Penang Gerakan vice-chairman Oh Tong Keong said many applicants for Penang’s affordable housing units had complained to him of late, saying they were rejected because their incomes made them ineligible.
“It appears that if you want to buy affordable Penang housing, you should have a combined income of RM10,000.
“I feel that the state government is sweeping away the lower income and low-middle income group by rejecting their applications.
“At least, during Gerakan’s years we had affordable homes that were actually affordable and easy to own thanks to rent-to-own schemes, and thanks to the vision of our late leader Dr Lim Chong Eu,” Oh told reporters today.
Oh gave an example of a couple in their mid-20s who had complained to him on Facebook last Saturday that they were not eligible for a RM200,000 unit although they had a combined income of RM4,000.
“On top of the RM200,000, it is most likely they would have to pay another RM300,000 on extras, sometimes forced by developers,” Oh said.
Currently, Penang’s affordable housing rates are as follows:
Since 2008, Penang has developed 20,887 affordable housing units, with another 65,796 units expected to be built over the next 10 to 15 years, state executive councillor in charge of housing Jagdeep Singh Deo had said on Feb 6.
He said that when Barisan Nasional ruled the state, only 5,124 units of low and low-medium cost homes were built from 2000 to 2007.