The Penang government gave credit to all 1.6 million Penangites for a “historic feat” after the state recorded the highest manufacturing investments in the country, for the second year running, last year.

“This is a marvellous and incredible achievement for the second smallest state in Malaysia without any natural resources,” Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said in a statement today.

He noted that International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamad had announced Penang topped manufacturing investments for 2011 with RM9.1 billion. The figure surpassed the state’s RM6.1 billion target.

“In 2010, Penang became top in manufacturing investment in Malaysia for the first time in history with RM12.2 billion,” he noted.

“Open competitive tenders and public declaration of assets by Penang government leaders have inspired confidence amongst investors of our political commitment towards good and clean governance as well as personal obligation to integrity in leadership,” he said.

Lim expressed the state’s gratitude to Mustapa and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) for their co-operation with InvestPenang.

“The late (former chief minister) Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu should not be forgotten for his legacy in laying the foundation of an industrial state that has enabled the present government to build on this singular success,” he added.

Calling the feat to emerge top for the second consecutive year “unexpected”, he said the state government has focused on consolidating its human resources and building up capacity to attract critical sectors that are knowledge-intensive, high-tech and high-value added in electronics, LED lighting, renewable energy such as solar energy, avionics and aerospace, medical devices and biotechnology.

Lim stressed that for the first time ever, Mida introduced a new measurement indicator of “total investment” which included manufacturing, services and primary sectors.

“In this new category of ‘total investment’, Penang lost out narrowly to Sarawak which received a huge boost from oil and gas investments,” he said.

He stressed that state has identified the services sector as one of the twin engines of economic growth together with manufacturing. Penang hopes to see the services grow to more than 50% of GDP by 2020.

“The Penang state government is willing to share this success with the Federal government for the benefit not only of 1.6 million Penangites but for all Malaysians who will benefit from the increased tax receipts,” he said.

Lim said the state will further upgrade logistics and infrastructure, both physical and digital, while focussing on training, retraining, retaining and attracting new talent.

“At the same time, the development of the SME sector will only intensify with the expected completion of the Penang SME Centre in June this year that offers cheap rentals to technological start-up companies,” he added.

Source: TheSunDaily

ONE of the oldest markets in Penang — the Chowrasta Market — will be transformed into an iconic landmark in the state under a proposed major facelift project costing up to RM12mil.

Well-known for its stores selling second-hand books, preserved fruits and other titbits, the run-down three-storey building is set to undergo a major makeover since it was last upgraded in 1961.

Arkitek LLA Sdn Bhd director Ong Jin Cheng said the market would sport a refreshing new look under the project which is expected to cost between RM10mil and RM12mil.

The firm has been engaged by the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) as the project’s architect.

The original Chowrasta Market was built in 1890 by the George Town Municipal Council.

The market faces Penang Road and is flanked by Lebuh Tamil, Jalan Chowrasta and Jalan Kuala Kangsar.

Ong said there were plans for an urban farm on the rooftop where hydroponic plants could be grown.

“We have proposed that an escalator be built for easier access to the upper levels.

“The first floor will also be equipped with amenities for the public,” he said at a press conference in Komtar yesterday.

He said creepers would be grown along the side of the walls of the multi-storey car park at the back portion of the building under the proposed new look.

MPPP secretary Ang Aing Thye said the project was still at the designing stage and the council was getting more feedback from the public.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was present, said the upgrading of the market would be helmed by heritage architect Laurence Loh from the same firm.

“The traders can continue to operate their business there in a cleaner, greener, safer and healthy environment,” he said.

Lim added that the contractor for the project would be chosen through an open tender.

When contacted, Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik said the project design was almost ready.

“Now we need to know the actual cost for each element of the project,” he said adding that the upgrading works were expected to begin within the next few months.

It was reported in December last year that a multi-storey car park and travelators were among the proposals to rejuvenate the market.

It was proposed that one third of the back portion of the market be demolished to build a five-storey car park with 153 parking bays.

Source: The Star

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IJM Land Bhd posted a lower pre-tax profit of RM76.3 million for the third quarter ended Dec 31, 2011, from RM105.6 million in the same period previously.

Revenue, however, rose to RM292.9 million against RM255.2 million before.

In a filing to Bursa Malaysia, it said the lower pre-tax profit was mainly due to the recognition of gain on disposal of Delta Awana totalling RM62.95 million in the corresponding quarter previously.

The higher revenue came from the property development segment, particularly the Light development in Penang and Shah Alam 2 project in Selangor.– BERNAMA

SOURCE: Business Times

Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff has asked Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to probe possible irregularities in development projects in Balik Pulau, Penang.

“I invite them to investigate but if there is none (no irregularities), then it is fine.

“So far there are about 80 families which are facing court cases after they were asked to leave by developers,” he said.

“I was told by those affected that there were no discussions made nor were they informed by the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) on the development projects that were approved,” he added.

“If the council said that they had discussed with the villagers involved, please show us the proof.

“We do not reject development but what we want is development that can benefit the people and is sustainable,” he said.

Yusmadi said the affected villages in Balik Pulau had elected a representative each and had formed a task force called the ‘Rights to Land & Housing Task Force’ which he heads.

Speaking at a press conference at his People’s Rights Centre in Pekan Simpang Empat on Jalan Balik Pulau, yesterday, he said the task force was set up to manage housing rights such as eviction and the welfare of those affected.

Yusmadi also pledged that he would not offer himself to contest again for the Balik Pulau parliamentary seat should any house that he was representing be demolished.

MPPP councillor Harvinder Singh said when a developer proposed a project, the council’s One Stop Centre (OSC) would view his proposal and would ask the council’s Planning Department to issue notification letters to the site’s neighbouring lot to see if there were any objections.

“This is done under Section 21 (6) of the Local Act. Should there be no objection from the neighbouring lots, a second notice will be issued to inform them on the development which will happen in their area,” he said when contacted.

“Letters will be issued to neighbouring lot within 20m of the surrounding project site,” he said.

Harvinder, who is also an OSC committee member, said the centre would then review the proposal again and impose conditions to the developer based on the feedback from neighbouring lots as well as infrastructure companies.

Source: The Star

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has refuted claims that Ivory Properties Group Berhad – the winning bidder for the purchase of a 41.5ha plot of land in Bayan Mutiara – had submitted its tender proposal after the close of the bidding period.

Lim said the company’s proposal was given before the Dec 31, 2010 deadline and not in March, as has been alleged.

“(Penang Umno chief Datuk) Zainal Abidin (Osman) and (Kota Belud MP Datuk) Abdul Rahman (Dahlan) are again lying and we all know who are the ones who should retire from politics,” Lim said.

Lim had previously offered to retire from politics if it could be proven that the Bayan Mutiara land sale was not done via open tender.

On Saturday, Zainal Abidin had said that Ivory Properties Group only sent its bid to the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) on March 3 last year.

He said this information came from a document sent by the company to the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange on Nov 11 last year.

Asked for details about the bids, Lim said he had not been furnished with the documents but would disclose the information soon.

PDC general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar said there had been four bidders for the Bayan Mutiara land.

Ivory Properties Group chairman and group CEO Datuk Low Eng Hock said the company had submitted its bid on Dec 31, 2010 before the noon deadline.

On another matter, Lim said a second debate between himself and MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek should be televised.

The first showdown between the two leaders was held in Mandarin on Saturday and was telecast live from Berjaya Times Square on two Astro channels.

Lim also accused the mainstream media of “whitewashing” personal attacks made against him during the debate.

He also refuted a news commentary that he (Lim) wanted a second debate to “repair the damage” from the first debate.

“I wrote to the debate’s co-organiser, Asli (Asian Strategy and Lea­dership Institute), on Feb 15 asking for a second debate,” Lim said.

Source: The Star