THE Penang Development Corporation (PDC) Properties has successfully completed the construction of 715 low to low medium-cost housing units in Sungai Dua.

PDC Properties chief executive officer Phan Gaik Cher said the development cost of the project was about RM80mil.

“Construction started in early 2009 with a targeted completion date in July this year.

“We managed to finish the project four months ahead of schedule,” Phan declared, adding that the required Certificate of Fitness (CF) was ob-tained on Jan 30 this year.

PDC Properties is a subsidiary of the state’s development arm Penang Development Corpo-ration.

The project called Halaman Kenanga stands on a 1.74ha plot and has 510 low medium-cost units and 204 low-cost units in two 22-storey blocks.

The 700sq ft low medium-cost units cost RM72,500 while the 680sq ft low-cost units cost RM42,000.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was present yesterday to hand over keys to some of the owners, said that the project was proof that the state put the interests of the people first.

“There has been criticism from certain quarters that the state has not provided a single low-cost unit.

“Since taking over the state government, the Pakatan administration has in fact approved 11,596 low-cost and low medium-cost units,” he said after handing over mock keys to 22 Halaman residents.

Lim hopes that the affordable housing issue would finally be put to rest.

“The state could have used this land for profit, but instead we decided to use it in the commu-nity’s interests,” he added.

The Penang Government came under fire last year after the Auditor-General’s Report 2010 stated that the state had not built a single low-cost house from 2008 to 2010.

Among those who received their keys was self- employed Ahmad Yatim, 70.

“This is the first home I have ever owned,” the grandfather of 10 said, adding that he would move into the three-bedroom flat with three family members.

Source: The Star