GEORGE TOWN: Penang Gerakan plans to address the issue of affordable housing in Penang since the present prices are beyond the reach of many local residents.

State chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said yesterday most of the property prices in Penang were now beyond the means of many middle-income wage earners.

“If one is to earn RM3,000, it is difficult for them to own a proper home,” he said when announcing the party revamped line-up of its bureaus at the state Gerakan headquarters yesterday.

Former Kebun Bunga assemblyman Quah Kooi Heong has been appointed to head the Housing bureau.

Dr Teng believes that the state government has not built any low-cost housing for the past two years.

“Our request for low-cost housing plans that were approved has not drawn any response from the state,” he said.

He also said Local Government bureau under Teh Leong Meng would also be monitoring the proposed move by the state to introduce local government elections.

Dr Teng also said the new Environment bureau headed by Tan Chai Liang would look into development plans for Penang Hill and the development of hill land and coastal seaside.

He said under the Yayasan Majudiri bureau headed by N. Gobalakrishnan, the party had identified eight Tamil schools in the state to be given assistance so they could run kindergartens.

Former Datuk Keramat assemblyman Ong Thean Lye will head the General Election Task Force, Dr Thor Teong Gee will head the Publicity, Information and Communication bureau while Rowena Yam will take charge of the Political Training bureau.

Others appointed are Mark Ooi (Education), Micheah Heah Theng Hwang (Economy & SME), Baljit Singh (Legal and Human Rights), Tan King Chee (Veterans), Dr Kiew Hen Chong and Teow Jit Meng (Public Complaint), Lau May Ling (Public Accounts) and Yew Khean Siang with Ng Boon Theng (Welfare).

SOURCE: The Star