SUNGAI PINANG can only be filth-free if Penangites stop treating it as a rubbish dump.

The fishing community that has lived by the river bank for decades are upset that their home has been used as a dump for years.

Welcoming reports that the river would be devoid of garbage within three years, Shaaban Che Amat, 60, said some 100 fishermen living there were tired of the recurring flash floods and pollution.

“It’s good that the Penang Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) has been cleaning and dredging the river but sometimes, the work is not done well.

“For instance, when the soil is dredged, it is not removed from the river but merely transferred to the other side of the bank and when rubbish accumulates, we are back to square one — our boats cannot go out to sea and we are stuck for hours in shallow waters.

“Sometimes after a heavy downpour, you can find old television sets, furniture and huge black plastic bags floating near our boats by the jetty.

“The river can be rubbish-free but only if Penangites stop treating it as a dump,” he said when met at the Sungai Pinang jetty in Jelutong, Penang, yesterday.

Shaaban, who has been a fisherman there for the last three decades, said he often saw people getting out from their vehicles parked beside the road, to dump bags of rubbish into the river.

Mohd Shariff Abu Bakar, 60, agreed.

“We grew up in Kampung Selut by the Sungai Pinang river bank and I remember there being lots of prawns, fishes and crabs but that was 20 years ago.

“It seems like the more developed we become, the dirtier our habits are,” he said.

Amir Ali Basamiah, 64, said everyone must work together if Sungai Pinang is to be clean again like it was before the 1970s.

“It was only in the 1970s when an abattoir, car workshops and factories started mushrooming here and it marked the start of Sungai Pinang’s woes,” he said.

Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) Public Health Standing Committee alternate chairman Ong Ah Teong said the council was diligently working to clean up George Town under the state’s ‘Cleaner, Greener, Penang’ campaign.

“There is strong emphasis on the roads and drainage systems because it is related to flash floods.

“Some garbage traps in the river and litter hotspots especially those around the river banks are cleared daily,” he said.

From being among the ‘stinking seven’ most polluted rivers in the country five years ago, Sungai Pinang is slowly but surely making its way to Class II from its present Class III Water Quality Index rating and the DID is aiming to make Sungai Pinang waste-free by 2015.

Sungai Pinang had been categorised as a Class III river since 2008 but in September 2007, it received the MS ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System certification for its river management.

The river was classified under Class V as most polluted with no marine life before an initial allocation of RM20mil was spent on the first phase of rehabilitation which was completed in 2007.

So filthy was the river then that when Sungai Pinang assemblyman Koid Teng Guan jumped into a dirty shallow end to get mud and water samples, he ended up seeking medical treatment for the rashes on his feet.

State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said it was unfair to blame those living along Sungai Pinang for the floating garbage.

“It’s a Catch-22 situation because when there are flash floods, garbage from the litter-filled roads are washed into the river which in turn, clog up the waterway and when there’s another heavy downpour, flash floods would recur.

“Since 2009, the state government has engaged the community, private sector, non-governmental organisations and relevant government departments on an awareness campaign to clean up the river.

“The state government’s message is very clear — we are determined to act against those who pollute the river but we want to make them understand the importance of keeping the river clean as it also helps prevent flash floods from occurring,” he said.

Phee said individuals and business premises in the area had been issued notices indicating that those caught discharging effluents would be compounded a minimum of RM10,000.

A three-year project to enhance community participation in the protection and rehabilitation of the severely polluted Sungai Pinang was launched in July last year.

The RM100,000 Sungai Pinang River Care project, to be carried out in phases, is funded by HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad in partnership with Global Environment Centre.

On June 25, DID director Anuar Yahya said waste collected from the 3.1km-long river was reduced by more than 50% with the implementation of the Sungai Pinang River Care project.

He said currently, the amount of rubbish collected from the river had significantly reduced to nine tonnes per month compared to that of previous years.

Phee said two main milestones which led to the cleaner river were the closure of the island’s last remaining rubber factory in March and the diversion of waste water from a nearby abattoir directly to the IWK waste treatment plant in Jelutong.

The factory was identified as one of the causes of the river’s pollution.

It had caused air and water pollution by discharging effluents into Sungai Dondang which flowed into Sungai Air Itam and subsequently Sungai Pinang.

He said the state government was working closely with the fisheries department and fish breeders to identify a suitable species for the river.

“We want to introduce fishes into the river to further help clean it up but the species chosen must not be harmful to the eco-system. We are looking at ‘non-aggressive’ fishes that feed on plankton and not each other,” he said.

Rainwater from Sungai Dondang and Sungai Air Itam flows into Sungai Pinang, causing the river banks to burst so every time there’s prolonged rain, those living nearby spend sleepless nights worrying about waking up in knee-deep water.

With squatter relocation still a problem for the RM150mil Sungai Pinang flood mitigation project, a clean waterway is crucial as a clogged river littered with rubbish has made Sungai Pinang the most flash flood-friendly area in Penang.

To check on Sungai Pinang’s updated water quality index readings, visit www.sungaipinang.wqms.info.

Source: The Star

PENANG will soon offer a different kind of hotel stay experience for those who yearn to be closer to nature — hotel rooms perched on trees.

Believed to be the first of its kind in Asia, the ‘Treetops Hotel’, which is part of the Escape Theme Park in Teluk Bahang, will see some 300 units of tree houses set up on 6.4ha of land.

The park’s chief ‘escape’ officer Sim Choo Kheng said the hotel is expected to be ready in about four years’ time.

He said the tree house units will be built at a height of about 2m to 10m.

“The units will be built around a tree and the idea is for the occupants to wake up to nature around them, feeling the fresh breeze and sounds of nature greeting them,” he said when met at the site of the park in Jalan Teluk Bahang recently.

He said besides tree houses, those “who do not love heights” can put up in tents.

Those who just want to stay for the day, can try out the cabanas.

Sim said the ‘Treetops Hotel’ will be either rated three or four stars and the accommodation will be at a reasonable rate.

The theme park is set to open its door to the public in October and the first phase of the park’s Adventureplay on a 6.9ha land, is expected to be ready by then.

“Escape is not a conventional theme park but it is more nature themed where parents and children will enjoy a great outdoor experience,” he said, adding that the activities there will be hosted with nature in mind.

The activities will feature eight rope courses, tree climbing, jump tower, tubby racer, fox burrows and more.

Children can also learn to make traditional toys in its workshop and produce toys like bamboo pop gun, gasing and kite.

Work on the 4.4ha Waterplay area is scheduled to start in 2014 and the park’s management has also got a fishing village setting in mind.

“Other than water slides, we will create a wave pool in the fishing village setting,” he said.

Upon completion, the theme park will cover a total 17.8ha of land with over 200 parking bays.

Source: The Star

PROPERTY developer DNP Land Sdn Bhd is set to transform quiet Alma town near Bukit Mertajam into a vibrant place with modern facilities.

Its senior marketing manager Joe Ang Kean Joo said the area, which used to be an oil palm estate, was fast becoming a preferred location for residential and commercial units.

“Consider owning a piece of property in Alma as it has the potential to be- come a satellite town to Bukit Mertajam,” he said.

He was speaking at the launch of a nine-day long DNP Land Property Showcase 2012 promotion at the DNP Sales Gallery in Jalan Rozhan, Alma.

Ang said DNP Land’s development projects in Alma were more focused on concept-based and landscaped-themed exclusive housing and commercial units.

He said the company’s Jesselton Hills project in Alma was a luxurious residential development spanning over 48 ha of elevated land, nestled in a guarded and greenery-shrouded environment.

“Our double-storey Lakeside Terraces units in Jesselton Heights under Phase II boasts of a spacious built-up of 2,408sq ft (216.72 sqm), which is about 30 per cent more than the regular built-up of 1,600sq ft (144 sq m).

“All 200 units have four rooms and a maid’s room apart from an utility area, wet kitchen and dry kitchen,” he said.

Ang said the guarded Lakeside Terraces units, which are within walking distance to a man-made lake, would showcase ultra- modern architecture.

And, in conjunction with the soft launch on Saturday, he said that customers stood to enjoy an early bird’s rebate of RM25,000 from the units’ selling price of RM578,000 during the showcase period till Aug 26.

He said the company would also absorb the legal fees, stamp duty as well as transfer and loan charges totalling more than RM20,000.

Ang said DNP Land was also in the midst of developing a new project, called Sentinelle Ville, located within its BM Utama development near Taman Kota Permai.

He said the development would consist of 66 units of three-storey semi-detached houses.

The houses would have a built-up of 3,609sq ft (324.81sq m), with an estimated price of RM1mil.

“We are also in the midst of developing 360 service apartments with built-up areas between 900sq ft (81sq m) and 1,200sq ft (108sq m) within our Impiana Square area next to Tesco Alma.

“The estimated price for the units is above RM300,000. We are targetting the sales launch in the first half of 2013,” he said.

During the showcase period, the company iss also giving a RM50,000 rebate on the selling price of its two and three- storey commercial lot units in Impiana Square. The units have a starting price of RM1mil.

During the soft launch, guests were treated to a buffet lunch and entertained with a variety of shows.

There with hip hop and street dance performances by JN Dance Studio, a beat box performance by U Shane Low, a magic show by Samuel Chong as well as a Chinese mask changing show.

The guests also watched a lion dance on stilts performance and listened to a property talk as well as a feng shui talk.

Source: The Star

PETALING JAYA: The real property gain tax (RPGT) revision which had been one of the highlights of Budget 2012, should be either reverted or adjusted based on proper understanding of the market situation, according to property sector associations.

Real Estate and Housing Developers Association Malaysia (Rehda) revealed in its Budget 2013 wish list that the Government should not review taxation or policies which were beneficial for the industry and recommended the previous RPGT regime be reinstated.

“Under the current market conditions such as the softening market and early signs of better growth of the economy ahead and the uncertainties of the United States and eurozone economy, we urge the Government not to interfere with the existing policies which are business friendly,” Rehda told StarBiz.

With the local Gross Domestic Product announced recently at 5.4%, Rehda believed that Government should grab the opportunity to facilitate market growth by introducing punitive and restrictive measures and suggested the new budget included reverting to the previous RPGT regime of 5% tax if a property is disposed before five years and no RPGT if disposed after five years.

The revised RPGT in Budget 2012 meant that gains from property held for less than two years were subjected to a 10% tax while a 2% was imposed for properties held between two and five years, and those who kept it for more than five years are exempted from tax.

National House Buyers Association secretary-general Chang Kim Loongsided Rehda’s recommendation, noting that the current RPGT was not effective in reducing market speculation.

“Developers typically need two years to complete landed properties and three years to complete stratified properties. This would mean that speculators could buy properties from developers, flip on completion and in effect pay the same 5% RPGT rate that was before Budget 2012,” he explained.

The Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) opined that more focus should be put on affordable housing which will benefit more stakeholders and purchasers.

In addition, MBAM wished for the Government to release more land for affordable housing especially in the Klang Valley to meet the demand from first time time housebuyers as well as to sustain the housing and construction sectors.

On MBAM’s Budget wish list was also lower coporate tax rate to be on par with Singapore and Hong Kong.

On construction, MBAM pointed out a shortage of skilled workers for heavy engineering like the My Rapid Transit (MRT) project.

“We wish to appeal for skilled workers from China to be allowed to work on these projects as many Chinese workers are now available after completing MRT and high speed rail projects in China,” it said, noting that MBAM would like to source foreign workers from Asean and India too.

With the announcement of the Budget 2013 inching closer, the property sector associations have again reiterated the need for more measures to be taken to supply the market with affordable property.

For the coming Budget, Rehda recommended a closer look into the capital contribution charges on developers that is eventually passed on to housebuyers.

It said that currently developers are required to pay various capital contributions such as sewerage, electricity, water, telecommunications, Construction Industry Development Board levy and surrender of land, construction of facilities and infrastructure as well as compliance of other planning requirements.

Through Rehda’s own research, it found that all these compliance costs payable to various authorities could be as high as 30% of the selling price of the housing units.

What Rehda recommended is for private utility companies to not impose capital contribution charges on developers as developers are already required to lay infrastructures in their development projects and bring in new customers to the utility companies.

“These utility companies should revise their own capital and collect revenue via tariff based on consumption,” the association said.

Source: The Star

Penang properties said to increase 5%-10% due to more costly cement

GEORGE TOWN: The selling price of properties in Penang will soon surge by 5%-10% following the recent move by Lafarge Malayan Cement to raise cement prices by about 6%, according to housing developers here.

Following Lafarge’s announcement, a 50kg bag of cement is now priced at RM17.50, compared to RM16.50 before the hike.

Penang Master Builders & Building Materials Dealers Association president Lim Kai Seng said 60% to 80% of the materials used for a building comprised cement and cement-related materials.

“This is why an increase in cement price will have a significant impact on property prices.

“The other cement manufacturers in the country have sent signals that they will raise prices very soon,” Lim said.

There are six cement producers in Malaysia, namely YTL Cement Bhd,Tasek Corp Bhd, Cement Industries of Malaysia Bhd, Lafarge, CMS Cement Sdn Bhd, and Holcim (M) Sdn Bhd.

Only Sarawak-based CMS Cement has confirmed it would keep prices at the current level.

Lim said the price of other essential building materials such as sand and aggregate had also increased.

“The price of sand is now between RM40 and RM43 per cu yard, depending on the grade, compared to RM38-RM40 earlier this year.

“The price of aggregates is now at RM21 per tonne, compared to RM20 per tonne earlier this year,” he said.

House prices on the island are expected to rise by 10%, while in Seberang Prai, housing prices are expected rise by 5%, following the hike in cement price.

Kuala Lumpur-based developers such as Mah Sing Group Bhd and SP Setia Bhd with projects in Penang will continue to absorb the cost of the cement price increase.

Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Alex Ooi said the company was now revising the selling prices of its new projects upwards, due to the hike in cement price.

“There will be at least a 10% hike in the selling price of properties on the island.

“A hike in cement price means the price of all cement-related products such as concrete and bricks will rise. Construction cost will go up by between 15% and 20%.

“We expect the rest of the cement manufacturers in the country to adjust the price of cement upwards in the next one to two months,” he said.

In addition to the rise in cement prices, the cost of labour and transportation charges have also increased this year.

Tambun Indah Land Bhd managing director K.S. Teh said the cost of labour had increased to RM45 per day this year, compared to RM35 a year ago.

Transportation charges for sand have increased to RM450 per truck load this year from RM400 a year ago.

“There is also a labour shortage, as many Indonesian workers have gone back to Indonesia, which is booming currently.

“The selling price of properties will be impacted by the hike in raw materials and labour costs.

“However, Tambun Indah will absorb the increase in the price of raw materials until year-end.

“We will revise our pricing next year,” he added.

Teh said the selling price of properties on the island would increase more because of the additional transportation charges to ferry the raw materials to the island.

“This is why the increase in property prices on the island will be around 10%, compared to about 5% in Seberang Prai,” he said.

Tambun Indah will be launching next month the Straits Garden@Jelutong on the island, the Pearl Residence@Pearl City and Pearl Indah@Pearl City projects in Simpang Ampat.

The Straits Garden is a high-rise project comprising 183 condominiums priced from RM688,000 onwards, while the Pearl Residence@Pearl City and Pearl Indah@Pearl City schemes comprise landed properties priced between RM353,000 and RM508,000.

Mah Sing managing director and chief executive Tan Sri Leong Hoy Kumsaid the cement price hike would have less than a 1% impact on construction cost.

“Most of our projects have been tendered out and the construction costs are already locked in,” he added.

SP Setia property (north) general manager Khoo Teck Chong said the group would absorb this impact for now to be competitive.

”If other raw material prices such as bricks, rebar and tiles were to increase drastically, we may then have to review and adjust our property selling price accordingly,” Khoo added.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC) chief executive officer Shila Dorai Raj had said the price hike by cement manufacturers did not at this juncture warrant a formal investigation.

“Price increases are by themselves not anti-competitive in nature. However, if there is evidence of collusion among the competitors to increase prices, this would be of concern to MyCC and may merit an investigation,” she said.

Source: The Star