A newly proposed 60-hectare reclamation off Free Industrial Zone (FIZ) in Bayan Baru, stretching from Queensbay Mall roundabout towards Penang 2nd Bridge. With an estimated GDV of more than RM1 billion, this will be the longest sea-facing promenade in Penang, estimated to be about 8km-long, for the people to jog, exercise and cycle.

This project will have four oblong-shaped strips of reclaimed land attached to the coast of Penang Island, which would comprise of waterfront resorts, hotels, restaurants, medical, commercial and mixed development components.

Penang State Government would be calling for a request for proposal (RFP) from interested parties from July 31 to Sept 30 for consideration by the city council and other authorities. The winning RFP would reclaim the land and be the master developer for the project.

26 residents of the Desa Wawasan Flat here received a letter of offer for a unit under Rent-To-Own (RTO) scheme from the State Government.

The handover ceremony was officiated by the Chief Minister, Y.A.B. Mr. Chow Kon Yeow, on Saturday.

Kon Yeow said the State Government introduced the Rent To Own (RTO) scheme to enable the residents of the state to own their own homes and take full responsibility for their homes.

According to him, the selected buyers will have to pay a monthly installment of RM240 per month for a period of 15 years starting October 1.

“For the first phase, 26 buyers have been selected to accept the offer of a residential unit rental scheme in Block B of Desa Wawasan Flat.

“The resident will continue to pay the rent which will be considered a monthly installment payment for the period.

“At the end of this (payment) period, the ownership of the house will be transferred to the residents who accepted the RTO scheme,” he said during the handover ceremony.

Commenting further, Kon Yeow explained that the State Government has allocated RM1.5 million for repairs to residential units in Block B of Desa Wawasan Flat before being offered to buyers by way of rent purchase.

“Therefore, it is hoped that through this scheme it will be able to give a new spirit to the residents of the Desa Wawasan Flat.

“Let us work together to ensure that one of the basic needs of housing and its environment can be taken care of,” he said.

In addition, Jagdeep explained that for the first phase, 150 of the 456 residential units in Block B were identified to be offered to buyers under Rent-To-Own (RTO) scheme.

“We will give priority to the residents of this housing especially to those who have a clean record such as no arrears and such,” he said.

It is understood that the Desa Wawasan Flat is the sixth of the 13 public housing projects in the state that is being offered to buyers under Rent-To-Own (RTO) scheme.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

A newly proposed landed residential development by Greenview Villa Development Sdn. Bhd. at Kepala Batas. Located on a narrow 3.4-acre land near Jalan Pongsu Seribu, next to Taman Orkid Permai. It is just a stone’s throw away from Penang Matriculation College, about 10 minutes drive to Bertam Perdana Town Centre.

This development will feature 28 units of single-storey semi-detached with two different layouts and one unit of single-storey bungalow houses.

The project is still pending for approval, more details to be available upon official launch.

Property Project : (to be confirmed)
Location : Kepala Batas
Property Type : single-storey semi-detached and bunglow
Tenure : (to be confirmed)
Land Area: (to be confirmed)
Built-up Area: (to be confirmed)
Total Units : 28 (semi-detached), 1 (bungalow)
Indicative Price: (to be confirmed)
Developer : Greenview Villa Development SB

Location Map:

Malaysia’s central bank is expected to cut interest rates to a historic low next week, according to a slim majority in a Reuters poll, as it seeks to protect Southeast Asia’s third largest economy from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will cut its overnight policy rate (OPR) by at least 25 basis points (bps) to 1.75%, according to seven out of the 12 economists polled, with two of them betting on a bigger 50 bps rate reduction.

The remaining five economists expected interest rates to stay at 2.00%, already a record low, after three consecutive rate reductions in as many meetings this year.

Alex Holmes, Asia economist for Capital Economics, was one of the analysts who forecast a bigger move in the upcoming meeting.

“Given the poor outlook for growth and deeply negative inflation, we suspect the BNM will make use of its policy space and opt for a 50bp cut,” he said.

Malaysia began easing some lockdown measures imposed to contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in May. After growing just 0.7% in the first quarter, BNM said Malaysia is in an “unprecedented economic crisis” and was poised for a contraction in April-June.

While trade-reliant Malaysia had begun a “long and slow” recovery after some lockdown curbs were relaxed, Holmes said poor external demand and deflation warranted more policy easing.

Malaysia’s exports fell 25.5% in May, its biggest drop in 11 years.

The consumer price index fell 2.9% in May from a year earlier, as the economy grappled with subdued consumption for a third straight month.

The government in March rolled out a 260 billion ringgit ($60.69 billion) stimulus package to offset a sharp slowdown in domestic economic activity, and steep declines in tourism and demand for its commodities such as palm oil, crude oil and natural gas. ($1 = 4.2840 ringgit)

Source: TheStar.com.my

The project delivery partner for the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), SRS Consortium, will have to prepare and present the financial architecture plan for the PTMP to the Penang government within a month.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the financial architecture plan would enable the state government to view the cost and cash flow of the PTMP projects.

The three main components of the PTMP are the Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit (BL LRT), the Pan Island Link (PIL1 and PIL2A) highways, and the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project. It was reported that the estimated cost of the PTMP projects was RM46 billion.

Chow said the consortium was responsible to come up with RM1.3 billion in bridging finance while the state would have to provide RM1 billion.

“We will study the financial architecture plan before we make a decision. Let us not jump the gun,” Chow told a press conference after signing the project delivery partner master agreement for the PTMP at St Giles The Wembley Hotel in Magazine Road today.

Chow delivering his speech before the signing ceremony.

The master agreement was signed by Chow and Gamuda Berhad managing director Datuk Lin Yun Ling. It was witnessed by Penang State Secretary Datuk Abdul Razak Jaafar and SRS Consortium project director Szeto Wai Loong.

The SRS Consortium is a joint venture among Gamuda Berhad, Loh Phoy Yen Holdings Sdn Bhd and Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd.

Among those who were present at the signing ceremony were Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, state executive council members and state assemblymen.

Chow said that the Penang government did not proceed with the advice given by the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who proposed to the Penang government to set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the issuance of bonds to be guaranteed by the Federal Government.

The advice was given after the Penang government had applied for a RM10 billion Federal funding for the proposed BL LRT project.

“We did not apply for any bond. It was premature at that time.

“Until now, the ‘advice’ has not been withdrawn,” Chow said.

Referring to the proposed PSR project, Chow said the project had captured the interest of industrial players.

“Many industrial players are expressing their interest in ‘Island A’ of the PSR project.

“In view of the current world economic situation and the trade war between China and the United States, industry players and investors are looking beyond China.

“The interest in Penang is very strong,” Chow said.

The PSR is a reclamation project that aims at creating islands totalling about 4,500 acres, off the southern coast of the Penang island.

Chow, in his speech, said that the PTMP projects are viewed as the state’s economic transformation projects for the next 50 years.

“The PSR project will enable the state government to provide quality affordable homes that are connected to an efficient transportation network.

“The entire PTMP is aimed at increasing the public transport ridership in Penang to 40%. The public transport ridership in the state is now at 8%,” he said.

Source: Buletin Mutiara