THE Penang government may introduce a similar system to the Penang Maximum 80% Housing Maintenance Fund (TPM80PP) to address issues involving unplanned housing settlements in Penang.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said there were many unplanned housing settlements in Seberang Perai, especially in Batu Kawan.
“Unplanned housing settlements are mainly tenants who rent land from landlords. The tenants then built houses on that land.
“The basic infrastructure system in these types of housing, such as drainage system, road conditions and others, is usually not in a good condition.
“I feel that the state government has to do something although they are private land.
“Assisting and maintaining infrastructures such as roads and drains should not be a big legal issue,” Chow told reporters during his walkabout at Kampung Permatang Batu in Bukit Tengah today.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, who is also the Perai assemblyman, state Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee, Bukit Tengah assemblyman Gooi Hsiao-Leung and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) councillor David Marshel.
According to Chow, who is also the Batu Kawan parliamentary candidate, the state government would seriously consider implementing the same scheme as TPM80PP to address the infrastructure problems faced by unplanned housing settlements in Penang.
“Hopefully, after such a scheme is implemented, the people there will have better living conditions.
“After all, it is our responsibility as the state government to improve the basic infrastructure for all Penangites,” he said.