About Signature Two

A 31-storey residential development by Excel Focus Sdn. Bhd. in Perai, Penang. This development is strategically located along Jalan Baru, next to The Signature condominium. It is only within mere minutes’ drive from Penang bridge, featuring 121 condominium units

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The government has allocated RM2.25 billion to provide housing assistance to the poor under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the allocation was to build and repair 85,500 units of houses, namely 75,000 units in rural areas and almost 10,500 units in urban areas, under the Housing Assistance Programme from 2021 to 2025.

“However, it does not include the construction of houses under state governments, corporate sector and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs),” he said when tabling the 12MP with the objective of ‘A Prosperous, Inclusive, Sustainable Malaysia’, in the Dewan Rakyat, today.

Ismail Sabri said the government would also build another 500,000 units of affordable homes to provide the chance for more people from the B40 and M40 groups to own a house.

He said that the government would also improve financing facilities including the Fund for Affordable Homes, Youth Housing Scheme and Rent-to-Own (RTO) programme to ease the burden of these groups in paying their installment.

Source: Bernama

Penang has yet to decide if it will go for a third bridge crossing instead of an undersea tunnel connecting the island and Seberang Perai.

Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state has so far conducted a feasibility study on the construction of an undersea tunnel only.

“The study has been completed and is pending review by federal technical agencies before the state executive council deliberates and makes a final decision.

“Despite having justified the undersea tunnel project that was awarded via open tender in 2012, there is a lot of misinformation by irresponsible quarters.

“However, the state government does not rule out the possibility of building a bridge as a third crossing. We have just not made any decision on this matter,” he said in a statement today.

Recently, The Star reported that the proponents of the project, Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC), were considering a third bridge instead of an undersea tunnel.

According to CZC, the bridge option was “cost-effective” and environmentally-friendly compared with an undersea tunnel, with “the ball now in the state government’s court” for a final decision.

The third bridge idea was first mooted at the state assembly in 2016 by former chief minister Lim Guan Eng, who said the state was willing to build a toll-free bridge at a cost of about RM2 billion if the federal government allowed it.

This was because the undersea tunnel would not require any approvals from Putrajaya, while a crossing over the sea would require federal approval.

Then works minister Fadillah Yusof had suspended talks with Penang over the bridge proposal after the state failed to submit relevant documents, which led to a back-and-forth between him and state leaders.

The RM6.3 billion tunnel and roads project – which would connect George Town to Butterworth – was mooted by the Penang government to ease congestion on the first bridge and reduce traffic at other corridors on the island.

Besides the tunnel, three bypass roads were part of the project – Air Itam to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway (5.7km); Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang (10.53km); and Gurney Drive to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway (4.1km).

Work on the Air Itam road project has already begun.

Source: FreeMalaysiaToday.com

The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) plans to implement two People’s Housing Projects (PPR) in Penang under the 12th Malaysia Plan, said its minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

He said compared with others states, the number of PPR houses in Penang was still very low, with the last PPR project by the ministry in Penang was the Tok Suboh PPR in Bukit Minyak, Simpang Ampat.

The state government, he said, has submitted five proposed locations.

One will be built on the mainland and the other on the island, he told reporters after visiting the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) yesterday.

Also present were State Housing, Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, MBSP Mayor Datuk Rozali Mohamud and MBPP Mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang.

Meanwhile, Reezal said the ministry would take note of a suggestion raised by Jagdeep on the issue of developing new townships to spur the state’s growth.

He said new guidelines would be formulated and the ministry would discuss with all stakeholders on the matter.

Source: Bernama

The Penang Housing Board, which came into full operations in January this year, is set to kick start its first affordable housing scheme in Bukit Gedung, Bayan Baru.

State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the project is expected to have its groundbreaking ceremony by the end of this year.

“My earlier target prior to this was to have a few projects under this state’s Housing Board. Anyway, it’s a good beginning for us.

“This affordable housing project consists of two 18-storey blocks with 801 units of affordable units and 15 commercial lots.

“There will be a range of facilities available in this project, which includes a swimming pool, gym, basketball court, meditation deck, community area and other basic amenities.

“This shows that we are on par with other developments as we are going to set a benchmark as well to compete with the private developers.

“Our aim is to deliver quality homes to Penangites,” Jagdeep told reporters after visiting the site in Bayan Baru today.

He added that the state has set a target of building 220,000 units of low-cost, low medium-cost and affordable homes by 2030 and has thus far reached 120,000 units (already built, being built and approved to be built).

Separately, Jagdeep said he had liaised with the Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican over assistance from the Federal Government.

“We have requested the ministry to supply more affordable housing schemes and maintenance assistance for affordable units.

“We hope to hear good news from the minister himself when he is in the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) headquarters in Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam tomorrow,” he said.

Also present was Penang Housing Board general manager Ainul Fadhilah Samsudi.

Source: Buletin Mutiara