Source: Buletin Mutiara

The family here that has been living in their old Proton since their home burned down eight months ago have been given a People’s Housing Project (PPR) unit plus monthly financial assistance, Malaysiakini reported today.

Security guard S Ganesh, 34, and his family (wife and three young children) made the news earlier this week when their plight was highlighted in numerous reports.

“I tried looking for a place to rent but the rental for even a small flat unit is high, about RM800. I can’t afford it. My salary is only RM1,200,” Ganesh told the media then.

State Environment and Welfare exco Phee Boon Poh clarified with Malaysiakini that the Penang government actually contacted the family back in April when their home at Lebuh Carnavon was burned down.

“A temporary shelter at the Caring Community Complex was offered by the Penang Welfare Department and Penang Land and District Office.

“It was, however, understood that the move was unsuccessful as the family had intended to stay with relatives at Air Itam on the same night. Their family did not engage with the state government since then until the news about them went viral,” Phee explained.

Source: Facebook of Ebit Lew

Meanwhile, Ganesh and his family’s troubles also got the attention of preacher and helper of the needy, Ebit Lew, who rented a three-bedroom home for them.

“I will pay rent for a month while they wait for a PPR unit. They have applied twice since their house was burnt down.

“But if they want to continue living there, I will also happily pay for their rent,” Lew said in his Facebook posting.

Source: EdgeProp.my

Workers’ dorm at Batu Maung

Plans are afoot to build a dormitory with 35,000 beds – touted as the largest in the country – in Penang.

Penang local government committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the state’s Planning Committee (Technical) will study an application for the project in Teluk Kumbar in the southern end of Penang island in its next meeting.

“We received the latest proposal on Tuesday to build the largest foreign workers’ dormitory in Penang, or even Malaysia.

“The dormitory may be built on 4ha of land. It will have 2,100 rooms with 35,000 beds, ” he said, adding that this worked out to an average of 16 beds per room.

“The applicant had earlier proposed other components besides the workers’ quarters, but the latest proposal was to start on the dormitory project, ” Jagdeep said, adding that Penang currently has two foreign workers’ dormitories in operation – in Bukit Minyak on the mainland and Batu Maung on the island.

The dorm in Bukit Minyak reportedly holds 6,600 beds and the one in Batu Maung has up to 8,500 beds.

“One major issue is the proper housing of foreign workers, which help sustain the economy. These workers need to have a place to stay and we can see that they are now living in various housing schemes among locals, ” said Jagdeep.

Source: TheStar.com.my

Mak Mandin Residensi, an affordable housing (Type A) development by Penang Development Corporation at Butterworth. This development is located along Mak Mandin 5, neighboring Mak Mandin Industrial Park. Next to it are two public schools, namely SMK Mak Mandin and SJK(T) Mak Mandin. It is only a mere minute’s drive away from Jalan Raja Uda.

This project comprises a 13-storey apartment, offering 187 low-cost units with a standard built-up size of 650 sq.ft. There will also be 4 units of shot lots located at the ground level.

READ MORE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING:

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

Project Name: Mak Mandin Residensi (also known as Mak Mandin Indah)
Location : Butterworth
Property Type : Low-cost housing
Built-up Size: 650 sq.ft.
Total Units : 187
Land Tenure : (to be confirmed)
Indicative Price : RM42,000
Developer: Penang Development Corporation

Location Map:

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.

Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong confirmed today that Penang would have to bid adieu to its old ferries, despite a promise made by Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz in the Dewan Rakyat.

The ferries will make way for the “safer, faster and cheaper-to-maintain” water buses (to carry passengers) and lighters (to carry motorcycles), expected to arrive by mid-2022.

In a statement, Wee said that while many had expressed regret over the doing away of old ferries, passenger safety was paramount and hence a newer generation of ferries had to be put into service.

“It is undeniable that the service carries an intangible cultural and heritage value for many Malaysians who enjoy the trip.

“Several quarters have expressed regret with the decision although it is aimed at making the Penang ferry service safer, faster and less prone to unsustainable maintenance costs.

“Costs have been spiking at least once a month with the existing 47-year-old ferries (as repairs had to be done).

“It was a considered decision to modernise the ferry fleet. We want to avoid unwanted incidents and inconveniences that may occur.

“I have again explained to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow on the federal government’s plan to replace the existing ferries to optimise the safety, sustainability and security of the passenger ferry fleet.

“We want to ensure the service continues to be enjoyed by both locals and tourists,” Wee said.

Tengku Zafrul had said earlier that the ferry services would continue, with a total of RM30 million allocated by the government — to be released in two tranches in 2021 and 2022.

Recently, it was announced that port operator Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) would spend RM30 million on its end to upgrade ferry terminals on the island and mainland, and acquire three water buses and two motorcycle transporters. This would replace the current ferry service in mid-2022.

Cars will be barred from using the ferries from Jan 1, with one old ferry being used only for motorcycles. Until the new water buses and lighters arrive, passengers will be ferried using speedboat ferries, similar to the ones used in Langkawi.

In a separate statement, PPSB said pedestrians will not be charged any fee to use the speedboat ferries for two weeks, beginning Jan 1.

Currently, pedestrians pay RM1.20 for a two-way ride on the ferry.

Source: FreeMalaysiaToday.com

Penang has emerged as the first state to enforce the installation of fibre optic communication infrastructure as a basic utility equivalent to water and electricity supplies.

State public works, utilities and flood mitigation committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said it was now compulsory for developers to instal fibre optic telecommunications infrastructure in new buildings and development projects in the state.

The matter was decided in the state executive council meeting on Dec 17, he said in a statement.

In line with the Penang 2030 vision, he said the Penang government is committed to ensuring the provision of high quality and comprehensive digital infrastructure to meet the needs of the new normal and support the catalyst of digital economy in the state.

“Under the state’s strategic Penang Connectivity Master Plan, the state government has outlined the need to instal permanent communication infrastructure to become part of the required basic infrastructure provisions under By-Laws 25 and 27 of the Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 at the local council level.”

He said the decision to make the installation of fibre optic infrastructure compulsory was to support the use of high-speed internet since the copper-based internet is no longer relevant now.

“This is in line with the aspiration of the Federal Government through the implementation of the digital infrastructure plan, namely the National Digital Network or better known as Jendela, ” he said.

He added, the enforcement of this new policy is not only the main enabler in achieving gigabit speed or becoming the first Gigabit State in Malaysia but would also expedite the process of implementing 5G technology to be realised soon.

“With the implementation of this policy, Penang will not only be able to provide extensive high-speed broadband services to its people, but it would also spur the digital economy sector as an essential future industry for our state, ” he said.

Source: Bernama