GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government should review its procedure and system to select buyers for state housing in the wake of claims that those ineligible were staying at low medium-cost (LMC) apartment units.

In making the call yesterday, Penang Umno chief Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman said the party viewed seriously recent allegations that those ineligible could be staying at LMC units at an apartment block in Bukit Gambier.,
He said the state government and state Housing exco member Jagdeep Singh Deo should also quickly conduct an investigation into allegations that such LMC units were being rented out and take stringent action against the owners.

Last Thursday, Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-president Datuk Huan Cheng Guan had said that he believed several LMC units at the Bukit Gambier apartment block were being occupied by unqualified people as expensive cars and motorcycles were parked there.

He said the vehicles were more expensive than the RM72,500 LMC units which were meant for those with a household income of not more than RM3,500.

Huan also said he was surprised that many LMC units there were advertised in online portals for rent which was disallowed.

Zainal yesterday also said that Penang Umno had directed its assemblymen to query about the Penang Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) report on the proposed undersea tunnel, its three associated road projects, and the Penang Transport Master Plan at the state assembly sitting next month.

“The PAC failed to table the report twice during state assembly sittings in November 2015 and May 2016,” he said in a press statement.

He said Penangites had the right to get accurate information over payments that need to be made by the state government for the projects, including the payment of RM305mil via the award of state land for the feasibility study and detailed design report for the tunnel and three road projects.