PENANGITES can look forward to better recreational facilities and public parks with RM5mil allocated for their development and upgrading.
The allocation will include the construction of a new 1ha public park in Tanjung Tokong, while other locations will be identified based on the needs of local communities.
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim said the RM5mil allocation by UDA Holdings Bhd followed the Penang government’s approval to convert the land tenure of its Eight & Eight condominium project from leasehold to freehold.
According to him, the state had granted a substantial discount on the land conversion premium.
Sim said the allocation would benefit Penang residents through improvements to existing recreational facilities and the development of new public spaces.
“We will work with the state government and local authorities to identify areas where recreational facilities need to be improved.
“Some places may only require upgrades to playground equipment, while others may need more extensive improvements, depending on local needs,” he told reporters after launching the condominium’s experience centre in Tanjung Tokong.
He said the new park, to be known as Laman Tanjong, would be fully funded and developed by UDA for public use.
The remaining projects would be determined following discussions with the state government and local councils.
Sim said the recreational facilities would benefit not only residents of Tanjung Tokong and Bukit Bendera but also people from other parts of Penang.
He said new housing developments should also create opportunities for local businesses as more residents moved into an area.
“When there are new residents, there will be new needs and economic opportunities.
“We want local entrepreneurs to benefit from these opportunities,” he said.
Sim said at least 1,200 social housing units were planned for Tanjung Tokong under a cross-subsidy model.
He said proceeds from higher- value residential developments would help finance housing for lower-income groups, reducing reliance on government allocations.
“Instead of depending solely on government funding, we are developing higher-value properties to generate resources for social housing,” he said.
Sim stressed that social housing should not be associated with poor design or inferior living conditions.
“We are not going to build cheap houses for poor people.
“We must build homes with dignity.
“Even for social housing, I do not want people to look at a building and immediately recognise it as housing for the poor.”
He said affordable housing should meet proper design and aesthetic standards to ensure residents enjoyed comfortable and dignified living conditions.
UDA chief executive officer Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuaad Mohd Kenali said 550 of the 1,200 replacement homes earmarked for Tanjung Tokong’s original residents had been completed and handed over, while the remaining 650 units were still in the planning stage.
The replacement homes form part of the 17.5ha Warisan Tanjung development, which comprises 3,836 residential units across various housing categories.
Present were Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid, Northeast District and Land Office senior assistant district officer Zuraida Zainol and UDA Land (North) Sdn Bhd chief operating officer Shahrul Arizan Mohamad Adnan.
