THE fact that ordinary Malays cannot afford the high property prices in Penang is something that is not lost upon the community leaders.
Recently, the Penang Malay Association (PEMENANG) came up with the idea of developing 40 hectares of land for Malay housing. The land is in and around the Georgetown area consisting of land held by Malay associations and endowments (wakaf).
PEMENANG’s president Tan Sri Yusof Latiff suggested that land in Datuk Keramat, Jalan Perak and Jalan Pattani could be developed into housing to accommodate about 10,000 Malay families.
If the idea takes shape, the chances are that the Urban Development Authority (UDA) would develop these lands into housing.
Since land is a state matter, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow while welcoming the idea wants a detailed plan as to how PEMENANG or UDA plan to develop these land assets for the Malays to settle down eventually.
Over the years, escalating property prices of both land and properties have made it impossible for ordinary Malays, Chinese and Indians to own properties on the island side of Penang.
Even the low-cost houses or apartments are beyond the reach of the poor on the Penang Island. Given the stiff conditions imposed by banks, getting loans to purchase low-cost houses or apartments are beyond the reach of many ordinary Penangites.
Affordability is the bottom line
Although there are no systematic studies of migration patterns, it is believed that those on the island have bought properties on the mainland and to some extent in Kedah. There is possibility Malays could have migrated to the mainland as result of soaring property prices.
There is fear among the Malays that if nothing is done, their population might shrink on the island.
When Yusof brought out the idea of developing Malay land into housing, he had in his mind to increase the Malay population on the island.
If 10,000 Malays are eventually settled on the island, there could be a significant political impact.
However, whether the settled Malays will be loyal to the Pakatan Harapan (PH) ruling coalition remains to be seen. I think Yusof might have overlooked the political ramifications of the eventual population shift.
Developing Malay held land to house Malays on the Penang Island is one thing but what type of development will it entail is another. Is it going to be something affordable or merely catering for the upper and middle-classes?
It really boils down to affordability. If the prices are steep, there is no way Malays are going to migrate from the mainland as well as other states to purchase properties on the island part of Penang.
The idea of settling Malays on the island might be a good proposition but the devil is in the details. Given the market price of the available land and amount of investment that might be poured in, the implementation of housing for Malays might have to be practical.
How about other poor Penangites?
Affordable housing might be the way out but then such a housing is not cheap on the island. As it is, ordinary Malays cannot even afford low-cost housing on the island.
The real question is how PEMENANG or UDA is going to attract Malays from other parts of the state to partake in the proposed housing project.
The idea might be an attractive one but the actual implementation might be problematic. The other question is how the proposed housing project is going to meet the guidelines set by the state’s housing department.
Is the state going to allow housing projects of all sorts without adherence to its guidelines? Is this project proposed by PEMENANG going to be something so special that it might be exempted from the federal and state housing guidelines?
The idea of social engineering in terms of increasing the Malay population on the island part of Penang through the housing mechanism is something significant.
The Indian community, too, has lost out in housing just like the Malays due to escalating land and property prices over the years. The same applies to poverty-stricken Chinese Penangites. Just like the Malays, a portion of the Chinese and Indian population on the island might have migrated to the mainland or other states like Kedah.
Can the Indian community leaders in Penang think of a special housing scheme for the working-class Indians?
Can lands owned by individuals, organisations and the Penang Hindu Endowments Board be used for housing project for Indians? – July 29, 2024
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: Persatuan Melayu Pulau Pinang/Facebook
