Penang CM defends move by housing board, says enforcement is last resort

PENANG Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has defended the move by the state housing board to seal off five units of the Taman Manggis transit community housing scheme on Thursday.

The move left two families homeless for the night, as they struggled to find alternative accommodation following the action while the remainder three households managed to find shelter with relatives and friends.

Chow said that the move was necessary as the enforcement was only executed after the occupants lost their status to qualify for the transit housing scheme.

"They had failed to cooperate with the relocation process. We tried to persuade them with ample notices and warnings but they ignored."

Chow stressed that the community housing was intended as transit accommodation for eligible applicants, with occupants generally given five years to improve their circumstances and move on to other housing when they save enough to invest in a home.

Penang has many low cost housing categories with the range of between RM42,0000 and RM300,000 although critics argued that the actual pricing is up to RM500,000 due to the hidden costs involved.

This community housing project started in 2007.

Until today, some families have been staying there for 19 years, beyond the intended period,” he said.

He explained that the limited number of people community (PPR) units meant the state also had a responsibility towards applicants who had been waiting for years to secure a home.

 “We have applicants who have been waiting for eight or 10 years asking,

‘Where are our houses?’ So, there is a need to ensure that those who have waited many years also get the opportunity to be offered units that become vacant,” Chow said.

According to him, some residents who had lost their eligibility had cooperated with the authorities, while others had appealed for extensions, which would be considered by the relevant committee.

 However, those who refused to cooperate could eventually face enforcement action.

“When there is no cooperation, enforcement action has to follow. That is the normal process,” he said.

Chow stressed that the objective was not to penalise residents, but to ensure fairness to all parties given the shortage of PPR units.

 “If people are fighting for the interests of those who have lost their eligibility, we also have to ask who is fighting for the people who have been waiting. We have to be fair to all parties,” he said.

Chow also clarified that PPR is a Federal housing programme and said Penang currently has four PPR schemes, namely PPR Taman Manggis in George Town, PPR Taman Bagan Jaya and PPR Mak Mandin in Butterworth, and PPR Permatang Tok Suboh in Bukit Mertajam.

The limited supply of units, he said, continues to make demand significantly higher than availability.

The five families involved were among more than 20 occupants facing eligibility or relocation issues, with some cooperating and others appealing for extensions.

There are also several families with mounting arrears.

Chow said further details on whether the five families had submitted appeals should be obtained from the Penang Housing Board.

 “Enforcement is not something we immediately resort to. There have been many opportunities and a process to follow. But if units are not vacated, how can new applicants be given the opportunity to move in?” Chow said. - September 5, 2026.