LANDED affordable housing should be built by 1Malaysia People’s Housing Scheme (PR1MA) at a 84ha land in Balik Pulau, Penang, following the withdrawal of a proposal to build high-rise blocks.
State Housing Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the proposal to build 29 blocks of 9,904 high-rise units in Kuala Sungai Pinang has been withdrawn.
“In December 2015, PR1MA submitted several applications for affordable housing in Penang. Among the applications were in Batu Ferringhi (1,520 units), Northern Seberang Prai (2,387 units), Bukit Gelugor (1,337 units) and the latest for Balik Pulau (9,904 units).
“It is clear that PR1MA is insensitive to the price control set by the state government. We have recently reduced the ceiling price for affordable housing on the island to RM300,000, but their pricing proved to be unaffordable when they priced their units up to RM510,000 in Balik Pulau.
“Furthermore, the state government’s restriction on the height of buildings in Balik Pulau, at maximum, is only up to 16 storeys,” he said during a press conference at Taman Free School recently.
He said the State Planning Technical Committee headed by himself, had postponed the deliberation of PR1MA’s application on April 15 and directed that PR1MA review its specifications.
This saw PR1MA withdrawing its application by letter to the Town and Country Planning Department of Penang on May 12 subsequently.
“PR1MA should consider building landed properties as there is enough land to do so in that particular area, which has no high-rise buildings and is a green lung in Balik Pulau.
“Profit should not be foremost. It is hoped that they will review the specification of their development and resubmit the same to the state government for consideration.
“Apart from PR1MA, my advice to all other prospective applicants is to take into account and comply with the prevailing guidelines and policies of the state in the affordable housing development in Penang,” he added.
