A new era of collaboration is emerging between the Penang government and civil society in terms of development and environmental conservation. The state housing and environment committee chairman, Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu, hopes that future developments in Penang will align with sustainable development concepts advocated by local non-governmental organizations (NGOs). He aims to dispel the perception that developers are solely motivated by profit and that NGOs are merely complainers. Sundarajoo wants to engage social and environmental activists as stakeholders and involve them in committees to complement the role of the Penang Green Council in housing and environment portfolios.
Sundarajoo, who has been an eco-friendly developer in the past, emphasized that he would give equal importance to both his portfolios. He provided examples of his eco-friendly projects in Batu Kawan, where the salty peat soil and swampy vegetation were replaced with earth for housing projects. The developments included an abundance of shrubs and large trees for landscaping. He also mentioned the specially designed promenade, park, and other public recreational features in the new coastline near Gurney Drive, which were intended to provide a cleaner and greener environment for people to enjoy.
Sundarajoo highlighted that not all development is bad, and developers worldwide are increasingly aware of the need to create eco-friendly systems. He mentioned that all of Penang’s affordable housing projects meet the requirements of the Green Building Index (GBI) and incorporate design principles that maximize natural lighting and air circulation. The GBI is a Malaysian standard that mirrors international benchmarks and incentivizes environmentally sustainable practices such as rainwater harvesting and solar panel integration.
To address the demand for affordable housing, the Penang government aims to achieve 220,000 units by 2030, and as of now, 152,263 units (69.2%) have been approved or built. Sundarajoo introduced the Rent-To-Own concept, which helps Penang residents afford homes with a cap of 10% of the house value as the down payment. The lease agreement between the state government and the buyer lasts between 15 and 20 years, and at the end of the contract, potential buyers can transfer the property to their names. Additionally, the state offers a special rental scheme with monthly fees ranging from RM70 to RM124 for families.
Sundarajoo emphasized that beyond affordable housing, creating a conducive environment for developers is essential to ensure the smooth progress of property development activities in Penang. He described it as a win-win situation, as developers facilitate growth, and by providing a favorable environment for them, the government can achieve its goals of building sustainable and affordable housing. However, Sundarajoo acknowledged the need to revisit the low-cost housing policy, as Penang has yet to revise the RM42,000 cap despite other states raising it to RM60,000. He expressed concerns about the potential emergence of slum areas if foreign workers occupy these vacant units, leading to social issues. The state is considering increasing the size of low-cost flats from 650sq ft to 700sq ft and enhancing amenities to accommodate multi-generational families. Various options, such as increasing the ceiling price of low-cost units or reducing the requirement for developers to allocate 30% of projects for low-cost housing, are being explored to find a comprehensive solution.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
