The Penang government, through the Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI), and Jit Sin School Union Bukit Mertajam have inked a partnership to establish the very first Penang Digital Library (PDL) in Bukit Mertajam and the central Seberang Perai district.

The upcoming digital library or better known as the Bukit Mertajam Digital Library will be located at the three-storey building of the Jit Sin School Union Bukit Mertajam.

It is understood that the renovation works will start next year and are expected to be fully completed in 2024.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was present during the brief signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties, said the upcoming digital library would surely benefit Penangites, particularly the residents of Bukit Mertajam.

“The upcoming digital library will provide a community-accessible platform for information, creativity, knowledge, and technologies, as well as, a space for connection and interaction.

“It is also an excellent example of community engagement by Jit Sin School Union Bukit Mertajam.

“I would like to note that Jit Sin School Union initiated the establishment of this digital library on its own initiative.

“The organisation approached the state government with the intention to corporate and collaborate with CMI, to set up the first digital library in Bukit Mertajam for the benefit of the people in the vicinity.

“As a result, here we are today, marking an important chapter in the Penang Digital Library journey. This is truly a fine example of strong collaboration between the state government and the non-governmental organisation (NGO),” Chow said during his speech at the MoU signing ceremony at Jit Sin School Union building, Jalan Sri Bukit in Bukit Mertajam.

The CMI was represented by its deputy general manager Bharathi Suppiah and Jit Sin School Union Bukit Mertajam was represented by its Bukit Mertajam Digital Library committee chairman Datuk Ng Wah Sim during the MoU signing.

According to Bharathi, today’s MoU was executed pursuant to the mutual understanding and consensus between CMI and Jit Sin School Union in establishing, organising and managing the Bukit Mertajam Digital Library.

“In this agreement, CMI will provide technical assistance and support including copyrights, license, grant, access, loyalty fees on software, e-books, database and e-card installed in this digital library.

“CMI will also continuously provide advice, information and assistance relating to the operation and management of the digital library,” she said.

Ng said Jit Sin School Union, on the other hand, was committed to the partnership and would provide the premises, infrastructure and necessary utilities for the digital library.

“Since the Bukit Mertajam Digital Library will be operated in our premises in Jalan Sri Bukit in Bukit Mertajam, we will need to obtain the necessary permits and approvals to upgrade and refurbish the existing premises.

“We are committed to establishing the digital library based on the guidelines given by CMI and continue to fund the maintenance of the building and hardware infrastructure,” he said.

Chow said that the Penang government has allocated a special grant of RM300,000 to be given to the Jit Sin School Union Bukit Mertajam to help them set up the digital library.

He said the upcoming digital library in Bukit Mertajam would be the sixth digital library in the state.

“And we hope it will continue to carry out the state government’s initiatives to promote and develop STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) teaching and learning to position Penang as one of the leading centres of excellence in this field.

“After this MoU signing ceremony, Jit Sin School Union will have many tasks to complete, hence, I would like to urge all residents of Bukit Mertajam to provide their full support, including financial assistance, so that they can succeed in their efforts.

“Just like the existing digital libraries, this facility will be fully utilised in the future by students, professionals and citizens of the central Seberang Perai district; driving forward a smart and technologically-advanced ecosystem and community,” said Chow.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

Penang State Housing Board (LPNPP) will be organizing Penang Affordable Housing Expo (Home Ownership Campaign) from October 7 to 9 at Prangin Mall in George Town.

The expo will feature various affordable housing projects located in Penang Island and Mainland, including completed units under construction by PDC, SP Setia, Scientex, PLB Land, Prisma Bumiraya, MSummit, Hunza and many more!

Visitors will also have the chance to find out more information related to the application for affordable homes in Penang.

If you are looking for an affordable dream home in Penang, be sure to mark your calendar and plan a visit to Prangin Mall and join the Penang Affordable Housing Expo.

Date: 7 – 9 Oct 2022 (Fri – Sun)
Venue: Foyer, Prangin Mall (George Town)
Time: 10am – 8pm

The Queens Waterfront Sports Complex, a project by Ideal Property Group, is expected to play a key role in strengthening Penang’s sports development.

Spanning over a total development area of 9.94-acre of land off the popular Queensbay Mall, the project is expected to be completed in 2026.

The developer appointed to undertake the project is Ideal Gim Venture Sdn Bhd.

The sports complex is one of the four phases of development on the 36.53-acre freehold land there.

The other three phases are namely a resort-themed residential (Queens Residences) featuring a signature commercial area (waterfront alfresco), a Marina Bay, and an international school.

The residential phases, which have been completed, are called Q1 and Q2.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was present to officiate the groundbreaking ceremony of the project, said sports have evolved into a universal language that has brought people together.

“In recent years, sports infrastructure has played a growing role in boosting the economies of developed countries.

“And this project will aim towards a similar goal, demonstrating that Penang has what it takes to level up and move forward to cater for a robust economic development.

“Also, once completed, this sports complex will offer multiple benefits to the local community, while also stimulating the socio-economic development of the state,” Chow said in his speech before officiating the ceremony in Bayan Lepas yesterday.

The sports complex will feature an open field, an outdoor beach volleyball court, a single-storey sports arena which will have basketball, karate, wushu and judo courts, a three-storey FINA standard aquatic centre that consists of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a competitive diving pool and a warm-up pool, as well as a three-storey car park building.

Relatively, he also said the premises will become an ideal location to grow and develop local young talents into future athletes, and they can represent Penang at local and international events.

“Additionally, this world-class facility is also poised to host inter-state and international sporting events, which will undoubtedly boost our local tourism,” he added.

Upon completion, Chow said the project will be handed over to the state government.

This, he said, was in compliance with the permission granted a few years ago.

Although the expected cost to complete this project is not finalised, it was learnt that the facilities will be open for all.

Whether or not there will be any charges imposed, it will be informed in the later stages.

Among others present during the ceremony were state Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee, state Entrepreneurial Development, Trade and Industry Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang and Ideal Property Group chief operating officer Datuk Goh Teng Whoo.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

Penang will soon have an 8.5km monopole transmission tower next to the Penang Bridge, connecting the Perai Power Station (SJ) Main Inlet Substation (PMU) to the Light PMU in Penang to strengthen the electric supply here.

Tenaga Nasional Berhad, in a statement released recently, said the project would bring a direct connection of electricity supply from the national grid to Penang through overhead line transmission from the mainland to maintain the island’s electricity supply.

The RM500 million project, which is under the jurisdiction of TNB, will be able to generate 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electric supply to the state upon completion.

It is expected to be completed in 2024.

This project is expected to see the establishment of 31 monopoles, with six of them to be in betel nut design.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said this project would play a crucial role in the state’s development in various areas in the future, as well as existing ones.

“We can plan and strategise ideas for big projects here in Penang, but we certainly can’t carry them out without sufficient power supply to support the operations.

“Hence, this project will be a huge boost considering the rapid industrial growth we are currently experiencing here, as well as benefiting the people in their daily lives.

“I was also made to understand that this project will be decorated with ecstatic lights, which will become an iconic landmark here in Penang.

“The state conveys its heartfelt appreciation to TNB and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources for this initiative,” Chow said in his speech before officiating the launch of the project at The Light Hotel in Seberang Jaya on the mainland yesterday.

Meanwhile, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the launch of this project was a timely one considering the only existing supply system on the island, SJ Gelugor, is expected to end its service contract in 2024.

Chow then said this project would also be a major boost to support the Penang2030 vision for ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’.

In a related development, it was recently reported that physical works, which include the construction of the tower foundation, installation of the tower structure, as well as conductor spanning works, are expected to begin by the end of 2022.

Among others present during the event were state Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari and TNB chief executive officer Datuk Baharin Din.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

Malaysia’s overall overhang situation improved in the first half of 2022 (1H2022), with a drop of 7.5 per cent to 34,092 units from 2H2021 in terms of volume and a drop of 4.6 per cent to RM21.73 billion in terms of value, according to the National Property Information Centre’s (Napic) semi-annual report.

Napic said the overhang situation for service apartments has improved with more than 22,000 units worth RM19.32 billion registered in 1H2022, a 6.7 per cent decrease in numbers compared to the second half of last year.

Roughly 89 per cent of the entire overhang was made up of units priced RM500,000 and above.

According to Napic data, Johor has the largest overhang in the country with 15,423 units, followed by Penang with more than 5,000 units.

Kuala Lumpur and Selangor have 4,279 units and 2,248 units, respectively.

To minimise mismatch and control the overhang situation in the near future, Datuk Indera Mohd Shahar Abdullah, the deputy finance minister, urged property developers and authorities to pay attention to the overhang data and ensure that houses built were in line with buyers’ demand and affordability.

To ensure that the choices made are the right ones and do not contribute to the overhang stock in the future, he also advised stakeholders in the property sector to consult Napic’s Unsold Property Enquiry System Malaysia portal before planning new developments and carrying out a comprehensive feasibility study.

Meanwhile, as of the end of June 2022, there were over 24 million square metres of purpose-built office space available countrywide, with an occupancy rate of 77.7 per cent – down from 78.5 per cent the previous year.

Mohd Shahar said the supply situation for purpose-built offices and shopping centres is increasingly challenging.

He advised building owners to consider more cost-effective use choices so that the utilisation of space may be maximised to present a more favourable picture of the country’s investment potential, particularly during the era of economic recovery.

The Napic data showed that the performance of shopping centres weakened in 1H2022, with the national occupancy rate falling slightly to 75.7 per cent from 76.37 per cent in 2H2021.

Overall, the local real estate market had over 188,000 transactions totaling RM84 billion in 1H 2022.

According to Mohd Shahar, both the number and value of transactions recorded in the first half grew by more than 30 per cent as compared to the same period the previous year.

He said, transaction activities and value increased across the board for all property subsectors, including residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and development land.

Roughly 116,178 transactions totaling RM45.62 billion were registered in the residential subsector. This represented year-over-year growth of 32.2 per cent in value and 26.3 per cent in transaction volume.

Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, and Selangor accounted for 47 per cent of the overall transactions.

Johor also saw the newest residential launches, accounting for nearly 23.8 per cent of all units nationwide, or 2,509 units, with a performance rate of sales of 31.8 per cent. Johor was followed by Sabah (1,335 units, or 12.7 per cent share, with 10.6 per cent sales rate), and Perak (1,317 units, or 12.5 per cent share, with 19.4 per cent sales rate).

Terrace houses dominated the new debuts, accounting for 68.2 per cent of the total with a 22 per cent sales rate.

Source: NST Online