Chow instructs review of housing discount policy, considers expansion to all buyers
GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has instructed state Housing Committee chairman Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo to review the housing discount policy for Indian Muslims, with the aim of expanding it to all buyers.
Chow said Sundarajoo could do so in collaboration with developers to ensure the housing discount policy was more inclusive and benefits all segments of society, in line with principles of social justice.
"The state government has received various feedback regarding the announcement of a five per cent discount initiative for the Indian Muslim community for the purchase of completed unsold housing units (overhang properties), as announced by Sundarajoo on June 5.
"Some of the feedback received and presented stated that such a discount should also be offered to all buyers to revitalise the property sector, particularly the sale of unsold housing units.
"In line with this, I have instructed Sundarajoo to review the existing housing discount policy," he said in a statement.
Chow said, additionally, the state executive council (exco) would deliberate on this matter and make an appropriate decision for the benefit of all parties involved.
Yesterday, Sundarajoo said the offer of a five per cent discount for first-time homebuyers from the Indian Muslim community in Penang does not involve units under the Bumiputera quota and does not affect any existing home ownership policies.
The initiative, he said, was part of efforts to expand home ownership opportunities in the open market, particularly for groups with low participation rates, without affecting the rights of other communities.
This came after human rights lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan criticised the move.
This prompted Penang DAP chairman Steven Sim Chee Keong to discuss the matter with Chow, who then agreed to bring this issue up for review and discussion at the upcoming exco meeting.
Sim said it was important for the Penang government to continue upholding the principle of social justice and to ensure the rights of every Malaysian to own a home were protected.
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