Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan revealed there were only 20 bungalows priced at RM1.8 million each under the Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda) and JKP Sdn Bhd housing projects.
Most of the bungalows were resort-styled rest houses intended for use as corporate rest houses and not meant for sale, he said.
“After meeting with the DAP-led Penang government in December last year, JKP and Perda decided to build lesser number of the bungalows,” said Abdul Rahman in a statement.
“The rest of the 9,500 units are low-cost (3,500 units at RM42,000 per unit), low-medium cost (2,000 units at RM72,000 per unit) and affordable houses (4,000 units at RM160,000 to RM400,000).”
In comparison, the affordable homes at a nearby land cost as much as RM700,000 per unit.
Abdul Rahman said these in response to Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua’s statement that the minister knew that JKP and Perda’s initial applications were rejected because they included properties priced by up to RM1.8 million on Penang island and RM800,000 on the mainland.
Pua also noted that the selling prices were above the affordable housing guide of less than RM250,000 on the mainland and RM400,000 on the island.
Abdul Rahman said there are still 30,000 Penang residents waiting for affordable homes. With this, the federal government decided to construct 9,500 affordable homes in the first phase.
However, the state government has not issued any approval until now.
“It seems to me the DAP-led state government has been deliberately delaying the approval even though JKP and Perda have been magnanimous in trying to resolve any issue or concern raised by the state government,” he said.
“Letters were sent and pleas to meet up were made by JKP and Perda. Three years have passed, yet no approval is in sight.”
Farah Wahida, Editor of PropertyGuru, wrote this story. To contact her about this or other stories email farahwahida@propertyguru.com.my
