The prime minister also promised more goodies for the island state — a major manufacturing and tourist hub that his BN coalition lost in Election 2008 to Pakatan Rakyat (PR)
“Not
less than 20,000 units of affordable housing will be built in Penang,”
Najib (picture) said in his opening address at the Promises Fulfilled
Tour at Universiti Sains Malaysia here this morning.He said the housing promise was unconditional, and proved BN was a government that cared for Penang.
Half the 20,000 promised affordable homes will be built under the Perumahan Rakyat 1Malaysia (PR1MA) scheme, which is now open for registration.
“It is now open for registration online and these housing units will be priced below the market price so if the market price is RM500,000, it will be sold at RM300,000,” he said.
The remaining 10,000 units will be built by several federal government agencies, notably Penang Bumiputera property developer, JKP Sdn Bhd; the Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda); and state-owned infrastructure company Syarikat Prasarana Nasional Bhd (SPNB).
Real estate prices in the land-strapped island state is among the highest nationwide, and its narrow roads are increasingly choked with cars due to a rise in population and disposable income.
“We know that traffic congestion is a major issue for Penang so if Penangites give to BN their trust again, we will resolve the traffic congestion problem by introducing a monorail system here,” he said.
Najib said Penang needs a monorail system to arrest the existing congestion problem.
He also promised more goodies for Penang but would only announce them at his next visit.
“I need to keep some of this good news for my next visit as I am sure to come here again,” the BN chairman said.
He expressed his confidence in BN to recapture the state especially under the leadership of Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow.
“Teng has successfully regained the confidence and spirit amongst BN members and returned the confidence of Penangites in BN,” Najib said.
“We are confident that Penang will return to BN,” he added.
The BN chairman vowed his coalition would not renege on the people’s trust and would deliver all it has promised, adding that its brand was built on those values.
“The branding for the BN government is that when we make our promises, we fulfil them.
“I promise that all BN promises will be fulfilled,” he said.
Teng, the Penang BN chairman had in his speech earlier, said a study by the Penang Institute found property prices in the state had increased by 50 per cent in the past five years.
“This showed PR state government has not come up with a policy on affordable housing,” he said.
Najib took the chance to burnish his coalition’s badge further while criticising the ruling state PR government, alluding to the 2009 housing storm over Kampung Buah Pala in Penang.
Without naming the person, Najib told the crowd that despite the PR leader’s promise to resolve the issue, 26 families from the Indian village were not compensated and left homeless until the BN stepped in to provide them with housing.
He told Penangites that one vote for BN is equal to a vote towards development for the state.
“BN will not allow anyone to be sidelined in Penang and we will also fight for the rights of the Chinese and Indians,” he said.
He also pointed out that the Auditor General’s Report for Penang in 2010 said Penang state government did not plan for affordable housing in the state at all.
Najib’s visit to Penang today is seen as part of his charm offensive to regain the state it lost in the last general elections.
The Malaysian Insider understands that the state BN is sure of winning at least 17 state seats and has an even chance of capturing five more, giving the coalition 22 seats in the 40-seat state assembly.
The source said most of the wins will be among the Malay-majority seats in the mainland and backwaters of the state — an international manufacturing hub nestled among palm trees, tourist beaches and heritage buildings.
BN now only has 11 state seats through Umno as Gerakan, the MCA and MIC lost all their seats in Election 2008 which saw the DAP with allies PKR and PAS winning 29 seats.
(Source: The Malaysian Insider - December 8, 2012)
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