PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) and Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) to conduct scheduled pavement maintenance works from Aug 16 to Dec 30 to improve the motorist comfort and safety for Penang Bridge customers, especially Penangites.

PLUS chief operations officer Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi in a statement yesterday said the pavement maintenance works would be carried out in stages between KM0.2 and KM8.3 from Perai to the Island stretch and it is scheduled to take place only at night starting from 10 pm to 6 am to reduce traffic disruption.

He said to facilitate the maintenance works, lane closures would be activated in stages to maintain two passable lanes at all times for public’s convenience.

“PLUS will also ensure traffic information, as well as lane closures on the bridge is disseminated to the public continuously through electronic signages placed at strategic locations leading to Penang Bridge.

“However, during maintenance work on the middle lane, the right lane will need to be closed for safety purposes. Therefore, only the left lane is accessible to traffic. If there is a need, the right lane will be open to customers,” he said.

Therefore, highway customers are also advised to plan their journey or utilise other alternative routes throughout the period, he added.

Source: Bernama

Artist’s impression

The Penang South Islands (PSI) project is bringing social uplift to the local community besides creating new land bank for the state’s future development, Penang Infrastructure Corporation (PIC) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said.

He was tasked by the Penang government to oversee the execution of the project.

Farizan said that the project had already started providing stable jobs to fishermen, white-collar workers, and fresh graduates even before the reclamation begins.

“We want the local Penangites to benefit from the project.

“The PSI does not only create job opportunities to professionals such as engineers, architects, planners, and others. The project also provides job opportunities to the non-professionals and technical workers.

“Besides that, the project brings great value to the downstream value chain of the construction sector with spill over benefits to the other sectors,” he said in a statement.

It is learnt that currently more than 120 employees are on staff for PSI, including the local fisherfolk.

They are now earning stable salary and enjoying full-time perks such as insurance coverage, Perkeso and EPF contribution, which they previously didn’t have as fishermen.

Farizan said the PSI project was timely as it provided the necessary relief to the present economic recession in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman welcomed the social uplift brought by the PSI project to the fishermen community.

“The PSI project provides career options to the fishermen. Without the project, job opportunity is limited.

“The Penang government prioritises the social uplifting of the fishermen. Therefore, RM100 million is allocated under the PSI project to fund community improvement programmes and fisheries enhancement initiatives,” he said.

Ahmad Zakiyuddin said the fishermen community would not be hindered from going to the sea as there would be a 250-metre-wide channel prepared for their use.

“Besides that, the fishermen community is provided with financial aid, new boats and engines, four new jetties for fishing vessels, new jobs and business opportunities, reskilling trainings, free tuitions and scholarships.

“The deployment of artificial reefs and fish aggregating devices, release of fish and prawn fry, planting of mangrove, and funding fisheries research to enhance coastal ecosystem for fisheries will also be carried out,” he added.

PIC said the Department of Fisheries’ (DoF) reports from 2013 to 2019 had shown that land reclamation projects have minimal impact on the state’s fisheries.

“The reclamation at Tanjung Tokong and Bayan Bay, began in 2016 and 2017 respectively, did not lead to a decreasing trend for fisheries.

“Marine fish landings (from 2017 to 2019) have increased from 153,864 tonnes (2013-2015) to 157,734 tonnes after the commencement of the two projects.

“The three-year average fish landing per fisherman recorded 40.5% growth from 7.66 tonnes (2013-2015) to 10.76 tonnes (2017-2019),” PIC said.

Adam Anuar, who is currently working as an information officer at the Pusat Perkhidmatan Setempat Nelayan (PPSN), said his new job helped him to save enough money to own a motorcycle.

“I can pay for the motorcycle instalment and monthly rental now,” said Adam, who was formerly a fisherman.

The PPSN is the PSI’s engagement centre serving the local fishing community.

Adam’s colleague who was also a fisherman, Samsuar Hasshim, said his salary enabled his family to have a better life.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

Expatriates living in Penang under the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme have expressed their concerns over the new stringent requirements, especially when renewing their passes.

One of the MM2H participants urged the government to make a distinction between existing MM2H participants and future applicants, and to only apply the new conditions to the latter.

“I hope the relevant authorities will take into account the plight of existing MM2H residents and make them subject to only the same financial conditions that they have initially signed up for during renewal,” the participant said under anonymity.

The new conditions have also caused significant concern to the sizeable Australian expatriate community living in the state.

Madeleine Ekeblad, who is in her 60s, said she and her husband fell in love with the island after enjoying regular vacations here over the past decades.

“We were taken with the local culture and people. Even our adult children look forward to coming over to see us every year.

“We thought we found our paradise but we’re sad that we might have to leave. We don’t want to, but what choice do we have?” lamented Ekeblad, who is well-known in the local arts scene.

Steve and Mary Hambley, who are both in their 60s, said most self-funded retirees would not have the income required under the new conditions.

Although the couple still has several years left on their MM2H pass, they have reluctantly been forced to start exploring opportunities elsewhere.

“We are quite disappointed. We chose Malaysia to be our forever home due to its affordability, lifestyle and friendly people.

“We understand that the country is trying to rebuild its economy and as such, see MM2H as a means but this could have the opposite effect.

“Many who are unable to meet these new requirements will be forced to leave and it can unfortunately take billions of ringgit out of the country,” said Steve.

Echoing these sentiments, Canadian couple, known only as Gerry and Beth, said they could not afford to keep RM1mil of their hard-earned money locked up, which they would rather be spending during their golden years.

“We’ve been full-time residents of Penang for 12 of the last 21 years. It is our home.

“We’ve helped and supported local businesses and done what we can to boost the economy during these trying times.

“This latest decision feels like a slap in the face and we urge the government to reconsider and reverse it,” Gerry, 61, said.

Source: TheStar.com.my

A proposed affordable housing development by Penang State Housing Board (LPNPP) at Bukit Gedung near Bayan Baru. It will be located on an 8.7-acre land adjacent to B.Braun manufacturing plants, just a mere minutes drive to Bayan Baru Town Centre. This will be the first affordable housing by LPNPP, with 9 more in the pipeline.

This development will offer a total of 1,253 low medium-cost units and 403 affordable housing units below the ceiling price of RM300,000. Various recreational facilities will be provided in this project, such as therapeutic garden, reflexology path, basketball court, jogging track, BBQ area, gym room and swimming pool.

The project is currently in the process of preparing documents for open tender. The construction work is likely to be offered to eligible developers in December 2021.

EAD MORE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING:

• Full list of affordable housing in Penang
• Eligibility and the requirement of buying affordable housing

Project Name : (to be confirmed)
Location : Bayan Baru
Property Type : Affordable housing
Built-up Size: 700sq.ft. & 850sq.ft.
Total Units: 1,253 (low medium-cost), 403 (affordable)
Indicative Price: RM72,500 – RM300,000
Developer : Penang State Housing Board (LPNPP)

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 government is to resume the Malaysia My Second Home programme (MM2H) in October, after suspending it a year ago.

Home Ministry secretary-general Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said the Cabinet decided on this at its meetings on July 14 and 30.

This was part of decisions made to improve policies under the national recovery plan (NRP) to kick-start the economy.

The MM2H programme was suspended for a review by the tourism, arts and culture ministry and related agencies following the Covid-19 pandemic.

“New applications will be processed and coordinated by the immigration department (JIM), beginning October 2021, after all related legal processes are completed,” Dahlan said at a press conference at the ministry today.

He said the government understood the concerns involving any influx of foreign nationals into the country through this programme.

“The government has agreed to set a ceiling for the number of participants (the principal and their dependents) at any one time. They would not be more than 1% of the population of Malaysia.

“The home ministry guarantees that only qualified participants, without past criminal records, will be allowed to take part in the MM2H programme,” he said.

He said 10 new criteria will be introduced under the MM2H.

Among them is a duration of stay of at least 90 days (cumulative) in a year, with an offshore income of at least RM40,000 a month, compared with RM10,000 before this.

Aside from that, they must have permanent savings of at least RM1 million, from which a maximum 50% can be used to purchase property, and take care of the health and education of their children.

He said the social visa pass will be valid for five years. This can be extended by another five years and beyond, so long as participants abide by the set criteria.

“Among the other criteria is a declaration of liquid assets of at least RM1.5 million.

“The pass fees will be raised to RM500 a year (from RM90). The processing fee will be set at RM5,000 for the principal participant and RM2,500 for each dependent.

“Pass renewals and any changes to the nationality of participants and their dependents will also be vetted for safety.”

Participants must also present a letter of good conduct for themselves and their dependents, Dahlan added.

He said, so far the top 10 countries with the highest number of applications for the MM2H programme are China (with 1,000 applicants), Japan (more than 200), the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Korea, Singapore, the US, Australia, Taiwan and Indonesia.

However, Dahlan said people from certain countries were on the banned list due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: FreeMalaysiaToday.com