THE Penang government has spent more than RM173.5 million from 2008 until last year (2018) to upgrade public housing schemes in the state.
Penang Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the amount was spent on upgrading and maintaining works of 50 public housing schemes in Penang.
“About RM31.65 million from the RM173.5 million was spent on the Rifle Range public housing scheme.
“This year (2019), the state government has approved a RM2.05 million allocation to upgrade and maintain the Rifle Range public housing scheme.
“Earlier, the state has acted promptly to address the cracking problems at Block E and J in Rifle Range. We spent about RM2 million on the repair works and the matter has been solved.
“Now, we are addressing the cracking problems faced by the remaining seven blocks of flats. The cost of the repair is approximately RM1 million.
“The other upgrading works which are re-wiring works at Block E and J, replacing the damp proof layers of the roofs, recementing the sidewalk of Block A and B and upgrading the garbage disposal room will cost about RM1.05 million in total,” Jagdeep Singh told a press conference at Rifle Range today.
He said the upgrading works were scheduled to start in March this year (2019).
Jagdeep Singh also said that the State Housing Department and the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) were working together to empower the people to maintain their housing condition through Gender Responsive and Participatory Budgeting programmes.
Also present were Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong Khan Lee and Penang State Secretary Office Local Government Division (Solid Waste Management Unit) head Oon Lai Kuan.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud