Clarify number of PR1MA housing for Penang, Jagdeep tells Putrajaya

GEORGE TOWN, Oct 16 ― The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has approved two PR1MA housing projects in the island but till today, no PR1MA projects have been built, state executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo said today.

Jagdeep who is state housing and town and country planning committee chairman said MBPP has confirmed approving PR1MA projects in Kampung Kastam, Bukit Gelugor and Batu Ferringhi.

“MBPP confirmed that the only projects approved are in Bukit Gelugor and Batu Ferringhi for a total 3,071 units,” he said in a press conference in Komtar here.

As for the mainland side, Jagdeep said Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) confirmed that there were no approvals for any PR1MA projects there.

He said these facts contrasted with the announcement made by Penang Federal Action Council chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman.

“His statement, as reported in Utusan Malaysia dated September 15, claimed 16,297 units of PR1MA affordable housing were approved by the local authorities when we don’t have records of this,” he said.

Jagdeep demanded that Zainal clarify the actual numbers of PR1MA housing approved and the number of units in the plans.

“I checked with both local councils on the approvals before I come forward with these figures so I want Zainal to explain,” he said.

He said he is not blaming Zainal for the lack of PR1MA housing units being built in Penang despite the introduction of PR1MA since 2012.

“I only want him to clarify the figures that he had announced,” he said.

Zainal reportedly announced that a total 16,297 units of PR1MA housing were approved for Penang.

He listed out a total 12,893 units in Bukit Gelugor, Sungai Pinang, Teluk Kumbar and Batu Ferringhi on the island and 3,404 units in Permatang Pauh and Tasek Gelugor on the mainland.

Jagdeep said the state welcomes more affordable housing under PR1MA.

“There’s no malice intended in this, we only want to know the actual numbers of PR1MA housing here,” he said.

Still on affordable housing, Jagdeep said the Penang state government has planned 17 affordable housing projects, totaling 27,230 units, in all five districts in the state.

Out of the 17 projects, five were in various stages of development. The first affordable housing project in Bandar Cassia, Batu Kawan is now nearly 100 per cent complete and is only pending the strata title.

The other ongoing projects, Kampung Jawa in North Seberang Perai, Teluk Kumbar in Southwest district on the island and SP Chelliah in the Northeast district on the island are at 83 per cent, 58 per cent and 45 per cent completion respectively.

“The private sector has also participated in the affordable housing guidelines whereby a total 36,759 units of affordable housing were approved,” he said.

Some of these projects by the private sector have also started construction with Raman Pavillion by M-Summit at 90 per cent completion, Tripinnacle by Aspen Group at 65 per cent and One Forests and I-Santorini projects, both by Ideal Group, at 32 per cent and 28 per cent respectively.