PROPERTY developers must place public safety at the heart of every development project, with Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow stressing that economic growth must never come at the expense of human lives.
Speaking at the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (REHDA) Penang annual dinner at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre, Chow said developers had a responsibility to ensure that their projects were carried out safely, particularly when undertaking works involving slopes and surrounding residential areas.
Referring to the fatal landslide at Taman Seri Rambai in Paya Terubong on Oct 25, which claimed the life of a 73-year-old doctor and forced six families to leave their homes, Chow said the tragedy served as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible development.
“Let me be clear to everyone in this room. No project is worth a single life. Every slope we cut and every wall we build carries a promise to the families below it. A promise that they will be safe,” he said.
He urged developers to pay close attention to slope conditions, ensure proper drainage maintenance and halt work whenever safety concerns arose.
“In Penang, safety is not a condition of approval. It is the condition of development,” he stressed.
Chow also extended his condolences to the family of the victim and expressed his concern for the affected residents.
Meanwhile, he said the State Government viewed REHDA not merely as an industry stakeholder but as a key partner in shaping Penang’s development over the next 30 years.
He acknowledged the association’s contributions over the past 52 years, noting that its members had played a significant role in building homes, industrial facilities and townships across the state since 1974.
Chow said Penang’s rapid economic growth, including RM17.3 billion in approved manufacturing investments recorded in the first half of this year, had increased the need for more comprehensive housing and urban planning.
“These are proud numbers. But numbers do not need a place to live. People do,” he said.
He stressed that the challenge was not simply to build more houses, but to ensure homes were located in suitable areas, priced affordably and supported by essential infrastructure such as roads, schools, parks and public transport.
On affordable housing, Chow said Penang had delivered more than 176,000 units under the Rumah MutiaraKu initiative, representing over 80% of its target of 220,000 affordable homes by 2030.
He also highlighted the State Government’s Rent-to-Own scheme, which offers monthly payments starting from RM250 for eligible families who can afford housing repayments but face difficulties securing bank financing.
More than 13,000 units are currently under the scheme, including 1,133 units acquired by the Penang State Government this year through the Penang State Housing Board.
“Because success in housing is not measured by how many homes we build. It is measured by how many families get to call one their own,” he said.
Chow also cited the recent signing of a development agreement for Kampung Ujung Batu between the Penang State Housing Board and Paramount, a REHDA member, as an example of how government and private sector collaboration could address longstanding social issues.
He said the project would provide residents with new homes while allowing the developer to undertake a viable development.
“When the government and developers work together, a social problem becomes a development opportunity,” he said.
Chow reiterated that the state government wanted the property development industry to prosper, while ensuring that responsible practices, affordable housing and public safety remained central to Penang’s growth.
“Safe homes and profitable projects are not enemies,” he said.
He added that Penang’s future belonged to everyone, including the government, developers and the wider community, calling for continued cooperation in building a better state.
The dinner also marked REHDA Penang’s 52nd anniversary.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Muhammad Iqbal Hamdan