Image source: Buletin Mutiara

A federal agency will undertake a project to alleviate traffic congestion on the busy Juru-Sungai Dua stretch of the North-South Expressway soon.

Recognising the economic importance of the stretch located in the middle of the Seberang Perai industrial area, Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) will apply for federal funds to carry out the project.

Chow said the NCIA will first undertake an in-depth study to consider if road expansion or an elevated highway would solve the congestion problem.

He said the daily congestion had caused a slowdown in the movement of high-value cargo in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), affecting RM447 billion of exports from the states of Perlis, Kedah and Penang.

“The Juru-Sungai Dua stretch is plied by traffic from these three states, with some 1.3 million people using them.

“The current level of service has impacted the economy of Penang and its neighbours. Traffic has also spilled over to local roads and the Penang bridge. This has reduced our competitive edge and productivity as a whole.

“It has also reduced input and output along the value chain, 70% of which are high-value cargo. We hope federal funds will be made available to kickstart this scheme,” he said at a press conference in Komtar yesterday.

Chow said the NCIA has applied for a budget to study the traffic alleviation scheme under the fourth rolling plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan to kickstart the project.

At the same event, NCIA CEO Haris Kader Sultan said the study will cost at least RM5 million and will be carried out next year once funds are available.

Source: FreeMalaysiaToday.com

Yet another proposed affordable housing development at Sungai Ara. Undertaken by Century Bliss Sdn. Bhd., this development will be located near Changkat Sungai Ara 11, just a stone’s throw away from Setia Pinnacle. It is about 15 minutes drive to Bayan Baru town centre.

The project consists of a 52-story building, including 3 lower ground levels, which will feature a total of 1,190 affordable units and 12 levels of car parking podium:

• Tower A: 900sq.ft. (800 units)
• Tower B: 750sq.ft. (240 units), 700sq.ft. (150 units)

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

READ MORE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING:

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

Project Name : (to be confirmed)
Location : Sungai Ara
Property Type : Affordable housing
Tenure: (to be confirmed)
Land Area: (to be confirmed)
Built-up Size: 700sq.ft., 750sq.ft., 900sq.ft.
Total Units : 1,190
Indicative Price : RM72,500 onwards (affordable housing)
Developer : Century Bliss Sdn. Bhd.

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 island’s former mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang (pic) hopes the city council’s application to join the Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities will be successful.

Yew chaired his final city council meeting and began his retirement on May 3.

Penang Island City Council’s (MBPP) application to join the network, set up by World Health Organisation (WHO), was sent last month.

Yew told Buletin Mutiara he was proud that MBPP was chosen by Penang government to implement the age-friendly initiative introduced by WHO to promote the well-being of the elderly, increase their social and economic participation as well as create a more sustainable and liveable community.

“Data obtained from the Statistics Department shows that the population aged 60 and over will increase from 14.87% in 2020 to 26.2% by 2040.

“Penang is also a state with a large population aged 60 and over compared to other states in Malaysia.

“To prepare for the increase, MBPP and Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) recently signed a public-private partnership for three years with a consultant, the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS), to introduce the Age-Friendly City Project.

“This project will adopt WHO guidelines. The main goal is to make Penang an age-friendly city by providing facilities and services that meet the needs of residents of various ages and abilities,” said Yew at a press conference in Komtar.

Penang executive councillor Chong Eng called the press conference to announce MBPP’s application to become a WHO Age-Friendly City.

Chong Eng, who oversees PWDC as Penang social development committee chairman, thanked Yew for being a signatory to the application.

“The Penang government hopes that by carrying out this Age-Friendly City initiative, it can help the people of Penang of all ages to gain access to services and infrastructure that are more inclusive.

“This will directly improve the quality of life as you age.

“Penang remains committed to providing services and a friendly environment to the people, taking into account age, gender, ability and socio-economic background, so that no one is left behind, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” she said.

She added that according to WHO, the current rate of ageing population in South-East Asia was increasing, with the growth rate of the population aged 60 and over going up from 9.8% in 2017 to 13.7% and 20.3% in 2030 and 2050 respectively.

Chong Eng said Penang would experience the same thing when 15% of its 1.77 million residents were over 60 years old.

“Therefore, the state government takes this issue seriously and is preparing to face the challenges of an ‘old state’ by 2040,” she said.

She noted that MBPP was on the right track to achieving four of the eight domains under WHO’s global age-friendly cities framework, namely Public Spaces and Buildings, Transportation Systems, Mutual Respect and Social Inclusion, Civic Engagement and Employment Opportunities.

Among the areas MBPP would focus on next is Housing Systems, she said.

Source: TheStar.com.my

About Terraces Condominium

A highrise residential development by IJM Land at Bukit Jambul, Penang. Strategically located on 9.32 acres of land next to INTI International College. It comprises a 34-storey condominium tower, featuring 410 residential units with two different design types to choose from.

(Photo taken in Apr 2023)

Find out more about Terraces Condominium

The Pier, yet another mixed development by Asia Green Group within the vicinity of Bayan Mutiara. It is strategically located along Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu Expressway, a short drive from Penang Bridge’s Bayan Lepas bound exit on the Island. Adjacent to The Zen development, this project was formerly known as Zen 9.

This development will feature a 37-storey serviced residence, comprising two residential towers. Tower A offers 496 units, while Tower B provides 438 units, resulting in a total of 934 residential units. The facilities are on level 8 with 7 levels of car parking podium below. Additionally, there will be 64 shop offices situated at ground level.

Property Name: The Pier
Location : Bayan Mutiara, Penang
Property Type : Mixed development
Total Units : 934 (serviced residence), 64 (shop lot)
Built-up Size: 775 sq.ft. – 1,227 sq.ft.
Land Tenure : Freehold
Indicative Price : (to be confirmed)
Developer : Asia Green Construction Sdn. Bhd. (Asia Green Group)