GEORGETOWN, March 6 – CM Lim Guan Eng is honoured to be here today, to officiate the ground breaking ceremony for this much-awaited Public and Affordable Housing Scheme at Jalan SP Chelliah, George Town. In this regard, I would like to congratulate Penang Development Corporation (PDC), Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) and Developer Zubicon Sdn Bhd for working together, in the spirit of public private sector partnership, in bringing this project to fruition, for the people of Penang.
The state government has established the Public Housing Fund and Affordable Homes Fund, the largest by a state government in Malaysian history, worth RM 500 million to build 22,545 public housing units ( less than RM 72,500 ) and affordable housing units ( less than RM 400,000 ). In support of the State Government’s efforts to develop more affordable homes for the State of Penang, MPPP which is the registered proprietor of the land, and PDC had planned for the development of 2,093 units of medium cost and low medium cost affordable homes on lot 1053 and part of lot 758, comprising approximately 11.04 acres, at Jalan S.P. Chelliah, George Town, Penang.
MPPP had appointed PDC as its attorney and Project Administrator to administer and manage the development of the land into affordable homes. PDC then called for Open competitive tender for the Request for Proposal for this project, which was awarded to Zubicon Sdn Bhd. as the developer to develop this land into medium cost and low medium cost affordable homes. The State Government and PDC would like to ensure that the project is fast track so that the people of Penang can enjoy the benefits of affordable home in George Town itself. In this regard the development schedule of the entire development of AHS on this land is expected to be fully completed by November 2019. I am pleased to inform that the 2,093 units of affordable homes for this project will comprise the following components:
- 275 units of minimum 1000 sq ft at maximum selling price of RM 400,000.00 Per Unit;
- 165 units of minimum 900 sq ft at maximum selling price of RM 300,000.00 Per Unit;
- 883 units of minimum 800 sq ft at maximum selling price of RM200,000.00 Per Unit
- 770 units of minimum 700 sq ft LMC at maximum selling price of RM 72,500.00 Per Unit.
The Gross Development Value ( GDV ) for the entire project is RM 600 million . Out of the number of units to be built, the State Government through Penang Bumiputera Housing Trust Accounts, the State Government will channel RM52.9 million as cost to provide 320 units of low medium cost houses solely for Bumiputera buyers. These units are equipped with car parks and proceeds from the sale of these units totalling RM 23.2 million will be returned to the same Bumiputera Housing Trust Account to enable the Penang State Government to provide more units for Bumiputera buyers.
Penang Bumiputera Housing Trust Account now stands at RM 69.3 million as of January 31, 2015 with a balance of RM 16.4 million after the Bumiputera Housing project valued at RM 52.9 million. The State government will continue with study and provide more Bumiputera public housing upon RM 23.2 million being channeled into the Penang Bumiputera Housing Trust Account following completion of these units within 3 years.
It is to be emphasised that the state government complies with the guidelines and housing regulations drawn by the federal government. Lies or accusations thrown against the state government alleging that the state government practices discrimination or oppresses certain race are evil and baseless as these unwelcomed groups should also admonish the federal government which bears responsibility for setting out these guidelines.
The State Government and PDC would like to ensure that good community infrastructure and amenities/facilities will be built in this project. In this regard, the facilities planned include a pavilion, linear park, community park, riverfront point, market street, big tree skyway, bus terminal, taxi hub, Chelliah Square, civic center, surau as well as upgrading of the existing road of S.P. Chelliah. We will also ensure the building of additional car parks for low medium cost (LMC) affordable homes, which in total will cost RM 29 million.
More importantly, in line with the State Government’s aspiration of being No 1 in the country for a Cleaner, Greener and Safer environment in Penang, the development of SP Chelliah shall comply with the Green Building Index (GBI) of Gold Class for Medium Cost affordable homes and Certified for Low Medium Cost (LMC) and shall consist of seventy percent (70%) green area of the entire development. This certification of GBI will become a model and benchmark for future AHS and other related projects.
In this regard, I would also like to compliment Zubicon Sdn Bhd which has shown great enthusiasm and commitment to the success of this project and in working closely with the State Government and PDC, MPPP in ensuring that this project meets the State Government’s aspirations of good quality in a clean, green and safe environment Ladies and Gentlement, in terms of plans for affordable housing for the State of Penang, I am pleased to inform that the State Government is embarking on a total of 12 affordable housing schemes (inclusive of SP Chelliah), with the PDC which will comprise 22,545 units of affordable homes in all 5 districts in Penang.
The sites for the 12 affordable housing projects comprise this SP Chelliah project, as well as in Teluk Kumbar, Jelutong, Pintasan Cecil and Sandilands (on the island) and Bandar Cassia, Kampung Jawa, Ampang Jajar, Bukit Mertajam, Juru, Mak Mandin and Ujung Batu on the mainland. As you are aware, works have started for 2 projects ie Bandar Cassia, Batu Kawan and Teluk Kumbar. In this regard, I am pleased to note that the future supply of quality affordable housing projects in the State of Penang by the State Government, PDC as well as the private sector, comprising good facilities and community infrastructure, is very promising. With this optimistic note, I now have the pleasure of officiating the ground breaking ceremony for this affordable housing scheme at SP Chelliah.
