Following the success of Maris, E&O is launching another high-rise development along the coast of Andaman Island. With the new bridge linking the island to Gurney Drive opening soon, essential amenities and services in George Town and the Gurney Drive area will be just a 5-minute drive away.

Located next to the Maris serviced apartment on Andaman Island, the development consists of two 52-storey serviced apartment towers above a basement level with two lower-ground floors. The units are fully furnished and designed for immediate occupancy, offering a move-in ready living space with unobstructed views of the surrounding seascape and the Penang Island skyline.

Project Name : (to be confirmed)
Location : Andaman Island
Property Type : Serviced apartment
Tenure : Freehold
Built-up Size: (to be confirmed)
Total Units : (to be confirmed)
Indicative Price: (to be confirmed)
Developer : E&O Berhad

DISCLAIMER: This article is solely based on research done using publicly available data. 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 is gearing up for a major digital upgrade—this time in the world of land administration. The state officially signed its Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession agreement for the new e-Tanah system today at the Islamic Arts Museum in Kuala Lumpur, marking a big leap forward in how land matters will be handled in the future.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who witnessed the signing, called the moment a turning point for Penang’s digital ambitions under the Penang2030 vision.

“This agreement is not just a contract—it’s a catalyst,” he said. “We want a system that’s fast, secure, efficient, and truly people-centric.”

And Penang definitely needs one. With massive reclamation projects like Andaman Island and Silicon Island Phase 1 in the pipeline—together boasting over RM100 billion in gross development value—the state expects land-related transactions to surge from 15,000 cases a year to as many as 30,000 in the coming decade. Everything from land transfers and leases to strata titles and Exco approvals is set to rise sharply.

The current e-Tanah system, introduced back in 2008, has been showing its age for years. Even with RM8.3 million poured into maintenance and upgrades, users still face sluggish processes, limited features, and recurring inefficiencies. A fresh, modern, fully integrated system isn’t just nice to have anymore—it’s essential.

Thanks to support from the Federal Government, including NRES, JKPTG, UKAS and the Prime Minister’s Department, the next-generation platform will now move ahead under a 14-year concession with Puncak Tegap Sdn. Bhd., developed through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). Chow also expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for backing the effort.

The Federal Government, represented at the event by Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, lauded the project as a strong example of collaboration between federal agencies, state authorities, and the private sector. Johari stressed that efficient land governance is the backbone of economic development and smoother public service delivery.

The good news is that Penang is already building momentum. Since launching the PgLAND system in 2023, the state has seen usage jump by an impressive 73%—from 103,000 users to 178,860 in 2025. PgLAND currently handles digital title transfers, registrations, and land searches, and the plan is for the new e-Tanah platform to integrate seamlessly with it.

“We want PgLAND to eventually become a fully efficient platform for land and parcel tax collection,” Chow said. “Integration with e-Tanah will strengthen Penang’s overall digital delivery ecosystem.”

If everything goes according to plan, Penang should have a fully functional next-gen e-Tanah system by 2027—right on track with the state’s push toward smarter, faster, and more transparent digital governance.

The government is taking another look at the proposed 30-year building age threshold under the Urban Renewal Bill, aiming to make sure the benchmark truly reflects what happens to buildings in the real world — not just on paper. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the review is meant to balance technical factors with economic and social realities on the ground.

According to the ministry, the 30-year mark was never meant to suggest that buildings are structurally “old” or unsafe. Instead, it’s a practical point where many buildings start showing signs of aging or becoming less suitable for modern living. This includes physical wear and tear, outdated layouts, older technology, rising maintenance costs and difficulty meeting newer safety standards.

In reality, a building’s condition varies widely depending on its material quality, soil conditions, and how well it’s been maintained. Some issues — especially in older flats without lifts or poorly managed strata schemes — can show up even earlier, sometimes within 20 to 30 years.

While engineering standards like JKR 20800:2020 state that a building should have a working structural life of at least 50 years, the ministry clarified that lifespan alone doesn’t tell the full story. By the time a building hits around 30 years old, internal systems such as lifts, water tanks, wiring, piping and sewerage often start to break down. If maintenance has been neglected, these problems can pile up quickly.

From an economic angle, buildings also become less viable to maintain once the cost of repairs exceeds their market value. This typically happens between 30 and 40 years, depending on location and market demand. Buildings aged 25 to 40 years often require major repairs, those between 40 and 60 years may be due for full renewal, and non-heritage buildings approaching 70 years old are usually considered outdated unless they’ve been exceptionally well taken care of.

Malaysia’s laws already require regular checks as buildings age. Under Section 85A of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, high-rise buildings must undergo visual and structural inspections 10 years after getting their CCC, and then every 10 years after that. These inspections must be done by professional engineers and submitted to the local authority.

The minister stressed that any adjustment to the age threshold will be made carefully. The goal is not to create unnecessary financial pressure on residents, but to ensure buildings remain safe, functional and suitable for modern community needs.

M Zenni – Mah Sing’s new launch in Batu Maung

Buoyed by a strong quarterly performance and strategic new land acquisitions, property developer Mah Sing Group Bhd expects the domestic property market to remain resilient into 2026. The group, which posted a 10.3% rise in net profit to RM66.3 million for the third quarter ended September 30, is bolstering its portfolio with a sharp focus on key growth areas, including Penang.

Supported by solid unbilled sales of RM3.14 billion and a focus on fast-track project completions, Mah Sing is confident of sustaining its performance for the rest of the financial year ending December 31, 2025. This optimism is rooted in sustained demand for its project launches and resilient sales momentum.

A key part of Mah Sing’s growth strategy involves strategic land banking. This year, the group acquired five strategic plots with a combined gross development value (GDV) of RM4.1 billion. Significantly, one of these key acquisitions is M Cora in George Town, Penang, highlighting the state’s importance in the group’s expansion plans. This acquisition underscores Mah Sing’s commitment to tapping into the vibrant property market of the northern region.

Penang is already a notable contributor to Mah Sing’s portfolio, with M Zenni being its latest project. The addition of M Cora will further deepen the group’s presence in this high-demand market, catering to the consistent interest in properties on the island.

The group’s property development segment saw a 15% jump in operating profit to RM319.6 million for the period ended September 30, driven by progressive revenue recognition from ongoing projects. Strong domestic fundamentals, including stable employment and policy support for first-time buyers, are expected to continue fuelling housing demand.

Mah Sing’s Founder and Group Managing Director, Tan Sri Leong Hoy Kum, stated that the group’s strategic moves in 2025 have positioned it for sustained growth. With a healthy balance sheet and a portfolio that resonates with buyers, Mah Sing is poised to capture growing demand in key growth corridors, with its expanding footprint in Penang playing a crucial role in its long-term strategy.

A mixed development proposed near Taman Bukit Kecil Indah in Bukit Mertajam. Strategically located on a 3.45-acre parcel along Jalan Song Ban Kheng and within a short walking distance to SJKC Beng Teik. The site benefits from close access to surrounding townships and various amenities located just minutes away.

The planned development consists of a 34-storey residential block, featuring 420 units of affordable housing, each measuring 950 sq ft. It also includes eight ground-floor commercial units, a multi-storey car park spanning the ground to the sixth floor, as well as a facility floor with swimming pool and gymnasium.

The project is still in its planning stage and more details will be available upon official launch.

READ MORE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING:

• Eligibility and the requirement of buying affordable housing
• Full list of affordable housing in Penang

Project Name : (to be confirmed)
Location : Bukit Mertajam
Property Type : Mixed development
Tenure: (to be confirmed)
Land Area: 3.93 acres
Built-up Size: 950 sq.ft.
Total Units : 420
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. 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.