THE Bukit D.O. Recreation Park, off Jalan Sri Bukit in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, will be given a RM2mil facelift under a landscaping project initiated by the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP).

MPSP president Maimunah Mohd Sharif said the Penang Water Supply Corporation Sdn Bhd (PBAPP) would sponsor the upgrading works, which would begin in September and be completed by March next year.

The project is under a series of corporate social responsibility (CSR) landscaping projects by the MPSP.

“Up until May, MPSP has obtained sponsorship for 12 CSR landscaping projects, which are among 37 projects that have been identified for this year.

“So far, we have completed two CSR projects, namely the Vision Park in Kepala Batas and Taman Tugu Kota Demokrasi Bagan in Mak Mandin, while the rest are in different stages of development,” she said, when Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng launched the Bukit D.O. Recreation Park CSR landscaping project at the park yesterday.

Maimunah said under the project, the Bukit D.O. Recreation Park would have 100 car parking lots, a 390m-long bicycle trek, a 360m-long jogging trek, a jungle trek, six toilet cubicles, benches, sales kiosk, proper fencing as well as more plants and outdoor exercise equipment.

She said the park’s electrical substation, water pump, gateway, drains, reflexology path, gazebo, covered lookout point, therapy park, covered aerobics base, yoga base, hilltop base and staircases would also be repaired and upgraded.

She said the other nine sponsored CSR landscaping projects were at the Bandar Perda roundabout, Taman Tunku Seberang Jaya roundabout, Bukit Minyak ‘A’ roundabout, Bukit Minyak ‘B’ roundabout, Bukit Tengah roundabout, Highway Auto-City Juru, Seberang Jaya roundabout, Jalan Tenggiri roundabout and Bandar Putra Bertam roundabout.

Lim said the little known Bukit D.O. park was named after the acronym for ‘district officer’, as the former official residence of the central Seberang Prai district officer was located on the hill, along with the district’s former public library building.

Also present was Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng, Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik, Padang Lalang assemblyman Tan Cheong Heng and PBAPP corporate affairs manager K. Jeyabalan.

Source: The Star

GEORGE TOWN: Penang may have been named one of Asia’s most liveable cities, but two non-governmental organisations here beg to differ.

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) argued that Penang was becoming unliveable due to “mindless development”.

“The kind of development that is taking place leaves no space for conservation,” said S.M. Mohamed Idris, who is president of both NGOs.

He claimed that hills were being destroyed while in places like Tanjung Tokong, the sea was being polluted by reclamation.

Yesterday, a small group of CAP and SAM members staged a 15-minute peaceful protest outside the construction site of a hillslope housing project in Bukit Gambier ahead of World Environment Day today.

Speaking to reporters later, Idris said the current number of high-rise developments was unnecessary.

“Based on our observations, we estimate that 40% to 50% of high-rise units in Penang are unoccupied,” he said.

He urged the Federal Government, state government and local authorities to halt all hillslope projects and gazette forests and mangrove areas as permanent forest reserves.

“Coastal reclamation and aquaculture activities in Penang have also contributed to the destruction of the natural coastal ecosystem. Approxi­mately 70% of mangrove forests in the state have been destroyed by development projects.

“All these threats to the environment have led to at least 40 species of river and marine life to be endangered or extinct,” Idris said.

When contacted, state Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said: “We appreciate their concerns. I hope we can work together and that they provide us with their insight and help.”

Source: The Star

THE Star Property Fair 2012 is back for its 10th year with a more interesting array of programmes.

The Star regional operations manager (north) Chung Chok Yin said the overwhelming public response had contributed to the fair’s 10th edition.

“I hope those who wish to buy houses will obtain useful information from this showcase of prime property projects in Penang and overseas,” said Chung.

He added that the property market in Penang was resilient.

He was speaking after the fair’s launching by Star Publications (M) Bhd executive director Tan Sri Kamal Hashim at Star Northern Hub in Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Touted as the state’s premier property expo, the fair will be held at Gurney Plaza and G Hotel from July 12 to July 15.

To date, about 40 developers who are major local and international players in the sector have taken up booths at the fair.

Joining them are several financial institutions and investment companies.

The four-day exhibition will feature property talks and forums conducted by specialists to provide useful information on property investment as well as related issues such as feng shui.

The main sponsor for the fair is IJM Land Bhd.

A special programme titled ‘Star-IJM Contest’ has been lined up for the fair.

Visitors who fill in the form published in the newspapers will be entitled to a lucky dip offering prizes including digital devices and tablets.

A booth will also be set up for those wanting to subscribe to The Star’s newspaper and ePaper bundle.

The fair is open to the public from 10am to 10pm daily. Admission is free.

Source: The Star

GEORGE TOWN: Residents of an estate in Mount Erskine are not satisfied with the compensation offered by a housing developer that bought the land there. It is learnt that the developer had issued a letter of eviction to the residents last month.

Residents association chairman Teh Kim Long, 74, claimed that the compensation of between RM30,000 and RM60,000 offered to the residents, was less than half of the current property value.

“Residents were given the option to accept the money or get a flat with a built-up area of 55.7sq m (600sq ft),” he said, claiming that 62 residents were affected by the development.

Teh claimed the residents wanted to pay the quit rent to the developer but the latter did not want to receive the payment.

“It is stated behind our quit rent receipt that if the quit rent is not paid in six months, the residents would lose their right to voice out their concern and cannot object to any changes conducted by the land owner,” he claimed during a press conference at Pulau Tikus assemblyman Koay Teng Hai’s service centre in Jalan Peirce yesterday.

Teh said that the residents were confused as they are unsure as to who they should pay their quit rent.

“We have engaged a lawyer to collect our quit rent and seek his service to hand over the quit rent to the developer.

“Several residents have paid their quit rent to the previous land owner as they fear they might lose their right,” he said.

Koay said according to the land office, the ownership of the land was transferred to the developer on Jan 5.

“I have also called the developer to convey the wishes of the residents last month,” Koay said.

When contacted, the developer refused to comment on the matter.

Source: The Star

Teluk Bahang Wellness Resort, 5-star Resort & Suite Hotel comprises wellness centre for rejuvenation and cosmetic surgery, unique water themes within and outside hotel, holistic spa, exclusive clubbing and fine dining. It also comes with one stop duty free shopping and a wide rage of guest F&B facilities including sky lobby and restaurant.

Location : Teluk Bahang, Penang
Property Type : Suites and Hotel
Developer : General & Global Assets Sdn. Bhd.