THE Penang government has appealed to the Housing and Local Government Ministry, urging the ministry to reconsider its decision and provide People’s Housing Projects (PPR) in Penang.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the Penang government had identified five proposed sites that were suitable for the building of PPR.
They are at Jelutong (northeast district), Jalan Mayang Pasir (southwest district), Ujung Batu (north Seberang Perai), Kampung Tongkang (central Seberang Perai) and Batu Kawan (south Seberang Perai) – totalling 72.3 acres.
“It is the state governments’ responsibility to identify suitable locations for the building of PPR in the country and it is the Federal’s responsibility to build them.
“We have performed our duty. The Housing and Local Government Ministry visited the proposed site in Jelutong before the change of Federal Government. They came again to visit the site at Jalan Mayang Pasir after the change of Federal Government.
“Back in December last year, the ministry announced that 14 PPR would be built this year.
“We welcomed the news because we feel that providing PPR homes is utmost important especially for the needy community,” Jagdeep told a press conference in front of Masjid Acheh Kebun Lama today.
However, Jagdeep said he was surprised with the reply from the ministry recently when he learned that only 11 PPR, with an estimated cost of RM890 million in total, were approved to be implemented.
“The projects that are approved to be implemented are in Johor, Negri Sembilan, Perlis, Terengganu, Pahang, Kelantan and Sabah. Only five out of 11 approved PPR projects will be implemented this year.
“That was the reply from the ministry to the question by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow during the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Aug 11.
“I do not wish to point fingers. I feel that matters pertaining to housing must not be politicised, more so when it concerns those who are really in need of the PPR homes.
“I just want to clarify, why is Penang excluded? The ministry had shown great interest in the proposed sites before this.
“The PPR are for the low-income community. I appeal to the ministry to reconsider its decision, so that Penang can be included,” he said.
Jagdeep said that the state government just wanted some fairness and clarity from the Federal Government.
Also present was Jelutong MP R.S.N. Rayer.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan