GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Transport Master Plan is up for viewing at various places in the state from Monday until the end of the month.

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow urged the people to give their feedback via a questionnaire during the public display.

“From April 16 until April 20, the public can view the draft copy at Komtar’s Level Three concourse and Seberang Prai Municipal Council headquarters in Bandar Perda from 9am until 5pm.

“The draft copy will also be displayed at other locations, including Sunshine Farlim in Bandar Baru Air Itam, Gurney Plaza, Jusco Perda Mall and Sunway Carnival Mall.

“Penangites can also give input via the Penang Transport Council website at www.ptc.penang.gov.my before the end of April,” he told a press conference at Level 52 Komtar here Friday.

The full list of the locations and dates for the public display is available from the website.

The master plan encompasses several proposals to ease traffic congestion in the state.

Among them is the third link between the island and the mainland.

Source: The Star

THE Penang Government is willing to offer assessment and inspection services of low- cost and low medium-cost flats in the state which might have been affected by the earthquake in Sumatera.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the services would be provided by the local councils and bomba.

“Even though it is unlikely that there was be any serious impact, the public can still forward their concerns to the two agencies,’’ he said.

He also said that those who spread rumours of the closure of the Penang Bridge and ferry services due to the earthquake on Wednesday were out to disrupt the economic wellbeing of the state.

“Any closure of the Penang Bridge and termination of the ferry services requires prior consent from the state government.

“No such request was forwarded to us,” Lim, who is also Penang State Security Council head, said in a press conference yesterday.

He also commended key industry players like the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), the Free Industrial Zone Penang Companies’ Association (Frepenca) and the Penang Hoteliers Association for taking all necessary steps to address the situation.

“The state government is confident that the earthquake has not caused serious impact to Penang’s economy.

“Apart from some disruptions to the general activities of holiday-makers at the beach and at some manufacturing facilities, no major incident were reported,” he said.

Lim said the state government together with all state and federal agencies including the private sectors had dealt with the problem professionally.

“Everything was under control and the mechanism worked smoothly. There was no panic,” said Lim who had to skip the Royal Banquet in Istana Malaysia in honour of the Yang Dipertuan Agong to address the issue on Wednesday.

Frepenca president Heng Huck Lee said most companies had well-established procedures to handle such situations.

“Evacuations were carried out but most factories went back to operation within two hours,” he said.

Penang Service Industry Panel co-chairman Marco Battistotti said all hotels located near the sea had eva-cuated the beaches by 5pm.

Malaysian Association of Hotels Penang Chapter chairman Mary Ann Harris said hotels had regular drills to prepare for such incidents.

“When the tremors happened, everyone knew what to do,” she said.

Also present during the press conference were state secretary Datuk Farizan Darus, FMM Penang branch manager Cheah Eng Kooi, state executive councillor Abdul Malik Abul Kassim and Malaysian Institute of Architects northern chapter chairman Lawrence Lim.

Source: The Star

One Precinct, was known as Wikiworld back in 2007 and now it is making good progress. Located in a bustling and prominent district, One Precinct is only 10 minutes from the Free Trade Zones, Penang Bridge and Penang International Airport. Immediate surrounds are vibrant and comprises matured residential neighborhoods, commercial venues and shop lots. One Precinct offers numerous advantages and combined with its prime location, it is poised to become an impressive landmark in Bayan Baru.

One Precinct F&B

Spanning four levels and covering 35,000 sq. ft., the F&B hub is home to local and international brands. Unit sizes range from 000 to 000 sq ft, allowing for a wide variety of tenants. Together with the anchor tenant of 2,500 staff when fully occupied, One Precinct is set to offer an unrivalled dining experience.

One Precinct Office

1. Provide a world-class physical and information infrastructure.
2. Allow unrestricted employment of local and foreign knowledge workers.
3. Ensure freedom of ownership by exempting companies with MSC Malaysia Status from local ownership requirements.
4. Give the freedom to source capital globally for MSC Malaysia infrastructure, and the right to borrow funds globally.
5. Provide competitive financial incentives, including no income tax for up to 10 year or an investment tax allowance and no duties on duties on import of multimedia equipment.
6. Become a regional leader in intellectual protection and cyber laws.
7. Ensure no Internet censorship.
8. Provide globally competitive telecommunications tariffs.
9. Tender key MSC Malaysia infrastructure contracts to leading companies willing to use the MSC Malaysia as their regional hub.
10. Provide an effective one-stop agency- the Multimedia Development Corporation.

If there’s one thing that Penang’s famous for, aside from food, is being a mecca for technology. TECHNOTOPIA in One Precinct embodies this perception with the latest electronic, mobile and computer gadgets available for tech-centric visitors. Covering 000,000 sq. ft., this technology arcade has a mind-boggling array of 000 shops that offer a variety of services from repair to retail.

Property Project: One Precinct
Location: Bayan Baru, Penang
Property Type: Commercial
No. of Storey: 7
Developer: Interglobal Resources Sdn Bhd

Location Map:

POLICE have set up a task-force to zero-in on in-house contractors who are muscling for renovation jobs at newly completed apartments and condominiums using their links to triads in Penang.

An initial police probe found that many of them, who charged exorbitant prices for materials and workmanship, were protected by secret societies.

In the latest incident, police nabbed an “in-house” contractor, 34, after he had barred another contractor from starting renovation work at an apartment unit in Batu Lanchang here.

The suspect, said to have close links to the ‘08’ underworld gang, insisted that the house owner engaged him for the renovation or buy construction materials from him.

The victim, 59, lodged a police report on the matter.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Gan Kong Meng said a suspect was picked up in Jelutong at 10am yesterday.

“He is now being investigated under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation.

“We have received four police reports of such similar cases at the same newly completed apartment block,” ACP Gan said.

“We will not tolerate this. House owners who are threatened by such contractors can come to us. House owners can engage any contractor they like,” he told a press conference at George Town police district headquarters.

He advised those who faced similar problems in Jelutong to contact ASP Azhar Abu Bakar at 012-9065999, Insp Megat Shafril Emran at 019-4100400 or lodge a police report at the nearest police station.

The in-house contractors who mono-polise renovations at newly completed high-rise residential buildings are mostly linked to secret societies active in the district.

It is learnt that house owners who refuse to engage them would be posed with all sort of problems, ranging from stolen or broken window panes, or having their unit doors, or walls damaged.

House owners were also forced to pay exorbitant prices for a wheelbarrow of sand or a bag of cement.

Source: The Star

Land owners here have been urged not to hastily sell off their plots for quick profits as this move could disrupt the physical environment of the area.

Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhammad Farid Saad said some land owners had received letters from a real estate agency asking them whether they have any intention to sell or rent out their lands.

“Just imagine if 100 acres of land were sold off.

“The landscape of Balik Pulau would surely then change.

“The owners here are entrusted to the land. Please don’t sell it.

“The quick profits will not last forever. But with the land, we can keep it for the generations to come.

“Even if they build new houses here, it is going to be costly. Only outsiders can afford it, not the locals here.

“If possible, please maintain Balik Pulau as it is, “ he said after presenting aids in the form of monetory aid, laptops, a personal computer and a printer totalling RM40,000 to 13 schools, the Fisherman Association and religious organisations in Balik Pulau.

Muhammad Farid, who also received the same letter, also questioned how the real estate agency got hold of their addresses.

“So far, I’ve collected 12 letters from the residents,” he added.

The letters dated March were sent by a real estate agency based in Butterworth.

When contacted, a spokesman for the real estate agency who declined to be named said that their company was assigned by a developer to obtain feedback from the residents.

“We are not forcing anyone to sell or rent their land.

“In fact, we have already received feedback from them. Some are not willing to sell but some are willing to provided the price is good. We will present the feedback we received to our client,” she said.

Source : The Star