GEORGE TOWN: A PKR assemblyman, alleging fraud in the allotment of low-medium cost units, wants assemblymen from Pakatan Rakyat to be involved in the selection process.

Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong Khan Lee said this was because those who were not entitled were given approval by the State Housing Unit.

“The recipients later sell off the units to make profits. This is causing the price of the units to rise,” he said.

Ong, who is Bukit Bendera PKR division head, claimed the present process of selecting recipients by the State Housing Unit had led to corruption and incompetency.

“The prices of properties are shooting to a record high due to land shortage in Penang.

“The assemblymen are in the forefront when dealing with complaints from the public who can no longer afford to buy properties. So they know best who should get the units,’’ he added.

Ong proposed the selection panel include the 39 Pakatan assemblymen and 11 constituency coordinators overseeing the 11 seats held by Umno assemblymen.

He is the third Pakatan representative to voice complaints over the selection of unit recipients, following reservations expressed by Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi and Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff.

Ooi was recently quoted as saying that he had evidence of “black market activities” in the allocation process.

SOURCE: The Star