Twitter war over Penang 'affordable housing'
Published: Sep 19, 2014 4:53 AM | Updated: Sep 19, 2014 5:14 AM
Is Penang a heaven for affordable housing? DAP's Ngeh Koo Ham and UMNO's Abdul Rahman Dahalan slug it out on Twitter.
A debate on whether Penang is a heaven for affordable housing raged on Twitterjaya yesterday between an Umno minister, and DAP and Gerakan leaders.
It follows Penang exco member Abdul Malik Kassim's claim that if given enough publicity, the state could be known as a "heaven for housing".
Malik also claimed yesterday that there would be about 20,000 homes available in five to 10 years from now.
The debate began with Perak DAP chairperson Ngeh Koo Ham tweeting praising the abundance of affordable homes in Penang: “How fortunate to be in Penang”, while sharing the link of the said story.
This prompted a snide reply from pro-BN blogger Goh Wei Liang (@manifestogwl): "10 years from now? OMG!"
Ngeh responded to Goh, tagging Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan (right) who uses the handle @mpkotabelud, saying that affordable homes have been built since Pakatan Rakyat took over Penang government in 2008.
"Now increased due to demands," added Ngeh, referring to number of housing projects by the state government.
The Beruas MP said sarcastically “BN minister in charge of housing ignorant of housing projects in Penang? Only BN needs 10 years, Mr Minister".
To which Abdul Rahman asked: “Have you read the article? It says in five to 10 years! You tried to fool us, YB?”
He added “Show me where the houses are located and the prices. RM600,000 is affordable to you but not to most Penangites.”
Prices of homes in Penang are tagged at RM72,000 for each low cost unit, RM100,000-RM200,000 for low medium cost, and around RM400,000 for affordable homes.
Produce the locations
Ngeh then took a dig at Abdul Rahman, saying, “Mr Minister, please do your job (and) not sleep on your job! Your words speak volumes of what you know, or rather, don't know".
Not to be outdone, the minister replied, “Why (are you) so worried to produce the locations of your so-called affordable housing in Penang? Do you have them or not?”
To which Ngeh said, "shocking! Minister not aware affordable homes in Penang are about RM200,000 and says it is about RM600,000!"
He continued his jibes, saying: "Penang publicised affordable homes at Batu Kawan, Jalan SP Chelliah and Teluk Kumbar; the Minister is ignorant. Shocking!"
But Abdul Rahman asked, “Why quote only a few examples? Where are all the "aplenty" houses located?”
"Give my ministry the full list of ongoing and completed low affordable houses in Penang since 2008. Do you need an official letter?” Abdul Rahman asked Ngeh.
Ngeh then said Abdul Rahman should know what to do and contact the Penang government for the information, adding, “You are paid to do your job well.”
To which, Abdul Rahman replied, “I just realised I wasted half an hour with a guy from Perak.”
One team, no camps
At this juncture, Gerakan national youth chief Tan Keng Liang joined the conversation by telling Abdul Rahman that Ngeh is not in the same camp as DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng and his father, Kit Siang.
Tan said the duo would not be defending Ngeh, and urged Abdul Rahman to contact Penang directly.
However, he claimed that it was rare to find affordable homes in Penang and asked why Ngeh raised the issue.
“You have not wasted your time. At least appreciate the many things you have learnt from me about Penang that you were not in the know,” Ngeh told Abdul Rahman.
Ngeh also chided Tan for saying he was not in the same camp as the Lims, stressing, “We are not Gerakan. There is only one team in DAP led by secretary general Lim Guan Eng and mentor Lim Kit Siang.”
Ngeh also claimed there are nine affordable housing projects by the Penang government.
"Pleased be informed that Tan was wrong on affordable homes in the state," the Sitiawan assemblyman said.
But Tan asked Ngeh not to “crack midnight jokes”. “Affordable homes to you doesn't mean affordable to others”.
He also rendered Ngeh an advice to stay strong in Perak, adding “Hope you are able to fend off Guan Eng and Kit Siang...or Thomas Su will replace you”.
Su is another Perak DAP leader touted as being favoured by the Lims. He replaced Kit Siang as Ipoh Timur MP when the latter contested and won the Gelang Patah seat in GE13.
It follows Penang exco member Abdul Malik Kassim's claim that if given enough publicity, the state could be known as a "heaven for housing".
Malik also claimed yesterday that there would be about 20,000 homes available in five to 10 years from now.
The debate began with Perak DAP chairperson Ngeh Koo Ham tweeting praising the abundance of affordable homes in Penang: “How fortunate to be in Penang”, while sharing the link of the said story.
This prompted a snide reply from pro-BN blogger Goh Wei Liang (@manifestogwl): "10 years from now? OMG!"
Ngeh responded to Goh, tagging Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan (right) who uses the handle @mpkotabelud, saying that affordable homes have been built since Pakatan Rakyat took over Penang government in 2008."Now increased due to demands," added Ngeh, referring to number of housing projects by the state government.
The Beruas MP said sarcastically “BN minister in charge of housing ignorant of housing projects in Penang? Only BN needs 10 years, Mr Minister".
To which Abdul Rahman asked: “Have you read the article? It says in five to 10 years! You tried to fool us, YB?”
He added “Show me where the houses are located and the prices. RM600,000 is affordable to you but not to most Penangites.”
Prices of homes in Penang are tagged at RM72,000 for each low cost unit, RM100,000-RM200,000 for low medium cost, and around RM400,000 for affordable homes.
Produce the locations
Ngeh then took a dig at Abdul Rahman, saying, “Mr Minister, please do your job (and) not sleep on your job! Your words speak volumes of what you know, or rather, don't know".
Not to be outdone, the minister replied, “Why (are you) so worried to produce the locations of your so-called affordable housing in Penang? Do you have them or not?”
To which Ngeh said, "shocking! Minister not aware affordable homes in Penang are about RM200,000 and says it is about RM600,000!"
He continued his jibes, saying: "Penang publicised affordable homes at Batu Kawan, Jalan SP Chelliah and Teluk Kumbar; the Minister is ignorant. Shocking!"
But Abdul Rahman asked, “Why quote only a few examples? Where are all the "aplenty" houses located?”
"Give my ministry the full list of ongoing and completed low affordable houses in Penang since 2008. Do you need an official letter?” Abdul Rahman asked Ngeh.
Ngeh then said Abdul Rahman should know what to do and contact the Penang government for the information, adding, “You are paid to do your job well.”
To which, Abdul Rahman replied, “I just realised I wasted half an hour with a guy from Perak.”
One team, no camps
At this juncture, Gerakan national youth chief Tan Keng Liang joined the conversation by telling Abdul Rahman that Ngeh is not in the same camp as DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng and his father, Kit Siang.
Tan said the duo would not be defending Ngeh, and urged Abdul Rahman to contact Penang directly.
However, he claimed that it was rare to find affordable homes in Penang and asked why Ngeh raised the issue.
“You have not wasted your time. At least appreciate the many things you have learnt from me about Penang that you were not in the know,” Ngeh told Abdul Rahman.
Ngeh also chided Tan for saying he was not in the same camp as the Lims, stressing, “We are not Gerakan. There is only one team in DAP led by secretary general Lim Guan Eng and mentor Lim Kit Siang.”
Ngeh also claimed there are nine affordable housing projects by the Penang government.
"Pleased be informed that Tan was wrong on affordable homes in the state," the Sitiawan assemblyman said.
But Tan asked Ngeh not to “crack midnight jokes”. “Affordable homes to you doesn't mean affordable to others”.
He also rendered Ngeh an advice to stay strong in Perak, adding “Hope you are able to fend off Guan Eng and Kit Siang...or Thomas Su will replace you”.
Su is another Perak DAP leader touted as being favoured by the Lims. He replaced Kit Siang as Ipoh Timur MP when the latter contested and won the Gelang Patah seat in GE13.
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