Press Statement by YB Jagdeep Singh Deo, Penang State EXCO for Housing and Town & Country Planning on 18 October 2014 (Saturday) in George Town, Penang: Call upon the Federal government to ensure the highest standards are met and that there is no compromise on quality in maintenance works carried out for low and low medium cost housing projects by it under the Tabung Penyelenggaraan 1 Malaysia (TP1M) fund. In addition to the priority given by the Penang State Government to the provision of affordable housing, the proper maintenance of housing projects, in particular low cost and low medium cost projects has also been given priority. In this regard, the Penang State Government has several funds set up to financially assist the residents of these low and low medium cost housing projects. Penang state government 80% / 20% maintenance fund The Penang State Government has a maintenance fund whereby the state bears 80% whilst the residents have to come up with the balance 20% of the cost of the maintenance works, which includes critical maintenance works such as lift repairs or replacement, repainting and water tank repairs or replacement. Since 2008 todate, the Penang State Government has assisted 16 low and low medium cost housing projects with various maintenance projects totalling a sum of RM2,639,587.63 (80% contribution by Penang State Government: RM2,111,670.10), the details of which are as follows:- 80% / 20% maintenance fund by PDC In this regard, PDC also has a similar 80% / 20% maintenance fund for critical maintenance works including lift repairs or replacement, repainting, water tank repairs or replacement and waterproofing, for PDC low and low medium cost stratified projects. Todate, PDC has undertaken such maintenance works in 8 of its housing projects totalling a sum of RM1,732,377.40 (80% contribution by PDC: RM1,385,901.92), the details of which are as follows:- Housing Assistance Programme of Penang, Yes! (HAPPY!) The HAPPY! fund set up by the Penang State Government is to assist the residents of low and low medium cost housing projects that have applied for funds for their maintenance works under the Federal Tabung Penyelenggaraan 1 Malaysia (TP1M). Under TP1M, the Federal Government will pay 90% and 70% of the cost of maintenance projects for low and low medium cost housing projects respectively. The residents are to foot the balance 10% and 30% respectively. However, the Penang State Government is aware of the difficulties faced by the residents of such low and low medium cost housing and being a people-centric government, we are the only state in the country that has set up this HAPPY! fund which will pay the said balance of 10% and 30% respectively on behalf of the residents of these low and low medium cost housing projects to alleviate the burden on them. Since its inception todate, a total of 119 applications have been submitted by low and low medium cost housing projects both on the island and the mainland to the Federal Government for funds under TP1M for maintenance works. However, it is most disappointing that todate only 16 projects have been approved, namely as follows:- I repeat my call to the Federal Government to expedite and forthwith approve all applications under TP1M from Penang bearing in mind the critical nature of works to be done, and also the fact that Penangites prove to be one of the highest taxpayers in the country. Further, the Federal Government which undertakes the maintenance works under TP1M including appointment of contractors for the said works, must ensure that the highest standards are met and there must be no compromise on the quality of the works, as indeed is the case for works carried out using the Penang state government and PDC 80%/20% fund as stipulated above. In this regard, it should be noted that I have received complaints as regards the works done in one of the projects where maintenance works under TP1M has been undertaken, namely Pangsapuri Indah, Taman Teluk Air Tawar Fasa 1C. The maintenance works include painting, lift repair, roof repair, wiring, general maintenance and costs a total sum of RM1,080,000.00 of which 30% namely RM324,000.00 has been paid by the Penang State Government under the said HAPPY! fund. Pursuant to the said complaint, I have written a letter dated 24 September 2014 to the ICU, JPM requesting that this matter be addressed. However, todate I have yet to receive a response and as such I have sent a reminder to them yesterday. It is hoped that the Federal Government will ensure the works done are of good quality and complies with all the specification set. As the Penang State Government has contributed towards the cost under its HAPPY! fund, surely we have a right to demand, on behalf of the residents, that this is done.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 05:09:10 +0000
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