State nearing goal for affordable housing

PENANG has spent RM350mil since 2008 to maintain 36,000 projects involving public and private housing schemes.

Incumbent Datok Keramat assemblyman Jagdeep Singh Deo, 52, said the maintenance budget was one of the state government’s many achievements.

Others include the implementation of flood mitigation projects and the delivery of affordable housing, which boasts the highest rate in the country.

“So far, we have delivered 153,000 affordable housing units in the state, which is 70% of the targeted 220,000 units by 2030,” said the caretaker state housing, local government, town and country planning committee chairman.

Jagdeep, who is also Penang DAP vice-chairman, is defending the Datok Keramat seat against Perikatan Nasional’s Heng See Lin, 42, a first-time contender.

Wong is contesting the Paya Terubong seat against Ooi.

Jagdeep said he had been working hard since the day the people entrusted Pakatan Rakyat (now Pakatan Harapan) with the mandate to govern in 2008.

“(If we return) we will continue improving the affordable housing situation through the Penang Housing Board,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Paya Terubong state seat will see first-timer Perikatan candidate Andrew Ooi, 39, contesting against Pakatan Harapan’s Wong Hon Wai, 50, a two-term Air Itam assemblyman and one-term Bukit Bendera MP.

Ooi said if elected, he would seek help from the local authorities to crack down on the unlicensed businesses operated by foreigners in the Paya Terubong constituency.

Ong: Most of the critical issues in Batu Lancang have been resolved.

“Local traders are affected by their presence,” he noted.

Ooi also pledged to source funding from the local and Federal governments to upgrade the low-cost housing units in the area.

“I will also improve the street lighting, instal closed-circuit television cameras in strategic locations, and repair potholes on the roads,” he added.

In Batu Lancang, Pakatan’s incumbent Ong Ah Teong, 53, will defend his seat against Perikatan’s Mohd Aswaad Jaafar, 40.

Ong said most of the critical issues in Batu Lancang had been resolved.

“Power disruption used to occur (frequently) in the constituency.

“A feeder power supply pillar has been erected in Batu Lancang, making the issue a thing of the past,” said Ong, who is seeking the people’s mandate to continue for a second term.

He said two Olympic-sized retention ponds were being constructed to counter flooding in the area.

“The flood mitigation measure should be completed next year.”

He added that there would also be a public field equipped with a basketball court.

Ong said a large two-storey carpark had recently been opened at the Batu Lancang wet market.

“During my term, we also created five pocket parks to provide green spaces in the constituency.”

In addition, he said his service centre provided care to 300 needy senior citizens by giving monthly vouchers to buy food at the Batu Lancang, Perak Road and Jelutong wet markets.