PDC gets RM500m for affordable homes in Penang

DULY AWARDED: PDC general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar (left) holding the mock cheque together with Lim

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Development Corporation (PDC) was presented with a whopping RM500 million after it was named the implementation agency of the state’s Affordable Houses Fund.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced that the state executive councillors, at its meeting yesterday, were the ones who arrived at a decision on the matter.

“We hope this will put to rest accusations that the state government does not care for the welfare of Penangites,” he said at the PDC Chinese New Year gathering in Relau, today.

Since taking over the state in 2008, Lim said, the Pakatan Rakyat state government had approved the building of 11.596 houses under the scheme, thus dismissing claims that the state did not build affordable homes for its people.

“These approved housing projects range from low cost (RM42,000) to medium low cost (RM72,500) and are on both the island and mainland,” he added.

The monies for the fund were a result of the privatisation of Bayan Mutiara by way of an open tender.

“Under the previous administration, some RM600 to RM800 million of the people’s money was suggested to be spent on the relocation of its administration from Komtar to Bayan Mutiara.

“We rejected this suggestion and instead opted for a privatisation project – a move that did not require a big expenditure but instead added to the state’s financial resources so we could allocate monies to run a social project such as this,” Lim said in a statement issued later.

In his speech, Lim said he hoped PDC could be an economic catalyst and implementer of social programmes in the country.

“To achieve this, we must be courageous to practise innovative and creative approaches and to think outside of the box. Another important aspect is the private sector’s cooperation to reduce development costs. Taking on the private sector as partner through open tender where you choose the most reasonable, best quality and best track record will be a benefit to us all.

“The profits gained must go towards the social welfare of the people of Penang. It is through this approach that the state gained the funds for the affordable houses project,” Lim said, claiming the sum made Penang the only state with such major allocations for the cause.