Strongly subsidising the repainting of low-cost and low-medium-cost flats in Penang will definitely improve living conditions there, and make the state sparkle more. However, differentiating between these flats based on who built them will badly dampen these positive effects.
IT IS WELCOMING NEWS indeed that the Penang state government will be paying 80% of the cost of repainting low-cost and low-medium-cost flats. The remaining 20% of the cost is to be borne by the flat owners.
There is no doubt that many apartment blocks in Penang need repainting.
So far, the projects identified are two blocks of flats in Kampung Melayu, nine in Riffle Range, and three apartment buildings in Bayan Baru. In the case of Rifle Range, two private persons have contributed RM100,000 each to cover the 20% that would otherwise be borne by the flat owners.
