SJK(C) Kuang Yu in Batu Kawan has officially obtained its Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC), marking another major milestone for the school’s new campus.

The new school building, which costs more than RM20 million, is the result of an eight-year journey that began with discussions on the school’s relocation in 2018. The school subsequently obtained relocation and building approvals from the Ministry of Education in 2019.

The CCC handover ceremony was held last Sunday and attended by Penang State Executive Councillor for Local Government and Town & Country Planning H’ng Mooi Lye, who represented Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

H’ng said the Penang state government has consistently supported schools of various streams, including Chinese vernacular schools, through assistance in land, infrastructure and education development.

He noted that the land for the new SJK(C) Kuang Yu campus was allocated by the state government, describing the project as a result of cooperation between the state government, the school board and the wider community.

The completion of the new campus also brings the number of Chinese primary schools in South Seberang Perai to eight, up from seven previously.

RM5 million still needed for facilities

Despite the completion of the building, school board chairman and building committee head Dato Goh Kim Heong said the campus is currently largely empty and is expected to require around RM5 million for hardware, software and other facilities.

He thanked the consultants, building committee members and members of the community who supported the project, particularly during the early stages when funding was limited.

Architectural consultant Mei Chee Seong described the new campus as a “school for the future”, saying the next phase would focus on developing its facilities and resources.

He expressed hope that the school would eventually become a community growth and education centre.

After eight years of planning and construction, the CCC marks an important step forward for SJK(C) Kuang Yu. The next challenge will be fully equipping the new campus so it can serve future generations of students.

A proposed landed residential development at Permatang Tinggi in Bukit Mertajam, an area surrounded by established residential and commercial developments. The project is situated next to IJM’s Permatang Sanctuary and close to Santuari Commercial Centre. It is also within about 3km of AEON Mall and Lotus’s Bukit Mertajam, with easy access to nearby townships via Jalan Rozhan.

The proposed development will comprise 149 residential units, made up of 148 units of two-storey semi-detached houses and one two-storey bungalow. The semi-detached houses will be offered in two different layout types. The project is still pending approval, and further details, including the development schedule and other specifications, have not been announced at this stage.

Project Name: (to be confirmed)
Location : Bukit Mertajam
Property Type : Semi-detached & bungalow
Total Units : 148 (semi-detached), 1 (bungalow)
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.

Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is expanding its public electric vehicle (EV) charging network, with another 94 charging bays expected to be ready by December, as the number of council-supervised bays on Penang island is set to double.

According to a news report by The Star, the expansion aims to make EV ownership more convenient, particularly for island residents living in high-rise properties where installing private chargers can be challenging.

MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the additional bays would increase the number under MBPP’s supervision from 94 to 188. Another 261 charging bays are privately operated, bringing the island’s total to 355 currently.

Of MBPP’s existing 94 bays, 92 are equipped with DC fast chargers, offering charging capacities of between 60kW and 120kW. These can typically charge an EV from 20% to 80% in about 30 to 60 minutes. The remaining two use 22kW AC chargers, which can take around six to eight hours for a full charge.

One advantage for EV owners is that MBPP parking fees do not apply while their vehicles are actively charging at council roadside charging bays. However, idle charges may be imposed if vehicles remain parked after charging is completed.

Motorists can locate charging facilities and check availability through the MBPP PEARL App or the respective charging operators’ platforms.

The expansion is welcomed by EV owners who face limited charging options at their residences. EV driver Brian Song said his condominium has only one AC charging point, while another driver, Melissa Subhi, said her apartment in Tanjung Bungah has no charging facilities.

As EV adoption continues to grow, the expansion of public and residential charging infrastructure will become increasingly important in supporting Penang’s transition towards cleaner transportation.

Photo source: Buletin Mutiara

The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has approved new guidelines allowing development rights to be transferred from properties within the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site to other suitable development sites.

The move is aimed at helping property owners make use of development potential that may be restricted by heritage requirements, while preventing excessive development from being concentrated in a single location.

MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the new guidelines set a maximum plot ratio of two for development rights transferred to a receiving site.

Previously, there was no specific limit on the amount of development rights that could be accepted at a new development site.

However, Rajendran stressed that the two plot ratio cap does not mean every property owner will automatically qualify to transfer development rights equivalent to a plot ratio of two.

The actual amount will depend on factors including the size and number of properties owned within the George Town heritage site.

“If you have only two or three properties, the transferable plot ratio could be 0.2 or 0.3,” he said during MBPP’s full board meeting on Friday (Aug 21).

The TDR mechanism is particularly relevant to heritage properties where development is restricted by factors such as building height and other conservation requirements. Under the new framework, the unused development potential can be transferred to another suitable site, subject to MBPP’s approval and planning requirements.

However, receiving sites will still need to meet all relevant planning and technical requirements. These include Traffic Impact Assessments (TIA), Social Impact Assessments (SIA), structural considerations, surrounding infrastructure and applicable height restrictions.

Rajendran also stressed that the transfer of development rights does not amount to automatic approval for development at the receiving site.

The guidelines cover relevant areas within the George Town World Heritage Site, including the core and buffer zones. They apply to commercial, mixed-use and residential properties, subject to the conditions imposed on the receiving sites.

All properties within the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site are currently eligible for consideration under the TDR guidelines, regardless of whether they are used for residential or commercial purposes.

Rajendran said the new framework would allow development potential to be managed more sustainably while helping to protect George Town’s heritage character and prevent development pressure from being concentrated in particular areas.

Artist impression

FBG Holdings Bhd, formerly known as Fajarbaru Builder Group Bhd, is seeking to withdraw from the joint development of the Penang Medi-City project in Batu Kawan.

The construction firm said its wholly owned subsidiary, FBG Land Sdn Bhd, had written to the Penang Development Corp (PDC) to cease proceeding with the collaboration under the master purchase and development agreement (PDA). FBG proposed that both parties discuss an orderly conclusion of the existing collaboration.

FBG Land and PDC are currently discussing the proposed cessation, with the company saying further announcements will be made upon any material developments or once the terms and conditions are agreed.

The PDA for the first phase of Penang Medi-City was signed in January 2025. The 235.8-acre project was planned as a mixed development incorporating healthcare and wellness facilities alongside residential, retail and commercial components.

Under the agreement, FBG was to acquire a 51.2-acre Parcel 1 in Bandar Cassia for RM111.5 million. The parcel was expected to generate a gross development value of RM2 billion over eight years.

FBG had previously undertaken a rights issue with free warrants to fund the land acquisition. In December last year, the exercise raised RM54.9 million through the issuance of 304.995 million rights shares.