As reported in
Malay Mail
Thursday, June 26, 2014 - 14:12
SO happy days are now back for those who have yet to
own a house in the state. It is a fabulous affordable housing scheme
not seen nor introduced in Penang over the last 30 years.
The project comes with Malaysia’s first ever Shared Ownership Scheme
(SOS), a historic joint purchase initiative between the state government
and poor purchasers basically for those who just missed out on getting a
90 per cent or 100 per cent bank loan — with the state government
offering a 30 per cent interest-free loan.
Then there is also the “rent-buy” scheme for the poor who are
unqualified to obtain any bank loans or where banks refuse to lend any
amount of loans to them.
In short, it is a “everyone can own a house now” piece of news.
Granted, it is only for Penangites only, irregardless of race or
religion. It all comes under the grand affordable housing scheme which
kicked off following last Sunday’s launch of a project to build 520
low-and-medium-cost units in Bandar Cassia.
Under this affordable housing scheme, the Penang Development
Corporation (PDC) will build 19,973 low-cost houses, low-medium cost
houses and affordable homes in all five districts in the state.
It is part of the RM500 million fund allocated under the affordable housing scheme.
In this aspect, the state government ought to be lauded for this is
the largest amount ever set aside by any state government in Malaysian
history to build affordable and public housing.
The previous state government had stopped building such low-cost flats as they did in the last 30 years in Rifle Range.
The sole reason for such large scale implementation of housing for
the people is because it has been far too long that they have the chance
or opportunity to put a roof over the head at an affordable cost.
“We took over the state government six years ago and we are now going
all out to make sure that everyone get to own their own homes.
“Yes, the prices of property has escalated over the years and we do
hear people talking about how expensive it is not to own one,” said
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s political secretary Wong Hon Wai.
Wong also cited how after a 30-year hiatus that put the prices of houses far beyond the reach of the average salaried worker.
Rightly, the state government, under the previous Barisan Nasional
(BN) coalition’s leadership, had stopped housing projects altogether in
the 1980s, whether on its own or through its development arm, the Penang
Development Corporation (PDC).
Among the public housing projects undertaken by the state in the
1970s and 1980s were the flats in Rifle Range, Taman Free School and
Kampung Melayu.
“We are now turning the trend around by kick-starting this affordable
housing project that is a state government initiative introduced two
years ago,” Wong said.
He added that according to the state treasury, the state government had not disbursed any funds for housing since 2000.
Whether the then state government was in a state of complacency or not, no one knows.
But as Wong aptly points out, the BN state government had built about
15,000 units of residential properties in 42 projects back in the 1970s
and 1980s “but after that, there were no more state housing projects.”
“Penang state government wants to achieve housing democracy that allows every working family to own their own homes.
“Ensuring that public housing (low cost and low medium cost houses)
is owned by the poor and genuine first time buyers is our priority,” he
said adding that rising house prices and the lack of affordable housing
had been one of the main issues faced by Penangites as property prices
continue to climb due to scarcity of land then.
Yes, we do not hear PDC building doublestorey cluster homes anymore
as they did on a small plot of land off Pengkalan Weld, or at mainland
Seberang Jaya when the satellite town was being moulded in the late 70s —
all at RM13,500.
The single-storey terrace houses in the satellite town of Bayan Baru
were also being sold at mere RM26,000 during the late Tun Dr Lim Chong
Eu’s helm.
Today, Batu Kawan is among the 10 locations for the low-cost and affordable housing projects mapped out by the state.
And after almost three decades, the people can now apply for such
houses at near-the-town locations such as Jalan S.P. Chelliah, Jelutong,
Pintasan Cecil and Teluk Kumbar on the island whilst those from the
mainland will be offered houses at Kampung Jawa, Mak Mandin, Ampang
Jajar, Bukit Mertajam and Juru.
Having said, there is a set of new rules which future purchasers of the affordable homes need to follow.
Under the new rules, those who bought the affordable homes below
RM400,000 on the island and RM250,000 on the mainland will be barred
from re-selling them in the first five years.
Also, owners of public housing for lowcost units and low medium-cost
units who bought for RM72,500 or less cannot sell their units within 10
years.
Understandably, these new rules are necessary as the state government
is concerned that first-time buyers may not be given the first
opportunity to buy them and reduce exploitation for speculative gain.
So, Penangites, the call now is “buy”.
LEE KENG FATT is Malay Mail’s Penang bureau chief. He can be reached at kengfatt@mmail.com.my
