Penang government will continue to carry out maintenance works in all eligible public and private housing schemes in the state.

This assurance was given by state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo after he had announced the state government’s financial assistance for the upgrading of three lifts at Sri Saujana Apartment in Jalan Macallum today.

The total cost for the repairs is RM239,400. Under the Penang Maximum 80% Maintenance Fund (TPM80PP), the state government will bear RM191,520 (80%) while the management committee will bear RM47,880 (20%).

“This clearly shows that the Penang government cares for the people and will continue to help them as much as possible to alleviate their burden, even during this Covid-19 pandemic.

“From 2008 to September 2021, the Penang government has spent almost RM285 million on maintenance projects in all public and private housing schemes throughout the state of Penang.

“Economically, we will assist where we can. Covid-19 will not stop the Penang government from doing its part. We will not let Covid beat us; we will beat Covid,” Jagdeep told a press conference during his visit to the apartment today.

Under the TPM80PP, he said a total of RM45 million has been spent by the state government, involving a total of 283 applications for 479 projects.

The bulk of the expenses go to upgrading or replacing the elevators followed by water tank repairs, he said.

Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi thanked Jagdeep and the state government for understanding the plight of the residents there.

“With the approval of the lift upgrading for Sri Saujana, I am happy to say that today is a historical moment as all strata buildings in Gat Lebuh Macallum have at least one maintenance project approved by the state government.

“Even though we are hit by the pandemic, the state government will not stop in helping to maintain eligible public and private housing schemes either through repainting the building or repairing the lifts,” Gooi said.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

Factories and construction sites in Penang have contributed a major portion of Covid-19 cases in the state, says state Housing, Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman, Jagdeep Singh Deo.

He said the local enforcement authorities have been constantly monitoring the premises throughout the state and taking firm action to curb the Covid-19 transmission.

Jagdeep said that as of this month, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has issued stop-work orders on five construction sites due to the Covid-19 cases detected.

“Three of the construction sites are located in the Northeast district and the other two in the Southwest district,” he told reporters at Dewan Sri Pinang, here.

He said other premises such as factories and markets would be shut down if there is at least one Covid-19 case found.

“Looking at the record-high number of Covid-19 cases in Penang on Wednesday (Sept 8), the state government has to up the ante and implement stricter enforcement and monitoring for public health and safety,” he said on Thursday (Sept 9).

On Wednesday, Penang recorded 2,474 Covid-19 cases, bringing the cumulative number to 100,906 in the state.

Earlier today, Phase 2 of the community mobile vaccination (MOVAK) programme was launched in Penang, aimed at vaccinating 5,200 licensed hawkers and traders throughout the state by Sept 12.

Licensed hawkers and traders can either pre-register to make an appointment for their vaccination or choose a walk-in at the dedicated vaccination centre in Dewan Sri Pinang, here, or Dewan Dato Haji Ahmad Badawi in Butterworth.

Source: Bernama

Real estate associations are urging the public to beware of illegal brokers under the guise of technology and innovation.

The associations consisted of The Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM), The Association of Valuers, Property Managers, Estate Agents and Property Consultants in the Private Sector Malaysia (PEPS), Malaysian Muslim Real Estate Consultants Association (PEHAM), Malaysian Institute of Property and Facility Managers (MIPFM) and Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA).

In a joint statement today, the associations are calling for members of the public to deal only with real estate agents and firms registered with the Board of Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and Property Managers (BOVAEP) when engaging any person or persons to carry out real estate services which include selling, buying, renting, leasing, tenancy administration and advisory services.

The associations said the statement served as a reminder that there are people who are not estate agents but operating estate agency businesses illegally and using many forms of creative ideas to do so.

They said real estate service is gazetted as a professional service under the Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and Property Managers Act 242, 1981 to protect the public.

“It is also to ensure that if anyone other than those registered carries out the work as an agent in any form or shape or manner, they will be committing an offence and can be charged in court with a fine of not more than RM300,000 and imprisonment for not more than three years or both,” the associations said.

“It is important to state that we are not against innovations and technology but we want to reinforce our stand that we cannot condone anyone, either individuals or companies in any form or shape, who do not comply to existing laws of the land where it fits as far as real estate agency practice is concerned,” they added.

Source: Bernama

The Penang government may apply for a judicial review against the Appeal Board’s decision earlier today that cancelled approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of its ambitious sea reclamation to build three artificial islands.

State executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari said the state will consider using this legal option pending obtaining the official written decision by the Appeal Board.

“The state will also consider other actions such as the possibility of presenting an updated EIA based on the approvals from the local authorities as referred to in the decision by the Appeal Board,” the infrastructure and transport committee chairman said in a brief statement in response to the decision.

This morning, the Appeal Board under the Environmental Quality (Appeal Board) Regulations 2003 allowed the preliminary objections submitted by fisherman Zakaria Ismail, against the approval of the EIA for the Penang South Reclamation (PSR).

In allowing the objection, the approval by the Department of Environment (DoE) director general (DG) on the PSR EIA was also set aside as it was ultra vires, null and void.

Ultra vires in legal terms means acting beyond one’s authority.

The PSR is a massive reclamation project to create three islands off the southern coast of the main Penang island.

The islands, loosely named A, B and C, will measure a total 4,500 acres (1,821 ha) in land size off the coast from Permatang Damar Laut.

The PSR project was first introduced back in 2015 as the funding module of the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) after SRS Consortium was appointed as the project delivery partner (PDP) for the PTMP on August 14, 2015.

Source: MalayMail.com

Casa Rica @ Setia Greens, a luxury landed residence by Kewira Jaya Sdn. Bhd. (a subsidiary of S P Setia Bhd.) at Setia Greens in Sungai Ara. It will be located along Changkat Sungai Ara 6, adjacent to Setia Pinnacle condominium and Phase 1 of Setia Greens guarded communities.

Featuring only 60 units of 2-storey and 3-storey Semi-detached homes infused by Spanish architecture design, Casa Rica is a low-density residential development that consists of four unique designs with functional & practical layouts. The 2-storey semi-detached home has a built-up area ranging from 2,874 sq. ft. to 3,046 sq. ft. and offers 4 +1 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. The 3-storey semi-detached home has a built-up area ranging from 3,512 sq. ft. to 3,573 sq. ft. and offers 5 +1 bedrooms and it comes with a built-in private elevator.

Casa Rica is developed on 11 acres of hill land and each of these design types sits on different levels of the terrain, creating a fascinating building silhouette and offers an unobstructed view of the Sungai Ara township backed by the lush green hills. It is surrounded by established neighborhood where conveniences and essential amenities are just a stone’s throw away.

Project Name: Casa Rica @ Setia Greens
Location: Sungai Ara
Property Type : Semi-detached
Total Units : 60
Built-up Size: 2,874sf. – 3,046sf. (2-storey semi-d), 3,512sf – 3,573sf (3-storey semi-d)
Land Tenure : Freehold
Indicative Price : RM1.9mil onwards
Developer: Kewira Jaya Sdn. Bhd. (SP Setia)