It only took five minutes for 3,000 application forms for affordable housing to be given out at Komtar here.
The applicants came to Level 3 of the complex as early as 6am although the application forms for low medium-cost (LMC) and affordable housing were only made available at 10am yesterday.
“We reached here before dawn. The queue was quite orderly then. But once the counters opened, there was a mad scramble to get the forms and everybody just rushed to the front. Luckily, nobody got hurt,” said James Lee, 25.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the Penang Development Corporation has been ordered to build 19,973 low-cost houses, low-medium cost houses and affordable homes in all five districts in the state.
“The state government currently has a RM500mil fund to kickstart the project. To be fair to all, if there are extra units, we will conduct a ballot.
“An auditing firm will be employed to monitor the balloting to ensure there is no misappropriation,” he said.
On the criticism hurled at the state government on the proposed new housing rules, Lim said that they were ready to face any consequences.
“People who want to shoot or lambast us may do so but we will not back down for trying to help first-time house buyers,” Lim told a press conference after launching the event.
Among the 10 locations for the low-cost and affordable housing projects are Jalan S.P. Chelliah, Teluk Kumbar, Jelutong and Pintasan Cecil on the island and in Batu Kawan, Kampung Jawa, Mak Mandin, Ampang Jajar, Bukit Mertajam and Juru on the mainland.
Under the new rules to regulate affordable homes, owners of affordable homes (below RM400,000 on the island and RM250,000 on the mainland) will be barred from reselling them in the first five years.
Owners of public housing (low-cost units and low medium-cost units) bought for RM72,500 or less cannot sell their units within 10 years.
The deadline to submit the application forms for houses in Jalan S.P. Chelliah is March 31 next year. For those applying for houses at other locations, the deadline is June 30.
Those who are interested can also download the form at http://erumah.penang.gov.my.
All application forms can be submitted at Level 3 in Komtar or at the state assemblymen service centres. - By Royce Tan (The Star)
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