IWK plot available for homes

GEORGE TOWN: The state is hoping that the Federal Government will consider building 2,000 to 3,000 People’s Housing Project (PPR) units on a 14.65ha plot of land in Jelutong.

State Housing Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said that in Malaysia, there were about 100,000 units of PPR but Penang had the least with only 999 units.

“The PPR projects are built by the Federal Government and maintained by the state government.

“We have a site in Jelutong which is a very strategic location on the island. It is owned by Indah Water Konsortium but no longer utilised and we can fit in 2,000 to 3,000 PPR units.

“Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng wrote a letter to Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar on March 20 and we hope that the application will be considered,” he told a press conference yesterday.

On Wednesday, Noh said the Federal Government had to scrap approval for local council projects in non-Barisan Nasional parliamentary constituencies due to insufficient funds.

He added that priority had to be given to Barisan constituencies as it was not possible to provide for all 222 parliament constituencies but certain non-Barisan constituencies will be given an exception based on the application forwarded by the local councils.

Jagdeep said if Noh was sincere in giving exceptions to certain applications, he should seriously consider the state’s application.

“The project will be for poor people who cannot even buy a house.”

Earlier, Jagdeep, who is also Penang DAP deputy chief, and other party members attended a dialogue with the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) committee.

Also present were PCCC president Datuk Seri Choot Ewe Seng, Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow and party organising secretary Wong Hon Wai.