New affordable housing category for talented and skilled applicants
The Penang government has introduced a new category of housing applicants for affordable housing scheme – the talented and skilled.
According to the State housing exco Jagdeep Singh Deo, the new category is for knowledge workers who were employed and voting in Penang, but not necessary to have 5 years of working experience in Penang.
Currently, in order to be eligible for affordable housing, an applicant has to be a Penangite, employed in Penang and be a registered voter in Penang. For those who are not Penangites, they have to show proof that they have been residing and working in Penang for the last five years and also be a registered voter in Penang.
The proposal by Invest Penang is to cater for those ‘talents and skill’ defined as knowledge workers with either a diploma with a minimum 2 years work experience or a minimum bachelor degree recognized by the government. They have also proposed that for ‘talents and skill’ from other states, the 5 year minimum work experience in Penang be waived, and further, that priority is given to such applicants to affordable housing units located close to their place of employment.
The proposal is in line with the Penang State Government’s aspirations to be an international and intelligent city. The state welcome such individuals with such talents and skill to Penang as they will certainly contribute towards making this aspiration a reality. Hence, SPEC has agreed to adopt this proposal, subject to all other eligibility criterion being met. However, in order to avoid this new category being subject to abuse, the applicant will also have to undertake to be in Penang for a minimum of 5 years from the date of handover of keys of the said affordable housing unit.
Further, SPEC has decided not to reserve a certain percentage of projects available to this category, but will consider applications on a case to case basis, as they will also have to cater to the already existing applicants on the waiting list. Those who wish to apply for such affordable housing units under this category may do so by going through Invest Penang (PSDC Building 1, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Bayan Lepas, 11900 Penang), who will then forward the same to SPEC for consideration.
Any more monthly household income criteria?
@Dino
Wait lah, if the demand is no good then it will do away the degree and diploma.
By the way what is so special in degree recognized by the government ? All
useless Universities in Malaysia.
what kind of discrimination is this? the smart get houses and the not-so-smart/no cert cannot buy house?
@Penang 2
It’s not discrimination. None knowledge worker and seasoned knowledge worker were already covered in previous criteria.
That, in comparison, is a discrimination against young and talented people who just moved to Penang due to the boom in the last few years. They found job, they found life, but then they also found out that buying a house is way out of reach, they might just move away to KL maybe.
Who is the loser? Penang state is. Young talented people come to your door and you scare them away. I could go on whole day but long story short I agree with this new housing category.
why could it be seperated into two categories and what about those has been residing in Penang for so many years, and most of them has no “Cert” like what abovementioned?
Yes, they found job and they found life to those New People who came into Penang, and what about those that has already in Penang? Have you forgotten these people?
And now they’re measuring with such standards, does all MP or DUN has the certs too?
@Penang 2
ok what. this is not discrimination because penang govt. already have scheme for those salary below RM3000. why not give them (skilled and talented) chance to own their house in penang. you are the one who discriminate.
Priority should be given to those who are born in Penang (aka anak Pulau Pinang), work/reside here (or live in Penang since birth) and 1st time house buyers. Not saying that young talents from other states don’t deserve this, but allocation should go to us first. Period.
Owning a house has always been out of reach since many years ago so this does not apply only in Penang. If one ventures to other state to work do not expect that state govt to favor/help you to buy a house. If not anyone with minimum requirements will start flocking in Penang and take up many of the homes which we Penangites deserve.
For a person earning below RM3k (less than RM6k), we can barely afford a RM200k house to be honest. I personally know of a friend who earns <RM4k after having been in the workforce for about 6 years (working in a MNC btw). Skilled and talented workers earn more than what he (or we) earn now I am very sure. Having said that, yes everyone deserves a chance to own a home regardless or whether he/she has a Diploma or a Degree or is a PhD scholar, but this as long as deserving Penangites get hold of these homes first.
ps: No discrimination here. Just the 2 cents from someone born in Penang, registered voter in Penang and a middle-income earner still looking for his first home.
There are still literally THOUSANDS of Penangites out there without homes & the state govt is trying to allocate these precious units to non-penangites already?! Seriously?!
Nowadays the affordable houses in Penang no longer been afforded by those Penangities with medium and low income. They even have to queue long list to apply an affordable house due to huge demand in Penang market. I believe following by the new scheme, apply an affordable house will be getting more difficult and more demand coming from those outsiders who work in Penang for 2 years.
I only can say that is a great news for those who plan come over to work in Penang and good luck to those penangities.
Buy what you can afford and prioritise what you buy. If your income is RM4K or even RM3K, you are eligible for the lowest Affordable Homes category ie. RM200,000 requisite of household income of RM6K or less, you still can get a loan. At 90% loan ie. RM180K @ 4.5% (average) for 30 years will still have to make a payment of about RM1.1K principal repayment monthly. As long as you are not encumbered with other commitment ie. car loan, instalment payments etc., it is possible that the banks will give you loan if your repayment equals or less than 30% of your salary.
However, with the remainder sum of RM2k per month, living in Penang is quite tight but not impossible. Reducing meals outside, entertainments, expensive coffee and outings can significantly save you money.
If not, and if you really prioritise owning a home, apply for a Low Medium Cost/Medium Cost instead of an Affordable Home. Don’t let your ego cloud you. I see many Penangnites apply for Affordable Homes cause kiasu don’t want to say to friends or families that staying in LMC.
@Ken: Sad, but true.
This is the right move by the state. An incentive to attract smart and talented people. Singapore did the same back in the 1990’s by giving ASEAN scholarships and a guaranteed job for smart people and many Malaysians left for Singapore.
This will be so much better than Talent Corp.
Been applying for such a long time. Also no news. But the late applicants get the house 1 st?? Is it now the system last come 1st serve???
A lot of penangities who are the first time buyers are still waiting for the allocation of one low medium costs and affordable houses…
I also curious why government widen the gate of application to attract more new buyers. Current market supply of affordable house projects already not able to fix the high demands from existing qualified applicants. If really what mentioned by state gov, penangites still deserve the priority then why they still keep on pull in more buyers?
Is it current applicants already not afford to bare the housing loan due to the affordable housing price abit high in Penang?
Affordable house projects facing the sales problem due to high reject rate of bank loan although market demand never decrease.
State gov only reduce the qualification of application in order to attract more talent people with stable financal income.
This is just my personal opinion.
If a person cannot get bank loan, that means he/she cannot afford it. Don’t buy anything you cannot afford. Go back and work harder to earn more money so that next time you can afford it. Very simple.
@Ken
The proposal is in line with Penang state’s government aspiration to become an international and intelligent city.
Nothing to do with what you just mentioned.
Lee from Sg said before, Singapore import talent, bright brain. But Malaysia import pure muscle power, and drain all the bright brain out of its own country.
Although Penang is not Singapore, but I am seeing it is on the correct path.
Complaint lor if really have proof.
For people who said that they don’t have knowledge and cannot buy the house. You are wrong because you’ve been covered by previous housing scheme for RM3000 and below.
This is a good opportunity for those with certs and etc. For those who said all universities are useless in Msia. Nothing you can do because it is impossible to abolish all universities in this country. Even foreign degrees are useless after all.
Don’t be so naive. Education is not everything but it is something. U can be rich by doing your own business but doesn’t mean u can look down on those middle low income people with certs. You choose ur own path and so do other certs’ holders.
complaint, complaint, complaint…I as outsider who moved to Penang few years ago, would like to conclude: Penangite in the complaint king in Malaysia.
I just wanted to put something new on the table, food for thought:
Think of it this way. Penang no doubt is attracting both big international employers as well as brains. As more people come, demand for housing also increase.
Big greedy developers see opportunity. They swoop down, create nice expensive condos, trying to squeeze every ringgit the engineers earn, and laughing all the way to the bank. Poor engineers just work day and night, and spend all money paying mortgage.
If we let this be, developer will keep building expensive condo, engineers pay mortgage until puke, low/medium income worker forever waiting for a home, cost of living goes up, everyone suffers except a few fat cat developers, speculators/flippers/investors.
On the other hand, if these big brained engineers come to Penang, found work found life, and found affordable housing that they do not need to sell a kidney and first born child to afford, they might shop more, eat more, buy more. Who wins? Obviously the engineers. But who else you ask? The shop assistant, the small business owner, the hawkers, the waiter/waitress, even other blue collar workers that is getting paid by white collar workers.
More money will flow everywhere instead of going to the bank for mortgage. Everyone wins a little bit. Big company see a lot of talents here, they will want to setup business, then more brains will come and everyone wins even more.
The only one loosing here would be developers, people who bought properties a few years ago wanting to flip, and people owning many houses and just collect rents. Too bad.
Call me stupid but I’m a honest hardworking person who believes in Socialist ideals. While I acknowledge their capabilities of earning big money by investing/speculating, I generally do not have much respect for them. Some people will agree with me, but I’m sure a lot will not, considering the audience here.
@Chris
What might “seem” to be happening now is not uncommon – the “locals” complaining about having to share resources (housing, roads, land space etc) with foreign talents. Same thing happens in Spore, especially in the last few years, whereby lots and lots of foreigners went there to seek jobs, buy homes, take MRT etc.
BUT, personally what I think is happening now is….eh…..we are actually not there yet. To say that Penang is attracting big talent hungry international employers is definitely an over statement. We are still way way way behind Spore and Hong Kong. And we will never catch up to their level because we are not a gateway to Greater China or Asean. We are just a short yellow-skinned asian hallucinating that he is on his way to becoming an NBA star.
Never! We’re physically not born for that. We don’t have that DNA. So don’t waste time.
I fast forward a little bit, when you said “The only one loosing here would be developers……”, you’re dead wrong. High density developments will make land and property owners even richer. To keep things short, I won’t go into details. Think about Hong Kong & Spore, and the many angry citizens there, you will realize that WE ARE NOT ON THE RIGHT TRACK!!
Penang lang very kiam, need high income outsiders come to spend… everybody wins…
@Useless
NOOB, don’t jealous people who can graduate from local U.
@Sri:
Not everyone is born with a silver spoon in the mouth, and also one thing: Penang lang is generally not kiam (as compared to, say, Singaporeans). For me, I have always been prudent when it comes to spending my hard-earned money. Prices of typical apartments (built up of about 1200 sq ft) in Penang island easily hit ~RM600/sq ft (in fact in some areas the figure can reach RM800-900) and that is way out of our affordability!
We only have one shot at getting our first home, and that is through the Affordable Home projects. With this move, it’s only going to get tougher for Penangites who are middle income earners working in the island, to get their first home.
@cap-xxx,
We need to believe we can do it and this is the first step. In fact most of the successful one always start off with small success first. Why said we do not have the NDA now? Penang people can make thing happen one…
1. Penang need more population to create the market. Our market is too small now(1.6M vs 7M in KL). Bigger market mean more opportunities.
2. Penang need more talents to develop the competitive advantages. Good if local gov can create more educational or skill enhancement program for the people who live in Penang(even can consider to give it For free. And not limit to Penang people). E.g. A degree program for those who are interested for own improvement. They can setup a few centers in the state for evening classes etc. even can do it in parallel with online facilities. I believe it does not required a lot of funding if the objective is for people development and future investment.
3. With that said, more effective people will get higher income in return.
@Noob
What a Joke ? All are useless universities in Malaysia.
@Useless
Universities could be useless, but the people who worked hard to gain admission into the unis have these characters – hardworking, above average intelligence, perseverance, motivated, civilized and law abiding. And more often than not, their spouse will be a graduate from one of these useless unis too. And most of all, these people always pay their maintenance fees promptly, and that makes them very good strata living neighbours.
Apa lagi Penangites mau?
wow more and more scheme coming up. good or bad?
fully support, better to attract talent than to attact bangla!!
@Solar
How to have a good character when the students cannot be caned for wrong doing ?
Everything is now computerized and getting work done easily so where is
hardworking going to be ?
You don’t have the intelligence when you are getting your education in these lousy
schools unless you are born with “intelligent”.
Is just your reasoning is stupid.
Dear Useless,
you r who u r.
@Burong
I said this because of who I am.
@useless,
most of “our people” if can get enter to local u. They
Already have acceptable intelligent.
Can u suggest which uni is the best?
Perhaps everyone should study engineering course in the future. There is nothing to quarrel about since you studied the course that you chose. What else do u want?
Do u think so easy to study engineering course? If so easy, den no body is going to study other degrees that required lesser efforts.
If all courses are the say, companies will not pay different salaries for diploma and degree holders.
@Go4mainland
I am not talking about the “best” university but rather universities in Malaysia which
are useless because of the very low educational standard compare to other.
only pro got chance study in local U, is depend on edu result, only rich ppl can study foreign U even a noob as long as got money, u see all ministry son will send to foreign country buy degree then cum back malaysia replace his ministry place, they dont dare let their child study at local incase fail in edu they cant study at local U but they can buy cert for their child in foreign country.
@Go4mainland
So much negativity and bitterness in the discussion, but I guess everyone is entitled to have their own opinion.
Want more unpopular opinion? Face it, Malaysia (and other developing countries) are “cheap labour” countries. It just happened that at the current moment, Malaysia is stealing engineering/IT/other professional desk jobs from more expensive first world countries, while losing manufacturing jobs to countries like China and Vietnam.
Foreign company pick a place that have quality resources at as low a price they can find, to maximize profit, maybe. If the place have no resources, or the resources is too expensive, it’s no good.
Knowledge is a resource. The state wants foreign investors, to attract them they need to attract talents. This new housing rule is just one of many ways the state can do so. I don’t know how you come to the conclusion everyone should study engineering, as I didn’t myself.
I have friends who left Penang because he couldn’t find suitable jobs here because he’s not in IT/Engineering, but he’s doing well in KL now. In short, people move to where the money/chances are. Instead of letting this opportunity go, Penang should capitalize on it.
Population grows, more development will come, standard of living will go up (for those who adapt), and this Penang/Kulim/SP conurbation could be a better place to live than KL/Klang valley. Of course not everyone will be happy, many who refuse to change will see this as a threat to their way of life, and that’s just how it is.
@Chris
Yes, lots of unhappiness amongst penang people now. They were happy before this, but recent events have created a lot of disappointment. And there are more unhappiness coming up soon. Penang people wanted big change, they thought they were heroes, but they did not fully understand the grave consequences. Anyway, it’s a learning curve that the people have to go through to be more mature. That’s life, that’s democracy.
@HoneyPussy
Yes. Any decision to change is a compromise, you win some you lose some. You want all the nice things of big modern cities, you have to accept all the bad things that came with it. There’s no such thing as “perfect balance” either, because everyone wants something different. Personally I want something like Singapore, but slower pace (more life instead of work work work), but I’m sure many others doesn’t want the same thing.
You want change, you have to embrace the change and adapt to the change yourself. Not just change and still do what you’ve used to for the last 20 years. That doesn’t work.
Also, to not get off topic, back to the article: “will consider applications on a case to case basis”. So actually I don’t see why people is angry. It’s not like the existing x number of unit will be allocated to these foreign talents, and it’s probably going to be a small number anyway.