The pandemic is certainly changing the way we live, work and play. The sluggish property market sentiment may have resulted in many holding off buying a house but statistics proved that these home seekers have never stopped scouting for their dream home.

Here are the 10 most viewed housing projects in Penang, and as usual all of these projects are located in Penang Island.

Ideal Residency

Ideal Residency, formerly known as PR1MA @ Bukit Gelugor, is an affordable housing development by Ideal Capital Venture Sdn. Bhd. (a subsidiary of Ideal Property Group) in Penang Island. This development is strategically located on Kampung Kastam land near the intersection of Jalan Bukit Gambier and Jalan Lembah. It's only less ...

Grace Harmony

Grace Harmony, the latest affordable housing by Nova Land Development Sdn. Bhd. at Jelutong, Penang. It is strategically located near Nova Place and Grace Residence by Nova Mulia Development, easily accessible via Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway. This development will see the demonstration of 34 existing houses and workshops for ...

Holistica Penang

Bintai Kinden Corporation Bhd has proposed to diversify into the property development and management business to reduce its reliance on the mechanical and electrical engineering business. Under the proposal, the company will undertake two mixed property development and management projects, namely “Holistica Melaka” and “Holistica Penang” with healthcare facilities and wellness services ...

Havana Beach Residences

Havana Beach Residences, the latest affordable housing development by Ideal Property Group at Bayan Lepas. Strategically located near Jalan Tun Dr. Awang, adjacent to Sunsuri Residences and the upcoming Maldives Residences. It is less than 2km away from Penang International Airport, about 5 minutes walking distance to  SMJK Heng Ee (Bayan Baru ...

Zen 9

Following the successful sales of The Zen affordable housing scheme and Zen 6, Asia Green Group will be launching yet another mixed development within the same vicinity at Bayan Mutiara soon. It is strategically along Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu Expressway, near the exit of Penang Bridge's Bayan Lepas exit on the Island. It is ...

Affordable Housing @ The Zen

The Zen, the latest mixed development by Asia Green at Bayan Mutiara. Strategically located next to Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu Expressway, just a short drive away from Penang World City integrated development by Tropicana Ivory. This development comprises around 2,000 condominium units in two 46-storey residential towers, 1,200 units of which are categorized under affordable housing. There are also ...

Sandilands Foreshore

Sandilands Foreshore, an affordable housing development by Tanjung Villa Development Sdn. Bhd. (subsidiary of Tah Wah Group). It is strategically located at along Lintang Macallum 2 in Georgetown, just a stone's throw away from Sandilands condominium by Heng Lee Group. This development will see the construction of a 48-storey building, featuring ...

TreeO

TreeO, affordable housing development by Hunza’s wholly-owned unit, Diamaward (M) Sdn Bhd, at Sungai Ara. It is located next to Taman Sungai Ara, about 1.5km away from SJK(C) Chong Cheng. This development comprises three 49-storey towers offering a total 1,240 affordable units: BLOCK A Tower A1 – 390 affordable units Tower A2 – 390 ...

Fairview Residence

Fairview Residence, an affordable housing development at Sungai Ara, Penang. Strategically located next to Setia Pinnacle by SP Setia, about 10 minutes drive away from Setia SPICE. This is a joint venture development between BSG Property and VST Group. This development will features 34-storey condominium offering 750 units of affordable housing, ...

M Vista @ Southbay

M Vista is low density residential development by Mah Sing Group, part of the company's Southbay township development at Batu Maung. It is located just a stone's throw away from Free Trade Zone, less than 5 minutes drive to Penang Second Bridge. This development will feature a 23-storey serviced residence, ...

Six private hospitals in Penang will dole out Covid-19 vaccines with an additional four vaccination centres (PPVs) to be opened alongside in the near future.

Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said this would help the state achieve herd immunity by October.

He said the private hospitals involved would be Lam Wah Ee (from June 7), Loh Guan Lye (June 14), Pantai (June 7), KPJ (June 7), Penang Adventist(June 14) and Gleneagles (June 14).

Chow said the starting dates for the hospitals were estimated dates.

Those getting the jabs must have registered through the MySejahtera mobile phone app.

He said the other standalone PPVs set to open would be at the Pesta Sungai Nibong site (June 8), Balai Rakyat Bayan Baru, Perda Convention Centre, Bukit Mertajam, Seberang Jaya Expo Hall (June 14) and Sungai Bakap Multipurpose Hall.

At present, six PPVs and six government hospitals are providing vaccination against Covid-19.

Chow said as for the economic sector frontliners, vaccines would first be given to workers in the manufacturing industry, followed by those in the construction and tourism sectors.

He said Universiti Sains Malaysia would also be made into a drive-through vaccine centre soon.

“One of the pressing needs is for another three more ‘mega PPVs’ able to handle 5,000 doses a day,” he said in a statement.

Yesterday, the Spice Arena was turned into a mega PPV, with 133,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine given to those who had registered from June 7 to 27.

A total of 827,135 Penangites have registered for vaccines as of now, according to the government vaccine portal But, as of now, only 96,757 people in Penang have been given these vaccines.

Source: FreeMalaysiaToday.com

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) yesterday reiterated that all loan borrowers who have suffered a drop in income, including salary, allowances, commissions and household incomes, are eligible for a reduction of monthly instalments according to the reduced income.

In a series of tweets detailing the eligibility for reduction of monthly instalments, the central bank clarified that under the latest loan repayment assistance, the B40 recipients of Bantuan Sara Hidup/Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat can choose either a three-month moratorium or reduction of monthly instalments by 50% for six months.

“Individual borrowers who have lost their jobs can also choose either a three-month moratorium or reduction of monthly instalments by 50% for six months,” added BNM.

The central bank also pointed out that for facilities with approved amounts of up to RM150,000, microenterprises, as well as small and medium enterprises which are not allowed to operate during the lockdown, can also choose either a three-month moratorium or reduction of monthly instalments by 50% for six months.

For further information on the loan repayment assistance, visit http://bnm.gov.my/RA.

Source: Bernama

Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm has gone into ‘hibernation’.

The management of corporation has decided that going into ‘hibernation’ was the best route to take during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“We regret that the tourism and travel industry is being hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic since the very beginning of last year. As we were about to see some signs of recovery in domestic tourism, we were caught again in another wave of infections throughout the country.

“The enforcement of the movement control orders, coupled with the ongoing interstate travel restrictions and the recent total lockdown have made us realised that a temporary closure is the best route to take during this ongoing pandemic,” Entopia said in a media release.

“The management would like to announce that Entopia will go into ‘hibernation’ from June 1 until December 31 this year,” the statement added.

It stated that the temporary closure is part of its strategy to offset the financial impact and to ensure its business sustainability and continuity.

Entopia thanked its six million visitors who have supported it since 1986.

“Thank you for co-creating such beautiful memories together with us. We would like to also thank our past and present employees who have given their time and dedication to share this dream with us.

“We thank our tourism partners, associates and vendors for believing in us. We believe that Entopia, being the pride of Penangites, will emerge stronger once we are ready to do so,” the statement said.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

The enhanced movement control order will be enforced in 13 localities around Pekan Bayan Lepas in Penang beginning June 4 after a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases.

The affected areas are Sri Bayu, Bayu Tiara, Bayu Nyaman, Halaman Murni, Bayan Permai, Bayan Tiara, Taman Ara Indah, Kampung Bukit, Kampung Perlis, Kampung Masjid, Jalan Mahkamah, Kampung Pak Lah and Lebuh Kampung Bukit.

Health authorities have recorded 83 new cases within two weeks and to date, the total number of positive cases stood at 250.

“Screenings carried out among close contacts showed the infectivity rate at 19.6% while screenings in the community indicated an infectivity rate of 10.7%, ” said Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Wednesday (June 2).

He said the EMCO would take effect until June 17 and during this period, health officials would carry out more contact tracing among the residents.

The EMCO will also control the movement of people in the localities and this will help prevent infectivity from spreading to other areas.

Source: TheStar.com.my