PENANG Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo has again appealed to the Housing and Local Government Ministry to consider building new People’s Housing Programme (PPR) projects in each of the five districts in the state.
Jagdeep, in thanking Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican for proposing the PPRs to be built one each on the mainland and island, said that Penang has five districts in total.
“Please look into the request made by Penang. We hope that it can be considered.
“We have allocated five sites (one in each district) which we want to hand over to the ministry for the building of PPRs.
“We can discuss the schemes (rent or rent-to-own) for the PPRs later. We also hope that the PPRs will be built soon for the benefit of the people,” he said before handing over the food baskets to the residents of Ampang Jajar Apartment today.
Jagdeep said he was happy with the Penang Housing Board for its initiative to distribute 1,000 food baskets to needy families in nine housing schemes on the Penang island and mainland.
“We are distributing 190 food baskets here at the Ampang Jajar Apartment. However, we have selected 20 recipients to symbolically receive the food baskets. Our team will be distributing the food baskets to the remaining recipients later.
“The total cost of the food basket programme is about RM55,000. But it is a very important programme for the people.
“We understand that besides caring for the health of the people, we must also care for their livelihood.
“The state government has spent almost RM2 million to assist the vulnerable groups during the Covid-19 pandemic period.
“We will continue to provide aid as much as we can. It is not easy. Many people have lost their jobs during the pandemic,” he said.
Separately, he urged the people to continue to adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“Penang continues its downward trend in Covid-19 new cases. This is the result of the people’s discipline. We must continue to obey the SOPs.
“Those who have not registered for the Covid-19 vaccination programme, please register and get vaccinated. The people should also go for Covid-19 screenings. Do not take things for granted.
“These practices are not difficult, but they are important for us, our family and the community,” he said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar