GEORGE TOWN, Oct 6 ― Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) wants the Penang government to crack down on the sale and rental of low and medium-cost (LMC) apartment units meant for first-time home buyers to well-heeled third-parties.
Its president Datuk Huan Cheng Guan claimed people have been abusing the state housing policy to buy such units at low prices and then sell it for profit.
"Based on our own investigations, it is clear that the unit owners of the low-medium cost apartment in Gelugor are renting and selling their units to third parties through online property sites," he told a news conference here today.
He alleged that several owners are offering rental rates of up to RM850 each month for the units, with some selling their units for as much as RM348,000.
One such apartment was only two years old, he noted, stressing that the state policy on affordable housing clearly states that these units are not allowed to be rented out and can't be sold in the first 10 years.
"Two years ago, the state housing exco Jagdeep Singh Deo had warned LMC buyers not to rent out or sell their units to third parties but now they are flouting this ruling and the state is not doing anything about it," he said.
He urged the state government to investigate and demanded that they explain why they had allowed LMC owners to rent out or sell their units.
"This is obvious that the Penang state government is incompetent, unaccountable and not transparent in all of its dealings," he said.
According to Huan, when PCM members conducted checks on the properties in question, they found luxury cars and motorbikes parked in the compound.
He listed vehicles such as BMW Motorrad GS superbike worth RM114,900, Triumph Street Triple superbike worth RM53,900, a KTM 1050 Adventure superbike, the latest Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.8 G, a Honda Jazz iDSI car and many other vehicles that cost above RM80,000.
"The LMC apartment is meant for the low-income group but I don't think people who can afford these kinds of vehicles are in the low income group especially when the vehicles cost more than the units," he said.
Under the state housing policy, LMC units are sold at RM72,500 each and only applicants with a combined household income of RM3,500 and below can apply for them.
"I will also be submitting all our investigations into this issue to MACC to investigate as I believe they will be able to find out if there are corrupt practices involved," Huan said.
He added that many other low income earners are unable to get homes and yet those not in the low income bracket are getting the benefits of buying LMC units.
