known for its rich heritage and vibrant culture, will soon welcome the opening of the RM80mil Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery at The Light City in Gelugor.

Named after the owner-cum-world-renowned artist and entrepreneur, the seven-storey gallery will have retail shops, basement carpark and restaurant sited on a 0.36ha land.

The 86,929.34sq ft gallery is expected to be completed in 15 months.

Prof Lin, who was at the gallery’s commencement ceremony, said there was potential for further international recognition with Penang’s cultural and artistic development on the rise.

“I aspire for my gallery to become a platform showcasing the fusion of East and West cultures, thus elevating Penang’s cultural and artistic ambience and global standing, and at the same time fostering a harmonious atmosphere that unites diverse cultural beliefs and traditions.

“I believe that cultural and artistic works possess the power to promote global peace, infusing positive energy into cultural and artistic content and guiding those who may have strayed from the right path,” he said in his speech.

Prof Lin, who is also Space Art and Culture (Malaysia) Private Limited chief executive officer, said the art gallery was on track for completion and its opening date had been planned for Sept 9, 2025.

“I intend to showcase 500 of my artworks but I can only showcase 300 at any one time so the remainder will have to be rotated periodically.

“Penang has also stood out as my choice location in my quest to establish this gallery, due to its storied history, international recognition and the unwavering support of the Penang government and its people,” he said while talking about luminaries like Penangite Dr Wu Lien Teh, who invented the medical face mask.

Prof Lin also highlighted the state’s rich East-West cultural exchange history spanning over two centuries and emphasised George Town’s rich multiculturalism, which has ignited a lively and diverse cultural tapestry.

Also present at the ceremony were IJM Land advisor Datuk Toh Chin Leong, IJM Land northern region general manager Goh Su Yin and other guests.

Toh, in his speech, lauded Prof Lin’s unwavering commitment and sacrifices in making the gallery a reality.

These include the challenges encountered during construction such as having to deal with escalating costs of building materials and labour, and disruptions brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The art gallery is not a conventional investment but a dream to use art as a conduit for peace and harmony among humanity,” said Toh.

Goh said the gallery’s design would be that of a turtle approaching the shore – signifying longevity and kindness.

“Prof Lin was inspired by the turtles we used to have in our nearby Light Collection project. That was how he came up with the building’s design,” she said.

The artist, hailing from Guangdong, China, has gained international acclaim as both an artist and entrepreneur.

Currently a citizen of Singapore, Prof Lin pursued his studies on the island republic and France and has exhibited his artworks at exhibitions worldwide.

Source: TheStar.com.my

Nanyang Street @ RU Square is the transformation of early Penang Style while adapting to the Southern Eclectic Style building to Modern Living Shophouses from the George Town UNESCO World-Heritage to the heart of Raja Uda, Butterworth. This is part of the approximately 14-acre development of RU Square which consists of residential and commercial properties upon completion. This well-planned commercial development is proudly brought to you by Jayamas Property Group.

This development offers 77 units of freehold extendable 4-storey shop offices that feature the Eclectic Style Shophouses from three different eras till the end of exhaustion to the late Qing Dynasty. The built-up is from 3,337 sq. ft – 7,337 sq. ft. Indicative selling price starts from RM1,980,000. It is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.

Project Name: Nanyang Street @ RU Square
Location: Raja Uda, Butterworth
Property Type: 4-storey shop office (Extendable)
Built-up Size: 3,337 sq.ft. – 7,337 sq.ft.
Total Unit: 77 units
Indicative Price: RM1,980,000 onwards
Developer: Jayamas RU Sdn Bhd (Jayamas Property)

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.

About Ferringhi Hills

A landed residential development within the established township of Batu Ferringhi. It is located along Persiaran Sungai Emas 1, only 10 minutes walk to Ferringhi Beach. It will feature a mix of 3-storey terrace (with lower-ground level) and semi-detached, bungalow houses, to be constructed in two phases.

Find out more about Ferringhi Hills

The implementation of a vacancy tax could be a key factor in addressing the issue of vacant and unsold housing units across Malaysia.

Khazanah Research Institute’s Theebalakshmi Kunasekaran said this tax is imposed on housing units that remain unoccupied or unused for a certain time period.

It is usually calculated as a percentage of the gross selling price of these units, which means the higher priced housing units will have a greater corresponding tax amount.

She noted in a report the aim of this tax is to encourage developers to be more cautious when planning housing projects.

“They would be prompted to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study to analyse the local market demand and provide housing that caters to the diverse needs of different population segments.

“This can prevent oversupplying products that can contribute to the property glut,” she said.

According to Theebalakshmi, this tax will also discourage speculative activities by people who hold units to make quick profits.

Meanwhile, Theebalakhsmi said vacant units not only are left idle, but also impact resources and neighbourhoods in terms of development. She said when there are overhang units, there is less utilisation of public transport services which will place a strain on public resources.

“Additionally, the presence of unoccupied units can also lead to disinvestment in townships by discouraging property developers and businesses from investing in the neighbourhoods,” she said.

Theebalakhsmi concluded the vacancy tax will push developers and homeowners to start selling or renting their empty units to avoid paying the tax.

“Consequently, this will provide home buyers with access to affordable housing options as developers lower their price through ‘fire sales’ to clear the glut.”

Source: TheStar.com.my

Chinatown @ Raja Uda, is themed uniquely and integrated FREEHOLD commercial development where everything converges in one location to satisfy businesses, offices, entertainment, food & beverages and local amenities need. It is now set to change the Raja Uda townscape through a well-planned collection of the Chinatown themed commercial spaces within a thriving hotspot of commercial activity. This well-planned commercial development is proudly brought to you by Jayamas Property Group.

This development offers 30 units of freehold extendable 4-storey shop offices, featuring a build-up from 3,337 sq.ft – 7,337 sq.ft. Indicative selling price starts from RM1,800,000. It is scheduled for completion by 1st Quarter of 2026.

Project Name: Chinatown @ Raja Uda
Location: Raja Uda, Butterworth
Property Type: 4-storey shop office (Extendable)
Built-up Size: 3,337 sq.ft. – 7,337 sq.ft.
Total Unit: 30 units
Indicative Price: RM1,800,000 onwards
Developer: Jayamas RU Sdn Bhd  (Jayamas Property)

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.