Based on the manifesto, p-hailing riders are to get personal accident insurance coverage. — KT GOH/The Star
WHILE some believe the “Penang Unity Manifesto 2023” will benefit Penangites, others feel more can be done for lower-income groups.
Property agent Sam Ooi, 43, said Silicon Island development would help boost employment opportunities and attract high-impact investments.
The Medi-tech City and GBS by The Sea projects would benefit the local construction industry, generate employment, and create economic spillover effects, he said.
“The unity manifesto will boost the state’s appeal as the preferred investment destination,” he said, adding that there should also be more affordable housing to help the locals,” he said.
He said Penangites could look forward to high-income jobs and their income would then correlate with their spending.
“With better income, they will be able to buy properties to settle down here.
“The market is slowly picking up post pandemic. Many are buying properties not as investments but to live in.
Ooi: Silicon Island, Medi-tech City and GBS by The Sea projects will be a boost to Penang.
“Younger folk tend to buy small units but with the incentives offered in the manifesto, they may be able to afford bigger units,” he added.
Sundry shop manager Mohd Iqbal Abdullah, 33, said more could be done for the B40 group.
“At a glance, only p-hailing and ehailing drivers, taxi and bus drivers will benefit from monetary incentives and personal accident insurance coverage.
“Such aid should be extended to people under the B40 category, or those earning below a certain amount.
“My basic salary is RM2,500. I am now managing with my wife’s help but we will become parents soon, so money will definitely be tighter.
“Perhaps the state can look into having incentives for new parents besides the one-off payment,” he said when met at an eatery in Tanjung Tokong.
Mohd Iqbal said he was interested in the B40 Affordable Housing scheme, which would be sold between RM100,000 and RM150,000, as well as the rent-to-own units.
“I would love to own a home. It will be nice to settle into a home with the baby coming.
“I hope I am eligible for a unit as it is hard to own a home in Penang,” he said.
S. Raakesh, 27, is disappointed as there are no incentives for youths who are in debt because of student loans like him.
“The incentives seem to cater to certain groups only, and are not for everyone,” said the software quality assurance engineer.
“While the affordable housing pledge is great, I hope all of us qualify and can apply for it.”
Business executive Chew Seak Wei, 42, said the LRT project would help ease traffic congestion.
“Hopefully, during the construction stage, the authorities will manage traffic efficiently to reduce congestion, pollution and noise,” he said.
Tan: Medi-tech City will create high-skilled jobs for Penangites.
Bank loan officer Zoey Tan, 40, said the Medi-tech City project would create high-skilled jobs for Penangites.
“This will help improve the household income and increase purchasing power.
“The project will also, in a way, halt brain drain,” she said.
On Aug 1, the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional pact launched its manifesto comprising 16 main themes, 15 highlights and 50 manifestos.
The 16 main themes cover the people’s welfare, socioeconomic well-being, essential infrastructure development, rural development balance, human capital development, women and youth employment, food supply security, traffic management initiatives, environmental resilience towards climate change and housing for all.
It also touches on boosting high-skilled employment, upholding the Islamic faith based on the Malaysia Madani principle, strengthening the tourism and service sector, promoting multicultural harmony, upholding democracy and protecting Penang’s rights.
Among the highlights are establishing a State Social Development Fund for the needy through collection of medical health fees from foreigners.
Haj pilgrims from the B40 group will also receive a one-off RM1,000 assistance while aid of RM600 per year will be provided to ehailing drivers besides personal accident insurance for p-hailing riders.
The manifesto also pledged to continue assistance of RM600 per year to taxi and school bus drivers.
For education, the manifesto pledged an RM60mil allocation by 2030.
The pledge also mentioned a target of building 220,000 affordable housing units, of which up to 100,000 units will be offered through the “B40 Affordable Housing” scheme priced at RM100,000 to RM150,000 as well as 22,000 rent-to-own units by 2030.
The manifesto also touched on introducing a Special Rental Housing Scheme for youths or single individuals, a one-off RM500 sum for newly-weds known as Golden Couple Programme, and free laptops for B40 students who receive offers to study at public institutions of higher learning.
