A REQUEST For Proposal (RFP) for another affordable housing project in George Town has been announced, this time on a 1.7ha plot in Jalan C.Y. Choy.

Penang Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow expected 200 to 300 units of affordable housing and low medium-cost (LMC) units to be built under the state government project.

He said the affordable housing units would be priced according to the state government guidelines of not more than RM300,000, while the LMC units were set at RM72,500 each.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who announced the RFP on Tuesday at a press conference in Komtar attended by Chow, said the project would also have commercial elements with priority given to the green development concept.

He said bidders would have to take into account the amount of compensation that would be given to people who were currently occupying the land.

Chow said there were 23 houses and an office with Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL), 31 squatters, as well as two temples, five shrines, 12 workshops and two warehouses without TOL.

He said the RFP was open to companies with a minimum paid-up capital of RM300,000.

He said details regarding the RFP were currently available on the state government’s website (www.penang.gov.my) until March 15.

Chow said all proposals submitted must have guaranteed financial returns for the state government under the 99-year leasehold term, a suitable compensation for the relocation of existing occupants of the land, revenues from the proposed development and management of the project, involvement of local contractors and suppliers as well as job creation for the people.

He said interested bidders were required to attend a site visit scheduled at 10am on Jan 31.

The project, to be managed by Chief Minister Incorporated which a department under the Chief Minister’s office, was the second RFP for affordable housing announced in two days.

On Monday, the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) called for an RFP for the development of 1,320 units of medium-cost and low medium-cost homes in Jalan S.P. Chelliah.

The project includes 275 medium-cost apartment units with a minimum 1,000sq ft each to be priced at RM400,000, 165 units at minimum 900sq ft each at RM300,000 and 110 units at 800sq ft each at RM200,000.

PDC general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar said there would be 770 LMC units of 700sq ft each set at a ceiling price of RM72,500.

Source: The Star