Penang PR1MA project starts after 3-year delay
GEORGE TOWN: After a threeyear delay, Penang’s first 1Malaysia People’s Housing (PR1MA) project will begin construction by the end of this year.
State Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the project was given the green light by the Penang Island City Council before the 14th General Election.
He said the developer had minor issues to be sorted out before construction began.
“For Penang, three applications have been approved — two in Kampung Kastam and another in Batu Ferringhi.
“Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin has agreed to allow us to monitor the project’s progress instead of the federal agency,” he said during a site visit in Kampung Kastam here yesterday.
Two blocks of 38 storeys and 31 storeys each, comprising 1,162 units, will be constructed on a 3.27ha land.
The 38-storey block is the affordable housing category, with a 850-sq-ft unit to be sold at RM300,000.
The 31-storey block is the lowmedium cost housing category, with a 650-sq-ft unit to be sold at RM72,500.
A total of 905 units have been set aside for the affordable housing category, while the remaining 257 units are for the low-medium cost housing category.
There will also be a common hall, prayer hall for Muslims and gymnasium.
The project will be implemented by Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd.
Jagdeep said: “Three years after works begin, more than 1,000 families can own a house, a roof above their heads.”
He said the planned 5.7km paired road from Air Itam to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, under the Penang Transport Master Plan project, would cater to the anticipated increase in traffic once the housing project was completed.
He said PR1MA would be renamed by the Federal Government.
Present were City Council Planning Development acting director Zuraini Mat Rasit and Ideal Property Development executive chairman Datuk Alex Ooi.