Sunday, November 11, 2012

CM: Only 42 have applied for funds to upgrade flats


BUKIT MERTAJAM: Only 42 management representatives of low-cost and low medium-cost flats have so far applied for funds from the Housing Assistance Programme of Penang, Yes! (Happy!), Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said.
He said the state government was disappointed with the figure as there were about 600 housing projects in the state that stood to benefit from the programme.
He said the state had, in September, allocated RM50mil under Happy! to supplement the remaining costs to upgrade buildings that were not covered by the Federal Government’s 1Malaysia Maintenance Fund (TP-1M) programme.
“So far, we have received 21 applications from the island and 21 from the mainland for funds under Happy!
“We hope more management corporations (MC), joint management bodies (JMB) and residents association (RA) will submit proposals to apply for funds from both the TP-1M as well as from Happy!” Lim said when opening a briefing on Happy! at the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) headquarters here yesterday.
He said under the RM500mil TP-1M programme, the Federal Government would bear 90% of the repair costs on low-cost flats while the remaining 10% would be borne by the residents, JMB or MC.
The ratio is 70% and 30% respectively for low medium-cost flats.
Since not many JMB, MC and RA could afford to raise the balance 10% and 30% for the low-cost and low medium-cost flats respectively, the state introduced Happy! to pay for the balance amounts, Lim said.
MPSP president Maimunah Mohd Sharif said the basic upgrading works to be carried out under the TP-1M programme were painting, rewiring as well as repairing the water tank and reticulation system, lift, roofing, sanitary pipes, handrails and damage to common property.
“Eligible JMB, MC and RA can seek help from MPSP and Penang Municipal Council to support their TP-1M applications by obtaining a guarantee from the state to settle the balance amounts using funds approved under Happy!” she said.
Of the 21 applications that MPSP received, Maimunah said eight had already been submitted to the Implementation and Co-ordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department.
She said MPSP was in the midst of helping those who submitted the remaining 13 applications that were incomplete. - The Star

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