GEORGE TOWN – The Penang state government is considering expanding the housing discount to all home buyers to address the property overhang issue in the state after it received backlash for its recent announcement of offering a 5% discount to only buyers from the Indian Muslim community.
In a statement, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the state government has received numerous feedback following the announcement of the discount proposal for Indian Muslims.
Some feedback given to the state government suggested that such a discount be offered to all home buyers with the aim of re-stimulating the property sector by selling off unsold properties.
“I have since instructed Housing and Environment executive councillor Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo to finetune the (discount) policy with the developers to expand the discount offer to all buyers so that it is more inclusive and benefits all segments of the society in line with the principles of social justice,” said Chow in the statement.
“At the same time, the state executive committee will also review the matter and come up with the right decision for the benefit of all parties.”
Chow’s statement came following yesterday’s statement by Penang DAP chief Steven Sim, where he said that he has raised the housing discount issue with the chief minister, who later agreed to raise this matter for a review and discussion in the next exco meeting.
On June 5, Sundarajoo announced the state government’s offer to provide a 5% discount to Indian Muslims for residential and commercial units under the newly introduced Madani Home Ownership Campaign (MOC), as part of the Madani Inclusive Property Sector Catalyst Policy.
The policy received brickbats, with rights lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan having described the move as unconstitutional and contrary to principles of equality and fairness in public policy.
However, Sundarajoo clarified that the discount offer is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative and does not involve any allocation of public funds.
He explained that the scheme encourages private developers to voluntarily offer a 5% discount on residential and commercial units to first-time homebuyers from the said community, for one year.
Sundarajoo stressed that the initiative does not involve units reserved under the Bumiputera quota, nor does it alter existing housing policies. – June 8, 2025