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Daily Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Rights lawyer slams Penang's ‘racist' housing discount
Published on: Friday, June 06, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 06, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan urged the DAP-led Penang government to immediately withdraw the initiative and warned against policies that could deepen racial and religious divisions. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: A human rights lawyer has criticised the Penang government's decision to offer a 5% discount on homes exclusively to Indian Muslims under the Madani Home Ownership Campaign (MOC), calling it discriminatory and unconstitutional. Rajesh Nagarajan said the policy unfairly favoured a specific race and religion which undermined the principles of equality enshrined in the Federal Constitution. Advertisement 'This initiative is deeply divisive and unacceptable. 'Why is the Penang state government rewarding Indians who are of the Islamic faith and punishing those who are of the Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Baha'i or Sikh faith? If this is not discrimination, I don't know what is,' he said in a statement. He cited Articles 8(1) and 8(2) of the Federal Constitution, which guarantee that all persons are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection, regardless of religion, race, or descent. Rajesh also took aim at state housing and environment committee chairman S Sundarajoo, accusing him of practising 'state-sanctioned racial discrimination' and setting a dangerous precedent. 'Public funds and state-backed initiatives must benefit all Malaysians equally, and must not be used for preferential treatment for selected groups. It is clearly a racist policy,' he said. He urged the DAP-led Penang government to immediately withdraw the initiative and warned against policies that could deepen racial and religious divisions. 'This is not an apartheid country where certain races are more equal than others,' he added. Yesterday, Bernama reported that the Penang government would offer a discount to Indian Muslims who purchased residential and commercial units under the MOC, from June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026. Sundarajoo said the initiative, approved at a state planning committee meeting on Wednesday, was aimed at boosting home ownership, supporting the approval of strategic new projects, and creating a more inclusive and competitive property sector.
The Star
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
CM outlines nine strategies to increase Penang revenue
Penang government has outlined nine strategies to increase state revenue. These include selling more state land, collecting an estimated RM6mil in quit rent arrears, reviewing land title conversion processes, as well as reviewing liquor licence fees, entertainment duties and hotel room fees. 'The state government is also aiming to reduce expenditure, but costs continue to rise each year due to salary realignments, which increase emoluments,' Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said in reply to a question from Goh Choon Aik (PH-Bukit Tambun) during the state assembly sitting at Penang Legislative Assembly building in George Town. Other revenue efforts include higher animal treatment fees and revised ornamental plant rental rates at Penang Botanic Gardens. Chow also touched on the RM100mil advance from the Federal Government which was intended as contingency funds to cover a potential deficit. 'Penang government's projected deficit of over RM500mil for 2024 did not happen due to increased revenue; it was reduced to around RM100mil. 'The advance payment remains available but it must be repaid to the Federal Government,' he said. In a statement, Penang MCA chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng termed the nine proposed strategies as a move that would eventually burden the public. 'The government's recent announcement to raise taxes, fees and charges – including liquor licence fees, quit rent enforcement and even veterinary service charges – raises concerns over fiscal management under the DAP-led administration. 'These measures will directly impact the daily lives of Penangites, the business community and even tourists,' he said. Tan said the admission that Penang had to seek over RM100mil in advance from Putrajaya underscored the severity of the state's financial position. — By IMRAN HILMY
Free Malaysia Today
27-04-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Proposed landfill reclamation creates perception of ‘selling out' to China, says NGO
ProtectKarpal chairman AD Chandrasekaran said the four-year recycling, reclamation and 20-year development plan would choke local traffic, displace small businesses along Karpal Singh Drive and erode the area's appeal. (File pic) GEORGE TOWN : An NGO has urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to reject outright the proposed 70-acre reclamation project at the Jelutong landfill, arguing among others that it creates the perception of 'selling out' to China. In a meeting with residents of the Karpal Singh Drive area today, Protect Karpal Singh Drive action committee (ProtectKarpal) chairman AD Chandrasekaran called for the matter to be discussed in the state assembly. 'The DAP-led Penang government and its role in the (ruling) federal coalition risk severe backlash as this arrangement feeds directly into long-standing public concerns about foreign influence. 'If the project is approved, it would confirm critics' accusations against DAP's ethnic Chinese leadership of prioritising China's interests over Malaysian sovereignty, public health and environmental protection. 'Transferring this strategic location to a company directly controlled by the Chinese government raises serious national security implications that cannot be overlooked. 'The state and federal governments must demonstrate their commitment to protecting Malaysian interests,' the NGO also said in a statement. At the centre of the controversy is a land-for-works arrangement involving China Railway Engineering Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd (CRECM), a unit of the China Railway Group. PLB Engineering Bhd's joint development agreement with the Penang government and Penang Development Corporation grants PLB 75% of the 90-acre dumpsite and 70% of any additional reclaimed land in exchange for landfill rehabilitation. A memorandum of understanding between PLB and CRECM also allows the China entity to fund and execute RM1.01 billion of rehabilitation work in return for 90% of PLB's entitled land. Chandrasekaran said under the project, continuous construction and recycling machinery noise is projected to exceed the threshold of 65dB(A) during the day and 60dB(A) at night, thus disrupting sleep, impairing cognition and lowering the quality of life for thousands of residents in the area. He added that the four-year recycling, reclamation and subsequent 20-year development plan would choke local traffic, displace small businesses along Karpal Singh Drive and erode the area's appeal as a recreational and dining precinct. Jelutong MP RSN Rayer, who was present at the meeting, said he would bring the matter up with Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow and Sungai Pinang assemblyman Lim Siew Khim.
