State Housing, Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, said that as of 30 September, there were 3,866 applicants in the Southwest District waiting for the allocation of low-cost housing, but there were only 1,175 low-cost housing units (RM42,000) available waiting to be allocated.

He said that the above project is the Idaman Prestij low-cost flat (also known as K Park) in Balik Pulau, which will be completed in December this year and handed over to the Penang state government, of which 612 units will be offered under a rent-to-own scheme.

“The first round of the selection has already been done on October 5.” He said during the recent State Assembly.

Jagdeep said that with the latest changes in the affordable housing policy, the state government has also opened the above project for the applicants from the Northeast District.

He explained that in the past, the low-cost and low-medium-cost housing allocation was based on district, but now the allocation is by City Council, namely Penang Island City Council and Seberang Perai City Council.

“As for the Penang Island City Council, it covers the Wortheast and Southwest District of Penang Island whereas Seberang Perai City Council will overs Northern, Central and Southern District of Seberang Perai.”