Govt never discriminated against Opposition-led states, says PM

KEPALA BATAS: The Federal Government has never discriminated against development in states or constituencies led by the Opposition in the country, all for the sake of the people, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said this includes Penang, which has never been sidelined by the Federal Government, though the state is under the Opposition’s rule.

"If the Federal Government can be this sincere, it is only right for the people to continue giving their mandate to the Federal Government come this Nov 19,” he said when launching the groundbreaking ceremony for the People’s Housing Programme (PPR), Bandar Putra Bertam Mosque and the Kepala Batas Youth Centre (KBYC) projects here.

Ismail Sabri said the launch of the three projects in the Durian Tunggal constituency in this Opposition-led state was proof of the government’s commitment to helping the people.

Malaysians will go to the polls to choose the new Federal Government on Nov 19.

The Election Commission has also set Nov 5 for nomination and Nov 15 for early voting.

On the Kepala Batas PPR project worth RM113mil, the Prime Minister said it would involve the construction of four-storey flats offering a total of 700 housing units with basic amenities on an 8.1-hectare land owned by the Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda) in Pongsu Seribu, Seberang Perai Utara.

He said the project also offers seven houses for persons with disabilities.

"The construction cost of each of these houses is RM161,000 but it will be sold at only RM45,000, bringing the total subsidy borne by the government for the project to RM81.2mil,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the Bandar Putra Bertam Mosque project would be developed on the Penang Islamic Religious Council-owned land and will be able to accommodate 1,500 congregants at any one time.

He said the construction of the mosque, jointly financed by the federal government, state government and waqf fund, would be implemented with a Green Design concept or a low-carbon architecture, which will make it a new landmark or green building in Penang.

On the RM45mil KBYC project, Ismail Sabri said it would be equipped with various facilities, including a hostel, football field, synthetic track, e-sports hall, music room, gymnasium and jogging track.

He said the 2023 Budget tabled at Parliament on Oct 7 also focused on the people’s wellbeing with large allocations given to provide comfortable, quality and affordable housing to meet the rising need of the people.

In fact, he said the government had also allocated RM372.3bil comprising RM367mil for the PPR programme that will benefit 12,400 new occupants and RM358mil for the Mesra Rakyat Housing Programme involving the construction of 4,250 houses.

Also present at the event were Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Penang Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abd Rahman.- Bernama