THE Penang government will come out with an action plan to ensure that the low-income earners will still have access to affordable homes post Covid-19.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh said it was undeniable that the property sector would face tough times ahead.
“We cannot ignore the fact that the property sector is suffering, both the developers and purchasers,” Jagdeep told a press conference at Taman Free School that was streamed live on the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) Facebook page today.
“This extraordinary disaster has ruined many industries, including the housing industry.
“The buying capacity of the buyers is affected. This is important to me because for the past 10 years, we have given priority to affordable homes in the state.
“I will come out with an action plan to ensure that we have adequate stock of affordable housing for Penangites.”
He said his committee had started discussions with relevant players and he would be announcing the action plan soon.
Jagdeep said another matter of importance to Penang was the need to reprioritise and restrategise the Penang Structure Plan 2030 and the Penang2030 vision because of the pandemic.
The Penang Structure Plan 2030 was gazetted at the end of last year and the Penang2030 vision was announced by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow in August 2018.
“These are two important documents to guide Penang into the future. So, we need to relook at some of the components as they may have been overtaken by Covid-19.
“I’m happy to say that the chief minister was receptive to my suggestion at the exco meeting yesterday.
“Now everything seems to be at a standstill. We have to rebuild the economy and in the state’s next normal strategy, we are focusing on digitalisation to help speed up the recovery.
“It’s not that we have not delved into digitalisation because one of components in Penang2030 is to become a smart and green city.”
Jagdeep also praised MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) mayor Datuk Rozali Mohamud for achieving over 99% MCO compliance.
He also thanked the frontliners for their hard work to keep Penang clean and the Penangites for their cooperation during the MCO.
At the press conference, Jagdeep also presented some provisions such as rice, flour, cooking oil and ‘bee hoon’, to some 50 residents of Taman Free School flats in view of the coming Ramadan.
This was part of the 1,000 bags of provisions that are being distributed by Jagdeep’s service centre to nine areas in his Datuk Keramat constituency. The other eight areas are Caunter Hall, Kampong Makam, Wan Chik Ariffin, Kampong Dodol, Jalan P. Ramlee, Datuk Keramat, York Road and Kebun Lama.
Before the press conference, Jagdeep visited the Taman Free School market to distribute face masks to the traders, hawkers and market-goers.
Also joining him were Jelutong MP R.S.N. Rayer, MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang and MBPP secretary Datuk Addnan Mohd Razali.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Wong Sook Shyan