Affordable housing development K Park at Lorong Prestij in Balik Pulau. — Filepic
PENANG has set a target of 220,000 affordable homes by 2030, according to state housing and environment committee chairman Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu.
He said the units would be provided in all five districts, assuring that development would be extended strategically and thoughtfully across various areas.
He noted that with an average of four people living in an affordable unit, the number of units would be able to accommodate 880,000 people in total.
“That is almost half the population of Penang, which is about 1.8 million.
“The state has already provided over 150,000 affordable homes which include those already built, being built or being planned.
“We have 70,000 more affordable homes to go,” Sundarajoo told Buletin Mutiara.
He was speaking after a press conference on the 8th Malaysian Secondary and Primary Property Exhibition (Maspex), which will be held from Dec 7 to 10 at Queensbay Mall.
Sundarajoo: The state has already provided 150,000 affordable homes, with 70,000 more to go.
Penang has various affordable housing categories with prices ranging from RM42,000 to RM300,000 per unit.
Sundarajoo said Penang would introduce a new category of units costing RM100,000 for those with household income of between RM3,500 and RM5,000 a month.
He said the state was also looking at revising some policies concerning the density and plot ratio for projects on the Penang mainland.
“We want to attract more investors and developers to come to Penang to create more jobs and homes for the growing population,” he said, adding that Penang mainland would be in “expanding mode”.
Sundarajoo said traffic management was one of several factors to be considered when it came to development.
“We cannot give a high plot ratio in the heart of George Town as the roads there can no longer be expanded due to lack of space. The city centre is already congested.
“So, we will wait for the traffic impact assessment report to be ready before allowing a project to go ahead.
“The state government doesn’t want to further burden the infrastructure in certain areas.
“That will not help the industries or the people.
“We want Penang to be a liveable state that is clean, green and safe,” he said.
