The opening of Stonyhurst International School in Straits Quay marks one of the most significant milestones in the over 400-year history of Stonyhurst College, United Kingdom, and in Penang.

Built on 4.3 acres of land, Stonyhurst International School boasts state-of-the-art facilities, designed with 21st-century teaching and learning pedagogy in mind.

The grand opening of the school was opened by Penang Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak, and attended by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying, Titular Roman Catholic Bishop of Penang Right Rev Datuk Sebastian Francis, CMI deputy general manager Datin S. Bharathi, United Kingdom Stonyhurst College headmaster John Browne, Stonyhurst International School Board of Governors chairman Michael Sng, and Stonyhurst International School principal Justin Thomas Durling.

Also present were state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid, Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng and Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi.

Chow congratulated the school for achieving an important milestone.

“Constructing a new school is not an overnight feat. It takes much effort in planning and perseverance.

“And the end product is what we finally get to witness this morning, which is another successful public-private partnership between the state government and a historic education establishment.

“As multinational companies continue to place faith in Penang, Penang must find ways to remain attractive to foreign investors.

“One way of achieving that is by building a vibrant mesh of industry players, including education institutions.

“There is a need to prepare the younger generation to meet the needs and demands of the future economy while encouraging young leaders to celebrate diversity in becoming effective and compassionate global citizens.

“Additionally, there is also a need to provide high-quality education to the families of foreign talents in the state.

“I am confident that Stonyhurst International School, offering the best in British education, will lead the way in helping Penang to groom and showcase its world-class talent pool for the future while supporting the Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’,” he said in his speech at the school in Straits Quay yesterday.

Browne spoke about three qualities – courage, virtue and family – in his speech.

“Your education here is designed to give you the courage to be yourself. Use your education to ‘change the world’ for others.

“The virtue tree at the entrance to this beautiful school demonstrates the central place of the Jesuit Pupil Profile to this whole community.

“At Stonyhurst Penang, we are developing young people of competence, conscience and compassion. It is a journey towards human excellence. As the school song says, being ‘men and women for others’,” he said.

Browne also told the students that the Stonyhurst family and Jesuit Pupil Profile are there to guide their boats on their journey to be the best that they could be.

Meanwhile, Sng said gratitude was the first value that the school was cultivating.

“We are encouraging our students to be grateful to their parents for the gift of education.

“Similarly, we are grateful for the privilege of educating the students who have been entrusted to us,” he said.

At the ceremony, the invited guests were treated to amazing music and singing performances by talented pupils.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

View of Relau Hills (for illustration only)

For many years, Penang has been restricting and controlling developments which are conducted on slope land.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said developments were not allowed on Class Three and Four slopes and if earthworks were necessary, they had to comply with various geotechnical requirements.

“We have been doing this for many years and not only on campsites; but also other developments such as high-rises, and others which involved even larger footprints and more intensive constructions,” he replied a journalist regarding the safety of campsites in Penang, following the fateful landslide incident at a popular campsite in Batang Kali.

Chow highlighted the use of the Penang Safety Guideline for Hill Site Development (2nd edition 2020) which was a revised version of the 2012 guideline and has been prepared to further enhance the safety and sustainability of hill site developments.

“We are saddened by the news of the landslide tragedy in Batang Kali. Our hearts go out to the friends and families of the victims during this difficult time.

“Campsites of other developments should only be allowed after they have obtained the necessary approvals, and not build then try to apply for the approvals,” he said.

Chow said he was aware that the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) had approved the development of the Boulder Valley Glamping in Teluk Bahang.

“Boulder Valley had gone through all the rezoning and planning processes before finally completing its development.

“It has been open for a few years now.

“This project is different (from the impacted campsite in Batang Kali) because it is an approved project that has gone through various planning and engineering processes.

“We believe projects such as this can only be approved after they have complied with all the requirements,” he said.

Chow said there might be some campsites which have been set up without approvals.

“Depending on their locations, they may pose safety concerns especially if they are located in hilly areas.

“Developments near the slope must always monitor their slopes.

“Penang Hill is one good example. The slopes have been monitored regularly, but the hill still experienced many landslides in the past. Landslides are still occurring.

“Hence, developments near the slope must always monitor their slope. If necessary, they need to strengthen the slope by building enforcement structures,” he added.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

Ari Altitude is an affordable housing project by PTL Alpha Sdn. Bhd. (part of of PTL Properties Sdn. Bhd.) in the matured township of Alma in Bukit Mertajam. Located along Jalan Santuari 3, next to Permatang Sanctuary housing scheme by IJM. It is less that 5 minutes drive to Lotus’s and AEON Mall via Jalan Rozhan, and about 15 minutes’ drive to both Penang main and 2nd bridges.

This development features a 30-storey affordable condominium with smart home concept. It comprises 500 residential units with 8 levels of car parking podium and a swimming pool. The new home will offer a standard built-up size of 950sq.ft. with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Property Project : Ari Altitude
Location : Alma, Bukit Mertajam
Property Type : Affordable housing
Built-up Size: 950sq.ft. onwards
Total Units:: 500
Tenure : Freehold
Indicative Price: RM250.000 onwards
Developer : PTL Alpha Sdn. Bhd.

SITE PROGRESS

SITE PROGRESS: Ari Altitude (Aug 2025)

SITE PROGRESS: Ari Altitude (May 2025)

SITE PROGRESS: Ari Altitude (Feb 2025)

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.

The much-talked about cable car project for Penang Hill is set to become a reality.

Chief Minister and Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) chairman Chow Kon Yeow said Hartasuma Sdn Bhd, a homegrown pioneer in the local rail industry, has successfully won the bid for the cable car project.

He said Hartasuma was chosen from among six companies which submitted the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the project.

He said Hartasuma was awarded the job based on the company’s financial capability, proposed cable car system provider, technical and operational capabilities, environmental protection measures and proposal at the time of bidding.

“The estimated investment by Hartasuma is expected to be RM245 million and the project is based on a 30-year concession period.

“The project is expected to take three years to fully complete and be operational.

“With the new cable car in place, Penang will gain another iconic tourist attraction in addition to the existing funicular railway that has served residents and visitors at the Penang Hill for almost 100 years,” he said today.

Chow hoped that the new cable car project would help redistribute traffic particularly during the peak seasons, completing the existing century status of the funicular service from the Air Itam area.

“We hope this greener mode of transportation will further enhance the tourism experience and contribute to the socio-economic of the surrounding areas, which will offer approximately 500 job opportunities.

“With an annual visitor population of over 1.3 million, we hope the cable car will play a practical role in tourist load balancing.

“PHC is looking forward to implementing environmentally-friendly transportation option for visitors to the cable car station to reduce carbon emissions in the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve area,” he added.

Chow said the alignment and the suitability of the location of the cable car project was taken into consideration by the Evaluation Committee, with most feasible route alignment site near the Penang Botanic Gardens.

Meanwhile, Hartasuma executive director Tan Sri Ravindran Menon said the construction phase would take between 18 and 20 months to complete.

“However, we need to get all the necessary approvals, which will take some time to obtain as it involves various authorities,” he said.

It was reported that the federal government had, in April 2020, announced that the RM100 million initial allocation for the Penang Hill cable car project had been cancelled.

Penang subsequently announced a RFP for the project.

Source: NST Online

South Korea-based manufacturer Simmtech is set to accelerate the expansion of its production line in Penang with a second phase investment of US$50 million (U$1 = RM4.4250), expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2023.

The company is a producer of semiconductor packaging substrates and high-value printed circuit boards (PCBs).

The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), InvestPenang, and Simmtech said in a joint statement that in the initial plan, the company had planned for a five-year second phase expansion at its local unit Sustio Sdn Bhd.

However, Simmtech said it decided to accelerate its expansion plan to 2023.

The expansion would double the high-density interconnect PCB production capacity while creating additional 400 job opportunities for Malaysians, as well as involving working with local companies to enhance their localisation programme to enhance the country’s semiconductor ecosystem, according to the statement.

Simmtech Southeast Asia managing director Jeffery Chun said the expansion decision is a testimony of the management’s determination to invest in Malaysia, on top of the successful opening of its first factory in Batu Kawan, which is a rising global semiconductor hub.

Earlier this year, Simmtech had invested US$150 million to complete Sustio’s 7.28-hectare manufacturing site, which has already begun production.

Newly appointed International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said Simmtech’s fast-tracked expansion of its subsidiary in Malaysia proved that Malaysia continues to be a preferred destination for high-value investments due to the industry’s strategic position in the global electrical and electronics value chain.

“This expansion project also supports the country’s New Investment Policy, whose aims include nurturing innovative, high impact and high-tech investments that help create more higher paying jobs, which is key to the country’s long-term socio-economic upliftment and sustainable growth,” he said in the same statement.

Source: Bernama