THE state government, through the Penang Housing Board, will replace two units of water tanks for the residents of Sri Wonder Flat under the Penang Maximum 80% Maintenance Fund (TPM80PP) programme next month.
Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo, who is also the Datok Keramat assemblyman, conveyed this good news during a visit today to the flat in Lintang Sungai Pinang, which falls under his state constituency.
“I am very happy to announce yet another maintenance programme for Sri Wonder Complex. We will approve their application for two units of water tank which will be installed in April,” Jagdeep said.
He reiterated that the state government takes affordable housing projects seriously, always maintaining that having a roof over the head is a fundamental human right.
During Jagdeep’s tenure as the state exco for housing previously, he set a target of achieving 220,000 affordable units by 2030 in line with the Penang2030 vision.
“We have achieved 71.4% of the target thus far with 157,000 units built, being built and to be built. I am confident that we will accomplish our target under the new exco and I, as the deputy chief minister, oversee it,” Jagdeep said.
In Datok Keramat constituency itself, Jagdeep said the state government had allocated RM5.4 million for maintenance works across 44 projects spanning 21 housing schemes as of Dec 31 last year. Out of this, in 2023 alone, maintenance works for six projects were already completed at a cost of RM675,000.
Penang Housing Board technical executive Suria Ahmad, who was also present, mentioned that the housing board upgraded two lifts at Sri Wonder Flat at a cost of RM360,800 last year. She said they are working on the cost of the upcoming two water tanks.
The 12-storey flat, built 25 years ago in 1999, has 132 units.
Jasemal Muniandy, the treasurer of the Sri Wonder Complex management committee, thanked Jagdeep for looking into their plight and facilitating the lift upgrading last year and the upcoming replacement of water tanks this year.
Others present during Jagdeep’s visit were Muhammad Izat Rosli, the assistant technical executive of Penang Housing Board; Francis Xavier, the building supervisor of the Sri Wonder Complex management and Mohd Hizer Omar, the northeast district penghulu.
Story and pix by K.H. Ong