes including low- and low-medium cost units, state executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo (Datuk Keramat — DAP) said today.
He also claimed Penang was repeatedly sidelined by the federal government when it comes to PR1MA housing, maintenance allocation under the 1Malaysia Maintenance Fund (TP1M), strict loan requirement along with the delay in approving APDL for Penang projects.
“As at September this year, data showed there are 10 affordable housing projects affected by the delay in APDL approval,” he said.
“The federal government's refusal to approve the APDL for such projects will only victimise the public especially the lower income group,” he said in his winding up speech at the state legislative assembly today.
Out of the 10 projects, three are low cost housing projects with a total 339 units, four low medium cost projects (1,167 units) and three affordable housing projects(1,682 units).
There were a total 47 development projects that are yet to receive approvals for the APDL.
He then cited the urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister’s reported remark that the delay was reprisal for the Pakatan Harapan state government's refusal to approve some federal agencies' projects.
“Because of the tit for tat, it is affecting low cost, low medium cost and affordable housing projects. Don't play this tit for tat game, it's affecting low income group and the people,” he said.
The APDL is issued by the Housing Ministry to all developers for any development project before the developer could commence the sale process and also the signing of the sales and purchase agreement.
The Penang state government had repeatedly accused the ministry of delaying in approving APDL for Penang developers since last year.
The housing ministry had in turn accused Penang of deliberately not approving projects by federal agencies, JKP and Perda.
In August this year, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan reportedly threatened to impose stricter rules on all Penang housing projects at his ministry level as long as Penang delays in approving housing projects by the federal agencies.
