The first 520 of the 22,512 affordable housing units planned by the present Penang state government are nearing completion.

State Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the units were being built under the 6.4ha first phase of a Penang Development Corporation (PDC) project in Bandar Cassia.

The development, which will eventually have a total of 11,800 affordable units over 80.9ha, was 70% completed.

He said they were expected to be completed in a few months, adding that buyers could expect to move in by the middle of next year.

The 520 low medium and medium-cost units are being built over three blocks within 2.6ha in the Suria 1 phase while various facilities would be built on the remaining 3.8ha.

“This is the most advanced in terms of progress of affordable housing projects by the PDC in all five districts in the state,” Chow said when contacted yesterday after a signing ceremony held at the PDC Gallery.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was present at the ceremony to witness the signing of the Sales and Purchase Agreement by 14 Suria 1 buyers.

Lim said Suria 1 comprised 149 low medium-cost units of 800sq ft each priced at RM72,500, 98 Type-B medium cost 900 sq ft units (RM168,000) and 273 Type-A medium cost 1,000 sq ft units (RM220,000).

“The gross development value for Suria 1 is RM86.9mil,” he said in his speech at the signing ceremony.

Lim, who is also PDC chairman, said among the facilities to be developed in Suria 1 were a football field, a basketball court, jogging and cycling tracks, a surau and a food court.

He said a total of 22,512 units would be built in 12 projects in all five districts under the state government’s Affordable Housing programme financed by its RM500mil Affordable Housing Fund.

Also present at the signing ceremony were Chow, Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, state exco members Lim Hock Seng and Danny Law, Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto, Jawi assemblyman Soon Lip Chee and PDC general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar.

* Click here for a full list of affordable housing in Penang *

Source: TheStar.com.my