Ion Vivace, a serviced residence development by Innoceria Sdn. Bhd. near Batu Kawan. Located along Jalan Perniagaan Vorteks 3, next to the semi-detached shop offices at Vortex Business Park. It is less than 2km from Bukit Tambun Toll Plaza, about 10 minutes drive to Penang 2nd Bridge.

This development comprises 2 blocks of 33-storey skyscrapers, offering 528 serviced residence units with built-up sizes ranging from 520sq.ft. up to 1,176sq.ft.

Project Name: Ion Vivace
Location : Batu Kawan / Simpang Ampat
Property Type : Serviced residence
Total Units : 528
Built-up Size: 520sf – 1176sf
Land Tenure : Freehold
Indicative Price : RM290,000 onwards
Developer: Innoceria Sdn. Bhd.

Skim Saraan Bercagar (SSB) by Cagamas is a type of loan for retired homeowners. Through a reverse mortgage, you can generate cash during retirement without sacrificing homeownership. This allows you to continue staying in your family home without repayment during your lifetime. Retired homeowners can use the monthly payout amount for any purpose, such as medical-related expenses and other necessities to make their retirement years more comfortable.

The Skim Saraan Bercagar Loan only requires settlement upon the demise of the borrower or joint borrower, whichever occurs later. No repayment is required during their lifetime and the property will only be sold to settle any outstanding loan amount upon the demise of the borrower or last surviving joint borrower. Any residual balance from that will go towards your estate.

Benefits of Skim Saraan Bercagar (SSB) Reverse Mortgage includes:

• Lifetime tenure
  You’ll have a fixed monthly source of income throughout your retirement years.
• Repayment happens later
  You don’t have to worry about repayment during your lifetime as it will only happen when you or the joint borrower passes away, whichever occurs later.
• Home sweet home
  You are able to reside in your home throughout your retirement years.
• A non-recourse loan
  If the eventual sale proceeds of the property is less than the outstanding loan amount, your family or your estate will not be responsible for any shortfall to settle the Skim Saraan Bercagar Loan.

According to Cagamas, here are a few reasons why you may consider Skim Saraan Bercagar (SSB):

• Ever-increasing cost of living
  The uncertainty of the economy can make retirees worry and be anxious about not having enough money to maintain their lifestyle throughout their retirement years.
• Independent living
  Retired home owners can have more financial independence through SSB in addition to their existing retirement income sources. They would not need to rely on their next-of-kin or other aid for money.
• Future-ready
  Having a ready supplemental income stream through SSB provides the additional financial buffer to cushion challenging times during potential events of crisis in the future. The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in widespread health and economic upheaval for older adults which would have a financial impact on their limited income, and SSB can be a lifeline during such times by providing a fixed monthly income stream for life.
• Mandatory retirement
  Senior citizens who are forced to retire because of age may not be financially ready to leave the workforce. This can result in income insecurity, making them too reliant on pension and savings.

Eligibility Criteria

For borrower:

• Malaysian
• 55 years old and above
• Owner or joint owners of a residential property
• For a joint loan, the joint borrower can be a partner, parent, sibling or child, subject to age limit

For property:

• Residential property in Malaysia held in Borrower’s or joint borrowers’ name(s).
• For a joint Skim Saraan Bercagar Loan, joint ownership of property is required.
• Property must be owner-occupied and be the primary place of residence.
• Free from encumbrances such as mortgage and other financial liabilities.

Details on the SSB can be found at its website: https://www.ssb.cagamas.com.my. Online application is currently open for Klang Valley residents only. It is not known when will this be available for Penang folks.

From air touch elevators to extra spacious secondary bedrooms, you will be pleasantly surprised by the unique features of Anggun Residences at Design Village Batu Kawan, most of which supersede your expectations of a home that offers such amazing value.

Features for tomorrow’s lifestyle

Anggun Residences is meticulously designed with your future lifestyle in mind. The new norm of working-from-home, renewable energy, and preventive measures in keeping the spread of viruses and infections at bay, are all carefully taken into consideration in the planning of these residences.

• Air Touch Elevators
  From touchless buttons to motion call censors, the elevators at Anggun Residences recognise your hand gestures without the need for any surface contact. You can easily call for the lift with a simple wave or choose your designated floor by hovering your finger over the touchless buttons. Clean and convenient, the technology helps ensure better hygiene and reduces the risk of contamination.
• Electric Vehicle Charging Station
  Plug-and-charge your electric vehicles at the EV charging stations at Anggun Residences. Equipped with 3-phase 32A fast chargers, enjoy a quick and efficient charge at 22kW before heading out for the day.
• Automated Waste Management System
  The waste management system at Anggun Residences utilises vacuum technology to keep garbage odour at bay. The automated system also enables the council truck to collect garbage without the need of entering the property.
• Condotel Concept Recreational Facilities
  From active, leisure to interactive indulgences, enjoy over 70 different recreational facilities at ground, podium and rooftop levels. These include a 50m swimming pool, sky bar and dining, starry tunnel and more.

Sensible features for utmost comfort

A visit to the actual show unit will leave you in awe at the sheer spaciousness of these 1,045 sq ft residences. Take a closer look and you will discover all the finer design details that make these residences so ideal to call home.

• Column-Free, Beam-Free Layout
  The ‘secret’ to the extra capacious layout is the column-free, beam-free open concept design that maximises functional space to the fullest. Because of this, you will find furnishing your home to be so much easier too!
• Extra Spacious Secondary Bedrooms
  All secondary bedrooms can accommodate a queen-sized bed while the master bedroom can easily fit a king-sized bed, a built-in wardrobe, a window seater, and still have space to spare.
• Full Width Glass Windows to All Rooms
  Enjoy waking up to panoramic views of the horizon every morning. At Anggun Residences, all bedrooms are facing outwards, welcoming a healthy dose of sunshine. The living area even comes with a corner piece window for an even more impressive view of the skyline.
• Decorative Security Front Door
  Unlike most residences, your main door at Anggun Residences is a security-enhanced decorative door that allows you to either open it entirely or partially when necessary.

70% sold. A property gem in Batu Kawan!

Anggun Residences is strategically located right next to Design Village Outlet Mall in Batu Kawan, a booming location that is undergoing tremendous growth. The Batu Kawan Industrial Park located just a short drive from Anggun Residences has been continuously welcoming more and more multi- national companies and manufacturing plants, opening thousands of job opportunities in the area.

Whether it is for self-stay or investment purpose, Anggun Residences is the smart choice. To find out more about this well-planned residential project, visit PE Land Sales Gallery at Design Village Outlet Mall. Opens daily from 11am to 8pm, you may also call 012-476 3163 to make an appointment for a personal tour of the show unit and to view the key features’ prototypes that are available on-site.

For more info, visit www.anggunresidences.com.my. Alternatively, you can follow Anggun Residences on Facebook (www.fb.com/anggunresidences) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/anggunresidences) for its latest updates and offerings.

More than 300 squatters in Butterworth will receive free homes from the Penang government valued at RM22.4 million as part of a resettlement project.

The residents are part of Kampung Ujong Batu — an old settlement by the mouth of the Perai river, which has about 300 houses and was once home to workers at the nearby dockyard.

State executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo said the state government had bought 353 flats at a new apartment building called Pangsapuri Suria, being built 500m away at Harbour Place.

He said the settlers would receive their keys to their 663 sq ft homes, costing RM60,000 each, in two years.

“We are giving these villagers a good home with all the amenities. These are apartments of high standard,” the state housing committee chairman told reporters at Komtar on Friday.

Bagan Dalam assemblyman Satees Muniandy said the 5ha village site occupied swampy land and belonged to the Penang government.

He said the government had no plans to develop the land once the squatters cleared out.

“My office spends RM40,000 every year to repair the homes that often get damaged,” he said.

Source: FreeMalaysiaToday.com

Penang’s tourism recovery and growth, as well as the livelihoods of everyday Malaysian Hosts, would be gravely affected if the state’s proposed restrictions on high-rise residential short-term rental accommodation (STRA) is implemented, Airbnb warned today.

Following more than two years of economic disruption in Penang brought on by the pandemic, this proposal risks derailing recent recovery efforts, damaging Penangites’ livelihoods and putting jobs at risk at an incredibly critical juncture.

Tourism revitalisation is an especially vital concern for locals in Penang where the tourism and services sector contributes to almost half of the state’s GDP. A recent survey commissioned by Airbnb* found:

• 60 percent of Penangites believe that short-term rental accommodation increases tourism revenue for their communities
• 58 percent of Penangites view fellow locals renting out their homes through Airbnb as having an overall positive impact
• 52 percent of Penangites believe overall that short-term rental accommodation drives benefits not only for Hosts but also businesses in the community
• 80 percent of Penangites agree that people should be allowed to use surplus vacant apartments in states like Penang as short-term rentals, in order to combat the property overhang

As of last year, Penang ranks among the top most-searched local destinations for long-term stays by Malaysian guests on Airbnb. Penang is also a popular destination for Malaysians following the return of interstate travel, being one of the top five most searched destinations on Airbnb immediately after travel restrictions were relaxed.

“With tourism playing such a crucial role in Penang’s economy, imposing such ill-considered restrictions on short-term rental accommodation (STRA) in high-rise residential buildings would negatively impact the state’s recovery momentum and long-term tourism growth. If introduced, these rules would likely impact jobs and supplemental income for tens of thousands of everyday people in Penang, and ultimately hurt local businesses and communities by making it harder for Penang to remain competitive and attract tourists,” said Mich Goh, Head of Public Policy, Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Airbnb. “Given this proposal’s potential to damage locals’ livelihoods, it’s also disappointing that there has been no formal consultation process with the public nor industry stakeholders in Penang to date.

“Our team continues to work diligently with the goal of each stay being a positive experience for Hosts, guests and the wider community. This includes continuing to enforce our global party ban, as well as last year’s local rollout of our 24/7 Neighbourhood Support Line. We have also previously partnered with the Malaysian Vacation Rental Services Management Association to launch an industry-led Code of Conduct aimed at championing responsible hosting.”

Airbnb is strongly urging the Penang state government to reconsider its current proposal, and look to existing mechanisms under the Strata Management Act instead. Specifically, the government should let individual Joint Management Bodies (JMBs) and Management Corporations (MCs) decide whether to enact additional STRA by-laws or restrictions. This empowers residents to decide if and how STRA should be run in their buildings.

Airbnb remains committed to being a constructive and collaborative partner to governments to help ensure sensible and balanced rules can be implemented that deliver positive outcomes for all stakeholders.

*NOTE: Based on a ClearPath Strategies survey conducted amongst 1,020 Malaysians between December 23, 2021 to January 14, 2022.