By Christopher Tan
Pix by Alvie Cheng
THE Penang government has approved 87 applications under the State Housing Maintenance Maximum 80% Fund (TMP80PP) from 2012 until now.
State Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh said 48 projects were related to maintenance and replacement of lifts.
“Eighteen projects were on maintenance and replacement works of water tanks and piping systems, maintenance and replacement of roofs (seven projects) and others (14 projects) such as painting, road resurfacing and building of wall barriers.
“Meanwhile, the federal government’s 1Malaysia Maintenance Fund (TP1M) only approved 29 applications from 2012 until now.
“While the state has approved 87 TMP80PP applications, Putrajaya only approved 29 TP1M applications.
“Why is it so? We urge the federal government to approve more TP1M applications,” Jagdeep told a press conference in Komtar on Dec 11.
He revealed that according to records, there were 143 TP1M applications but only 29 were approved.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak announced a RM200mil allocation for TP1M when he tabled the Budget 2018.
“There should be no reason not to approve the remaining applications with the allocation from Budget 2018,” he added.
Jagdeep was with the representatives of Serina Bay apartment and Taman Mutiara Vista apartment at the press conference.
He said approval has been given to the application from Serina Bay apartment to repair their roof.
“The total cost is RM96,900. The state government will be paying 60% of the cost while the remaining 40% will be borne by the project’s joint management body (JMB).
“Application from Taman Mutiara Vista apartment has also been approved. The residents wanted to build an anti-climb fence and rocks around their project for security purposes.
“The cost is about RM60,200 and the state will bear 40% of the cost. The remaining amount will be paid by the project’s JMB,” he said.
Jagdeep also said the federal government only managed to build 5,154 units of Type A (low-cost) and Type B (low medium-cost) housing from 2000 to 2007.
“We have outperformed them almost five times! The current state government has built 24,227 units of Type A (low-cost) and Type B (low medium-cost) housing from 2008 until this year.
“We are not boasting. This is a fact.
“Performance is important to show that we are delivering,” he said.
Also present were state Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, Sungai Pinang assemblymember Lim Siew Khim and Jawi assemblymember Soon Lip Chee.
On Dec 5, Jagdeep visited the Melur Flats in Sg. Nibong where the roofing was upgraded at a total cost of RM31,620.
The state government contributed 80% of the total cost through the Penang Maximum 80% Maintenance Fund (TPM80PP).