Versa, a condominium development by Aspen Group at Batu Kawan. Located adjacent to Vivo Executive Apartment, this development will enjoy the benefit of being near to the upcoming Klippa Shopping Centre and Central Island Park.

The development will consist of two blocks of skyscrapers with nine commercial units. It offers various facilities including a leisure pool, a games court, a gym, a skating rink, a BBQ garden, a reflexology garden, and a multipurpose hall, among others. 

The residential units in the development come in two sizes, one is 703 sq. ft. (with or without a balcony) which features two bedrooms, and the other is 868 sq. ft. which features two bedrooms and a private terrace. Indicative price starts from RM350,000 onwards.

Project Name: Versa
Location: Aspen Vision City, Batu Kawan, Penang
Property Type: Condominium
Built-up Size: 703 sq.ft and 868 sq.ft.
Land Tenure: Freehold
Indicative Price: RM350,000 onwards
Developer: Aspen Vision City Sdn. Bhd. (Aspen Group)

Location Map:

SITE PROGRESS

SITE PROGRESS: Versa (Jan 2025)

Crimson Omega Sdn Bhd and Ascott International Management (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd joined forces to develop the Harris Sunshine Penang hotel at Sunshine Central in Ayer Itam.

Crimson Omega chief executive officer Cynthia Hwang said Sunshine Central is a mega project which consists of a retail mall, office tower, hotel, service apartment and wellness centre.

Hwang said the three-star hotel is part of the mega project which will have at least 289 rooms and it is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

“The construction is almost 86 per cent complete and we are looking to open it very soon. Ayer Itam residents can look forward to better employment, less work travels and more business opportunities,” she told the reporters during the management agreement signing ceremony between Crimson Omega and Ascott International Management (Malaysia) here on Friday.

Hwang said the community stands to benefit from this development as this mega project will offer over 3,000 job opportunities.

The Ascott Ltd managing director and head of business development Mak Hoe Kit said the hotel is built at a strategic location as it is only a few minutes away from tourist landmarks such as the Kek Lok Si Temple and Penang Hill rail station.

“Harris’ concept is to provide a fresh, vibrant and fun environment, with an emphasis on well-being and keeping fit for on-the-go travellers,” he said.

Mak said that with over 33,000 square feet of ballroom space, Harris Sunshine Penang is set to be one of the largest Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) hotels in Penang to target the anticipated influx in demand from corporates, weddings and events.

Source: Bernama

About Sinaran Residences @ Utropolis

The residential component in the third phase of Utropolis development by Paramount Property at Batu Kawan, Penang. It is strategically located along Bandar Cassia Expressway, with walking access to Design Village outlet mall and UOW MALAYSIA KDU Penang University College. Driving to Penang International Airport will only take approximately 30 minutes via Second Penang Bridge.

This development featuring two blocks of 35 & 36-storey serviced apartments, offering a total of 964 residential units with unit size ranging between 667 sq.ft. – 1,044 sq.ft.

Find out more about Utropolis @ Batu Kawan:

• Phase 1 – Sensasi Commercial & Residential Suites (Completed)
• Phase 2 – Suasana Residential Suites (Completed)
• Phase 3 – Sinaran Avenue & Sinaran Residences (On-going)

(Photo taken Aug 2022)

Source: Google Street View

A Hong Kong businessman, who is among many on the lookout for prime land and buildings in the state, has snapped up the long-neglected Island Plaza in the area and promises to make it a big draw again.

The buyer, known only as Law, said he would bring Hong Kong’s creative economy – musical and performing arts, film and television production – to the mall.

As an added attraction, there will be the former British colony’s iteration of the coffeeshop, called cha chan teng in Cantonese, which literally means “tea and dishes hall”.

Cha chan teng is characterised by a casual dining atmosphere, with a menu of fine-dining delicacies on top of Hong Kong’s street food.

Island Plaza has been sold for an undisclosed sum to the real estate tycoon who said he would bring all the successful retailing strategies of Hong Kong to the state.

“What we learned from turning Hong Kong into an international destination for culinary arts and fashion, we will bring to Penang,” he said.

He said had fallen in love with the peace and prosperity in the state.

“You can have a plate of noodles for a few ringgit or a hundred ringgit, and they will all be delicious.

“In terms of living cost, Penang is 1/15 (0.06%) of the cost in Hong Kong (for an upscale lifestyle). Yet, whatever Hong Kong has, you have,” Law said.

For more than a decade, Hong Kong folk, including its celebrities, have been settling down in Penang.

Many came here to retire, but in recent years, Hong Kongers began buying properties for investment.

The Star reported recently that Hong Kong investors had bought the last few old bungalows along the popular Gurney Drive promenade.

Law himself came to Penang six years ago.

“I have an insurance agent of more than 20 years who is Penang-born. He kept urging me to come to Penang for a holiday,” he said.

On his first holiday here, Law kept extending his stay.

“I chose Eastern and Oriental Hotel. It was more beautiful than the best traditional hotel in Hong Kong.

“It was then RM600 to RM700 a night here. In Hong Kong, it would have been RM2,000 a night,” he said.

The real estate mogul began shopping for Penang properties on his first trip and bought his first home here – an almost 11,000sq ft super condo in Gurney Drive.

Each time he returned, he bought at least one more property.

“I own more than 10 properties in Penang now, including a private museum and a boutique hotel in the heritage enclave,” said Law, who is his 70s.

On his first Penang holiday, Law said he was sad to see many beggars and drunkards outside his hotel.

“After a few years, I no longer see them. Penang is getting better and this kind of socio-economic progress is really rare,” he said.

Mega Realty Sdn Bhd principal Jenny Yeap, who is running Island Plaza’s leasing office now, confirmed that plans for the redevelopment and re-design, including a hi-tech facade of the mall, were submitted to the city council.

“We are negotiating with many large anchor tenants to set up shop in Island Plaza now,” she added.

Yeap said Island Plaza was sold to Law just before the movement control order was imposed on March 18, 2020.

Source: TheStar.com.my

The Penang state government has submitted a new and updated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project even as the state’s judicial review application to reinstate the approval for the original EIA hits a snag.

Penang state exco Zairil Khir Johari said the state is going through with a new EIA submission process after the Department of Environment (DoE) Appeals Board cancelled the approval given to the original EIA for the PSR.

“The state will continue to pursue a judicial review against the Appeals Board’s decision despite the initial application being rejected by the Registrar based on a technicality,” he said.

He said the High Court Registrar had rejected the state’s application for a judicial review based on a technicality, so the state had filed an appeal to the High Court against the Registrar’s decision.

“The High Court rejected the application to appeal against the Registrar’s decision, but we can still submit our application for judicial review to be heard in the Appeals Court,” he said.

He said the state exco will need to discuss the next course of action with regards to the application for judicial review before making a decision.

He stressed that the High Court is yet to hear the application for judicial review per se due to it being rejected by the Registrar, so the state still have an avenue to submit it to the Appeals Court for it to be heard.

The original EIA submitted by the state for the PSR was approved in 2019 but the DoE Appeals Board reversed the approval on September 8 last year.

The state had then filed an application for a judicial review to challenge the Appeals Board’s decision.

Pending the legal case against the Appeals Board’s decision, Zairil said the state will push on with a new EIA submission process with a more comprehensive EIA.

“We submitted a new and more comprehensive EIA in April this year and after that, a public display session was held from May 20 to June 18,” he said.

He said most of the feedback received during the public display was positive and after the public display, a technical committee review meeting was also held.

He said following the public display, DoE will provide their feedback on the EIA and the state will amend it accordingly.

“It will be a back-and-forth process with the DoE,” he said.

The infrastructure and transport committee chairman said the state government is committed to pushing the PSR project forward.

“The project will also bring about various benefits to the local fishermen and their families through the Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP),’” he said.

He said among the proposed measures in SIMP included ex gratia payments, bigger new boats and higher horsepower engines, co-operative for business opportunities and new fishing jetties for the fishermen.

“The state government has set aside RM100 million to realise these initiatives,” he said.

He said the state will also carry out a PSR Ecology Offset Masterplan (PEOM) to encourage sustainability in the fisheries sector and to mitigate the environmental impact of the project.

The PEOM included the deploying of artificial reefs and fish aggregating devices, planting of mangrove, releasing fish and prawn fry, building eco-shorelines on the perimeter of the reclaimed islands and providing funds for marine and fisheries-related studies.

“The state’s Fishermen Taskforce and Penang Infrastructure Corporation will be overseeing the implementation of these initiatives,” he said.

He added that some of the initiatives such as expanding mangrove forest, giving new boats and engines, seafarers’ training and temporary jetty upgrading works have started even before reclamation works begin.

“The state government will ensure full compliance with all regulatory authority requirements, including approvals for the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan, prior to the reclamation works,” he said.

Source: MalayMail.com