Story by Christopher Tan
Photos by Law Suun Ting
PENANG Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo has given his assurance that the state would maintain the existing ceiling price of the low-cost (LC), low medium-cost (LMC) and affordable homes in the state.
“The ceiling price of LC, LMC and affordable homes will not be increased with the reintroduction of Sales and Services Tax (SST) on Sept 1.
“We feel that the ceiling price of affordable homes on the island (RM300,000) and on the mainland (RM250,000) are reasonable.
“The (ceiling) price will not be increased until such time we think it is necessary to increase. At this point, I am very firm that we will not increase the (ceiling) price,” he told a press conference in Komtar today.
Jagdeep said housing developers were given a lot of incentives to encourage them to build affordable homes for the people.
He also spoke on the Penang Affordable Housing Expo 2018 which will be held at Prangin Mall from 10am to 10pm on Aug 18 and 19.
“Penangites will have the chance to grab 6,284 affordable housing units from 13 housing developers at the expo.
“Representatives from the Penang Housing Department, Bank Negara Malaysia and the Election Commission will also be at the expo.
“Among the many affordable housing projects at the expo is a PR1MA project in Permatang Pauh.
“Since Pakatan Harapan had taken over the Federal Government, previous Federal Government projects such as PR1MA projects have also been taken over.
“Whether will it be called as ‘PR1MA’ is another issue. The Housing and Local Government Ministry is looking at it.
“Barisan Nasional had failed the people in the past, when not a single PR1MA home was built in Penang,” Jagdeep said.
He added that 1,000 PR1MA units would be available at the expo.
Jagdeep said the state government would continue to provide affordable homes for Penangites.
The housing developers taking part in the expo are PDC Sdn Bhd, Potential Dual, PLB Land, Prisma Bumiraya, Ideal Property Sdn Bhd, Aspen Ventures, Corfield Development, Excel Focus, M Summit Corporation, Iconic Land, Hunza, Asia Green Construction and PTL Properties.