Exco man: More affordable homes coming up

Options aplenty: Potential buyers checking out the projects on display on the first day of the Penang Property Summit 2015 at SPICE centre in Bayan Baru, Penang.

THE Penang government is in the process of approving 9,858 units of 100% affordable housing projects by eight developers.

State Housing, Town & Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the units, priced between RM200,000 to RM400,000, were in Tanjung Bungah, Teluk Kumbar, Gat Lebuh Macallum, and Paya Terubong.

“In five years, we can expect the number of affordable housing units from the private developers to match the 19,093 units which we’re building on the island and Seberang Prai.

“One local architect firm, I was told, has submitted plans to build some 6,000 affordable homes,” he said in his speech at the Penang Property Summit organised by the state government and PenEvents at SPICE centre yesterday.

Also present were state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow, who represented Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Real Estate & Housing Developers Association (Penang) chairman Datuk Jerry Chan.

On the island, the state’s affordable projects are in Jalan SP Chelliah (1,900 units), Teluk Kumbar (696 units) and Jelutong (556 units).

In Seberang Prai, the five projects are in Kampung Jawa, Butterworth (707 units), Ampang Jajar (1,634 units), Jalan Berapit (1,000 units), Bukit Juru (800 units) and Batu Kawan (11,800 units).

The prices of the state government’s affordable houses range between RM72,000 to RM400,000.

Meanwhile, Chow said improving the broadband services in Penang and resolving flood problems were among the priority projects as they could affect investments to the state.

“The recent increase in drainage contribution charges from developers will be used for flood mitigation projects,” Chow said.

He also said Penang’s future lay in Seberang Prai which had been attracting important industrial, commercial and residential projects.

Later, in a talk on ‘What and where to look for investments in Penang’, investPenang director Datuk Lee Kah Choon said upcoming infrastructure projects for Penang such as the integrated and holistic transport system combining buses, trams, mass rail transit, and water taxis would boost the the state as an investment destination.

“On the island, the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Prime project in Bayan Baru is being planned to transform the area into an international BPO hub, enhancing connectivity in Bayan Lepas and Bayan Baru.

“The Penang Development Corporation building, which is making way for the BPO Prime project, will be replaced by proposed 29-storey and 25-storey BPO towers.

“The towers are being planned to accommodate retail outlets, recreational facilities and open spaces.

“The state is also getting its Creative Animation Triggers (CAT) sites in George Town to be ready within the next 12 to 24 months,” he said.

The state has also acquired an assortment of heritage buildings which will be renovated and leased to creative animation companies, according to Lee.

“These sites will provide 100,000sq ft of office space altogether for use by firms.

“Some 1,000 higher-income job opportunities will be created by CAT,” Lee added.

Meanwhile, PenEvents Sdn Bhd managing director Ong Ban Seang said that 60 to 70 projects with an approximate gross development value of RM4bil to RM5bil were on display at the three-day summit until tomorrow.

“All the projects are in Penang. We expect some 30,000 visitors to turn up for the event,” Ong added. - The Star