GEORGE TOWN — The Penang government has decided to extend the 5% housing discount to all homebuyers in the state in a bid to clear unsold property stock.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the decision was unanimously agreed upon at the state executive council (exco) meeting held earlier today.
He added that the terms of the offer remain unchanged — the discount is valid for one year under the Madani Ownership Campaign, a federal homeownership initiative.
The scheme is limited to developers who are registered with the Penang State Housing Board (LPNPP) and have opted into the discount programme.
“(The discount offer) is focused on units identified as unsold, with data provided by the National Property Information Centre (NAPIC),” Chow said in a statement.
The move comes after the state government earlier this month announced that the 5% discount would only be offered to Indian Muslim homebuyers — a decision that sparked public backlash.
Human rights lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan criticised the initial policy, calling it “racist, unconstitutional and contrary to the principles of equality and fairness in public policy”.
He argued that public funds and state-led initiatives must benefit all Malaysians equally and not favour specific communities.
In response, State Housing and Environment executive councillor Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo clarified that the discount scheme is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative and does not involve the use of public funds.
He explained that the programme encourages private developers to voluntarily offer a 5% discount on residential and commercial units to first-time homebuyers from the Indian Muslim community, for a period of one year. — June 18, 2025