A proposal has been put forward to officially designate Casa Permai Central Park, also known as Tanah Lapang Casa Permai, as a pet-friendly public park under the Penang Island City Council (MBPP). If approved, it would become the first officially recognised pet-friendly public park on Penang Island.

The proposal was submitted by MBPP councillor Lee Seng Hwai during a recent council meeting. According to Lee, the initiative aims to formally recognise the park’s long-established role as a gathering place for pet owners while introducing appropriate guidelines to promote responsible use and harmonious sharing of the public space.

Following the proposal, Lee visited the park together with MBPP’s landscape officers and representatives from the service centre of Tanjong Bunga assemblyman YB Zairil Khir Johari to conduct a site survey. The visit was intended to observe how the park is currently used, engage with visitors, and gather public feedback on the proposed designation.

Lee noted that Casa Permai Central Park has organically evolved into one of the island’s most popular destinations for pet owners. Every morning and evening, residents can be seen walking and exercising with their pets, while the park also attracts visitors from other parts of Penang who appreciate its spacious environment and pet-friendly atmosphere.

He emphasised that the proposal is not about introducing a new concept but rather recognising an existing community practice that has developed naturally over the years.

An official pet-friendly designation would provide a framework for responsible pet ownership, including encouraging pet owners to maintain cleanliness, observe proper etiquette, and ensure that both pet owners and other park users can enjoy the space safely and respectfully.

The move could also serve as a model for similar initiatives elsewhere on the island, balancing the growing demand for pet-friendly recreational spaces with the needs of the wider community.

Feedback collected during the site survey will form part of MBPP’s ongoing evaluation before any decision is made on the proposal. If implemented, the initiative would mark a significant step towards creating more inclusive public spaces that cater to the diverse lifestyles of Penang residents while promoting responsible community stewardship.

Casa Permai Central Park:

A proposed 42-storey commercial development on a 1.2-acre site along Jalan SP Chelliah in George Town, adjacent to The Rise affordable housing scheme and about 1km from KOMTAR. The site is also within walking distance of Penang Times Square, placing it within one of the city’s established urban districts.

The development will comprise an 11-storey podium containing 21 shop and office units on the lower two floors, together with hotel facilities, while nine levels will be allocated for parking. Above the podium, Tower A will house a 30-storey serviced residence component with 292 units and two levels of resident facilities. Tower B will accommodate a hotel component with 351 rooms spread across 14 floors, complemented by two levels of hotel facilities.

The project is still pending approval, and further details will be made available upon its official launch.

Project Name: (to be confirmed)
Location : George Town
Property Type : Commercial
Land Area: 1.2 acres
Total Units : 292 (serviced residence)
Built-up Size: (to be confirmed)
Land Tenure : (to be confirmed)
Indicative Price : (to be confirmed)
Developer : (Follow us to find out more)

DISCLAIMER: This article is solely based on research done using publicly available data at the time of publication. This is not an advertisement. Any claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a project or service should be verified with the developer, provider or party in question.

The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has introduced the MBPP Strata Incentive, a new financial assistance programme aimed at helping low-cost and low-medium cost strata residential schemes manage their buildings and carry out essential maintenance works.

The initiative, announced by MBPP Mayor Dato’ Ir. A. Rajendran, comes after the council’s Commissioner of Buildings (COB) Department identified recurring challenges faced by many strata communities, including difficulties in establishing Joint Management Bodies (JMBs) or Management Corporations (MCs), as well as insufficient funds for routine maintenance and emergency repairs.

According to Rajendran, poor collection of maintenance charges has left many JMBs and MCs struggling to finance critical expenses such as lift repairs, plumbing works, water tank maintenance, utility bills and other urgent common property repairs.

To address these issues, MBPP has allocated RM50,000 annually for the programme, with eligible applicants able to receive a one-off grant of up to RM10,000, depending on the approved scope of work.

The incentive covers two key areas: management-related expenses, including the establishment of JMBs or MCs and the organisation of Annual General Meetings (AGMs) or Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs), as well as emergency maintenance and repair works involving common property in accordance with the Strata Management Act 2013 (Act 757).

Eligible applicants include JMBs, MCs, property management agents and parcel owners. However, the incentive is limited to private low-cost and low-medium cost strata developments with an original purchase price of RM100,000 or below, excluding mixed developments.

Applicants must also meet several eligibility criteria. The strata scheme must already have an active JMB or MC, achieve at least a 60% assessment tax payment rate among registered parcel owners based on MBPP records, and submit an updated list of owners or purchasers as part of the application.

To ensure proper use of public funds, successful recipients will be required to submit reports detailing the repair or replacement works carried out under the approved grant. Applications for subsequent funding will only be considered after a five-year interval from the date of the previous approval.

The MBPP Strata Incentive will take effect on 1 January 2027, in line with the council’s approved 2027 budget.

The initiative is expected to ease the financial burden on older strata communities, improve the upkeep of common facilities, and promote better building management for thousands of residents living in affordable high-rise housing across Penang Island.

A 2.20-acre parcel of land within the Butterworth Deep Water Wharves (BDWW) has been earmarked for a new logistics and commercial development, following the launch of a Request for Proposal (RFP) by Penang Port Sdn. Bhd. to identify a long-term developer and operator for the site.

Located within the operational boundaries of Butterworth Deep Water Wharves, the 8,897.35 sq m (95,770 sq ft) site currently accommodates an existing warehouse and open storage yard. The land is expected to be redeveloped into a facility that supports port-related activities, further strengthening the role of Butterworth as a key logistics gateway in Northern Malaysia.

According to the RFP, the successful proposer will be granted a sub-lease of up to 27 years to develop and operate the site. While the final development concept will depend on the selected proposal, Penang Port envisions uses such as logistics operations, warehousing, value-added services and other commercial activities that complement cargo handling and regional trade.

One of the site’s key advantages is its location within the Butterworth Deep Water Wharves, offering direct access to port infrastructure and efficient connectivity to Penang’s major industrial corridors. The location is approximately 9km from the Prai Industrial Area, 18km from Penang Science Park, 23.2km from the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone and 31.5km from Kulim Hi-Tech Park.

The site also falls within a Free Commercial Zone (FCZ), subject to regulatory approvals and applicable requirements. This designation is expected to enhance its attractiveness for companies involved in import-export activities, regional distribution, supply chain management and value-added logistics services.

As Penang continues to strengthen its position as a regional hub for semiconductor manufacturing, electrical and electronics industries, and advanced manufacturing, demand for modern logistics infrastructure has been steadily increasing. The proximity of the proposed development to major industrial clusters could help improve cargo movement and supply chain efficiency for businesses operating throughout the Northern Corridor.

The proposed project also reflects the continued evolution of Butterworth Deep Water Wharves beyond its traditional role as a cargo handling facility. Strategic investments in logistics infrastructure within the port are expected to support higher cargo throughput while creating opportunities for businesses that rely on efficient multimodal connectivity between sea, road and rail transport.

According to the RFP schedule, a briefing and site visit will be held on 30 June 2026, with proposal submissions closing on 30 July 2026.

PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT SITE:

A newly proposed commercial development has been planned along Jalan Utama in George Town, occupying a relatively compact site of approximately 0.3 acres. The site is located near the George Town Remand Prison and within close proximity to City Stadium Penang.

The development will comprise a 27-storey office tower featuring 136 office suites. Given the limited land size, parking provision will be accommodated through an automated mechanical car parking tower. In addition, rooftop facilities are planned as part of the development.

The project is still pending approval, and further details will be made available upon its official launch.

Project Name: (to be confirmed)
Location : George Town
Property Type : Commercial (office suites)
Land Area: 0.3 acres
Total Units : 136
Built-up Size: (to be confirmed)
Land Tenure : (to be confirmed)
Indicative Price : (to be confirmed)
Developer : (Follow us to find out more)

DISCLAIMER: This article is solely based on research done using publicly available data at the time of publication. This is not an advertisement. Any claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a project or service should be verified with the developer, provider or party in question.