Residents affected by eviction notices at PPR Taman Manggis have been given sufficient time to secure alternative accommodation after being found to no longer meet the eligibility requirements for public housing.

Penang Housing and Environment Committee chairman Dato’ Seri S. Sundarajoo said eviction notices were initially issued in March, giving affected residents three months to vacate their units. Extensions were subsequently considered for those who requested additional time due to difficulties in finding new homes.

He said the state government had also offered two affected residents alternative units under the Rent-to-Own (RTO) scheme, which they had accepted.

“We have given them time, but the additional period cannot continue for another three or 30 years,” he said at a press conference in Komtar.

Sundarajoo said the Penang Housing Board (LPNPP) had taken a considerate approach by offering suitable RTO units based on family size, including one-, two- and three-bedroom homes.

Under the scheme, residents would have the opportunity to purchase their homes after renting them for two to three years.

He stressed that public housing units provided by the state government must be allocated to those who genuinely qualify and need them, particularly as many families are still without permanent accommodation.

According to Sundarajoo, some families have even had to rely on temporary transit centres while waiting for more suitable housing.

He also rejected claims that the state government was being harsh or insensitive towards residents ordered to vacate their units, saying the action followed eligibility checks and was necessary to ensure public housing remained available to the intended target group.

Meanwhile, Sundarajoo said some units at Taman Manggis had undergone extensive renovations, with certain homes fitted with air-conditioning, ceilings and other improvements that made them resemble condominium units.

He said such cases could indicate that some residents were taking advantage of housing intended for lower-income households.

LPNPP is currently conducting a screening and verification exercise involving residents suspected of no longer meeting the eligibility criteria. Of the cases being reviewed, 19 cases have been acted upon in the initial phase, while about 103 others remain under review.

Several PPR Taman Manggis units were sealed in early September following the identification of occupants who were believed to no longer qualify to live in the public housing units.

A proposed affordable housing development located off Tingkat Betek 6 in Bukit Mertajam, between Woodsland Park and Residensi Rambai Indah. The site is situated within an established township and is in the vicinity of SJKC Keow Kuang. It also has convenient access to surrounding amenities and neighbouring townships via Jalan Song Ban Kheng.

The proposed development comprises a 23-storey residential block with 188 affordable housing units, each measuring approximately 950 sq ft. The project also includes a seven-storey car park podium, while community facilities are planned at the ground floor, Levels 7 and 8, and the rooftop.

The project is still in its planning stage and more details will be available upon official launch.

READ MORE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING:

• Eligibility and the requirement of buying affordable housing
• Full list of affordable housing in Penang

Project Name : (to be confirmed)
Location : Bukit Mertajam
Property Type : Affordable housing
Tenure: (to be confirmed)
Land Area: (to be confirmed)
Built-up Size: 950 sq.ft.
Total Units : 188
Indicative Price : (to be confirmed)
Developer : (Follow us to find out more)

DISCLAIMER: This article is solely based on research done using publicly available data. This is not an advertisement. Any claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a project or service should be verified with the developer, provider, or party in question.

The Waterfront Shoppes (TWS), the retail component of the 4.1 million sq ft integrated seafront development The Light City in Penang, is scheduled to soft-open on Oct 29, 2026. The Light City is a joint venture development between IJM Corporation Berhad and Singapore-based Perennial Holdings Private Limited.

Spanning approximately 1.6 million sq ft across four levels, TWS will comprise around 300 retail spaces. Upon opening, it is expected to be the largest shopping mall in Penang by floor area, adding a major retail component to the city’s waterfront landscape.

TWS is integrated with the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC), the state’s largest convention venue with a capacity of more than 10,000 guests. According to Perennial, the waterfront destination will bring together elements of Penang’s food, culture, heritage and community within a contemporary setting.

About Maldives Residences

A residential development by Ideal Property Group at Bayan Lepas. Strategically located along Lorong Sungai Tiram 6, just across the road from Havana Beach Residences. It is conveniently connected to Jalan Tun Dr Awang, less than 2km away from Penang International Airport. This development comprises 46-storey building with 4 residential towers. It features a mix of affordable and upgraded units, with a built-up size of 850sq.ft. onwards.

Find out more about Maldives Residences

The Penang state government remains committed to facilitating the implementation of the Juru-Sungai Dua Elevated Highway project, with Package 1 of the strategic traffic dispersal project now recording 40.79% physical progress.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said construction works for Package 1, covering the route from the Juru Toll Plaza to the Sungai Dua Toll Plaza, are progressing on site and are expected to be completed by October 2027.

Meanwhile, Packages 2 to 5 are currently undergoing evaluation and tender processes. The tender process for the four packages is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with construction targeted to begin early next year.

Chow said land acquisition and utility relocation works would be carried out concurrently to minimise delays and ensure the project progresses smoothly.

The project is expected to benefit around 200,000 road users daily along the Juru-Sungai Dua corridor by easing congestion and improving traffic flow.

The project has also received close attention from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, with regular monitoring and monthly meetings held to address challenges and implementation issues. The overall project is targeted for completion by the end of 2030.

According to Chow, the elevated highway adopts a traffic segregation concept that separates local traffic from highway traffic, similar to the approach implemented in Jelapang, Ipoh.

He said the concept had helped improve traffic movement and control in Jelapang, and expressed hope that a similar impact could be achieved along the Juru-Sungai Dua corridor.

The state government is also assisting with land acquisition matters. The process has reached Section 8, with the relevant matter expected to be presented by the Federal Department of Director General of Lands and Mines (JKPTG) Penang on September 17.

Chow added that relocation requirements would be relatively limited due to the availability of existing reserves. Based on current information, only seven food stalls are affected, with no large-scale resettlement involved.

With an estimated cost of RM3 billion, the Juru-Sungai Dua Elevated Highway is a high-impact infrastructure project aimed at addressing congestion along one of the busiest sections of the North-South Expressway.

Upon completion, the project is expected to improve connectivity and traffic flow not only for Penang residents but also for motorists travelling along the north-south highway corridor.