The Penang Security Special Commitee (JKKN) has allowed food and beverage outlets to provide dine-ins in stages.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the first phase would start on May 15 (Friday).

“The Penang JKKN only allows food outlets located in the hotel, supermarket and fast food franchise to provide dine-ins from May 15 onwards.

“The details pertaining to the standard operating procedure (SOP) will be announced tomorrow (May 13) by both city councils namely the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP).

“A comprehensive study for phase two, involving food outlets in other categories, will be done under the advice of the state Health Department. Those outlets are not allowed to provide dine-ins for now,” Chow told the public via Facebook Live on his Facebook page today.

Chow also said that the Penang government together with the Federal and state agencies would refine the SOP implementation process with regard to the Covid-19 screening test for construction site workers and the manufacturing sector.

He said he would provide more details soon.

“Meanwhile, the Penang government will follow the same guidelines and SOP as the Federal Government pertaining to congregational prayers in the mosque and surau. The announcement and SOP will be announced soon by the Federal Government.

“The same SOP will be applied to other religions, as well for any religious activity in their places of worship.

“Apart from that, the state government urges Penangites who live in flats to limit the number of guests to not more than seven during the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.

“This is according to the advice from Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah to curb the spread of Covid-19,” Chow added.

According to Chow, public places such as Penang City Park, Metropolitan Park, Penang Botanic Gardens on the Penang island; Vision Park, Mengkuang Dam, Kamloon Beach, Air Hitam Dalam Educational Park, Cerok Tokun Tropical Forest, Panchor Hill Tropical Forest and Bukit Juru Forest Reserve in Seberang Perai would remain close.

“Meanwhile, recreational activities are limited to neighbourhood parks and pocket parks in residential areas only,” he said.

Chow said although Penang is already classified as a ‘green state’ with no new reported cases of Covid-19 for the past three weeks, the state government has continuously carried out the Covid-19 screening test on targeted groups.

“These include high-risk groups such as the madrasah and tahfiz (religious) schools, foreigners, special care centres for senior citizens, caretakers and market workers with supervision in 35 markets across the state.

“Until today, all the test results were negative. We are grateful for that,” he said.

According to Chow, the state government had also announced the Penang Next Normal Strategies at the beginning of movement control order (MCO) Phase Three.

He said the Penang Next Normal Strategies has four main missions which are to contain the pandemic, allow institutions to adapt to the next normal, rescue people and the economy and empower the community.

“Thus, each department and state agency must plan their next action based on these strategies.

“I am confident that with the ‘Penang Next Normal Strategies’, our state will be able to quickly rise again from the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak.

“Our recovery strategies will work only if we cooperate and remain united. Let us care for one another and rebuild our state again,” he added.

At the end of his speech, Chow encouraged all Penangites to stay strong, be patient and continue to practise preventive measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 while adapting to the new norms.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

For illustration only

Ideal United Bintang International Bhd (IUBIB) will develop RM828.6mil worth of property for the 1Malaysia People’s Housing or PR1MA programme in the fourth quarter.

Dubbed Penang’s “Property King”, group executive chairman Tan Sri Ooi Kee Liang told StarBiz that the project is located in the sought-after neighbourhood of Island Glades on the island.

“The scheme comprises 1,611 units of affordable and high-end homes.

“The affordable units of 850 sq ft are priced between RM300,000 and RM400,000 and will be sold to an approved list of buyers, whereas the high-end homes, priced below RM700,000, are targeted at the open market.

“Our building and layout plans for the project have been approved.

“The project is scheduled for completion in 2024, ” he said.

According to Ooi, the project will generate about RM400mil worth of construction and renovation jobs.

Projects undertaken by IUBIB started work about two weeks ago with approval from the International Trade and Industry Ministry.

“We are now preparing for construction work to resume for the Imperial Grande and Amarene projects in the south-west district, ” he said.

The RM524mil Imperial Grande comprises 938 condominiums, while the RM263mil Amarene, 410 units.

“The former is over 80% completed and should be ready by the end of the year, while the latter is over 50% completed and is expected to be completed by end-2021, ” he added.

“The challenge now is to get all our foreign workers tested, as there are limited Covid-19 testing facilities in the country, ” Ooi said.

According to Ooi, all the group’s projects will be completed on schedule.

“We have always planned ahead for all our development projects. Hence, we do not foresee any major issues in delivering the developments within the time frame.

“To overcome the social distancing issue and shorter workings hours, the team has in place a complete acceleration plan which will effectively utilise our manpower and machinery resources to ensure that the projects are on track at all time.

“We are currently liaising with the relevant state authorities to work out a plan to allow longer working hours after the conditional movement control order is lifted, ” Ooi said.

IUBIB plans to increase its land bank on the island to 400 acres over the next two to three years.

He said now was a good time to acquire new land bank on the island as property prices were coming down.

“We have 146.99 acres of land bank on the island currently, which will provide us with a stable supply for the next five years.

“We are undertaking six housing projects currently and planning an RM600mil township scheme in Balik Pulau.

“The total gross development value of these projects is RM2.89bil, ” he said.

The planned high-rise units have built-up areas between 1,000 sq ft and 1,200 sq ft and are priced from RM400,000.

Ooi said the group needed more land to implement new development projects to cater to the needs of the market beyond the next five years.

“We will also need to review and re-strategise new concepts to be introduced into our products in the post-MCO period.

“IUBIB will be more focused on affordable housing schemes, landed properties, and industrial development projects, which will help strengthen the ‘Ideal’ property brand.

“As the cost of construction is expected to soften, we will have the opportunity to improve the development cost and quality of our projects, ” he said.

Ooi and Datuk Joanne Phor, who is executive director in the company, currently hold a 74.97% stake through their shareholdings in ICT Innotech Sdn Bhd.

Source: TheStar.com.my

Penangites heaved a sigh of relief as the state partially reopened its doors with its own adaptation of the conditional movement control order (MCO) called Gradual Recovery Strategy.

Nearly all retail outlets, including department stores and malls, were allowed to reopen under the strategy Friday, but there were differing rules for businesses on the island and mainland.

Self-service laundry shops must stay closed on the mainland but can open on the island, while clothing and fashion accessory stores may not open on the mainland but were allowed to do so on the island.

The differing rules were laid down by the two city councils governing the island and Seberang Prai.

Last Sunday, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had announced that Penang, as with several other states, would not be implementing the conditional MCO announced by the Federal Government from May 4.

Instead, Penang would do it in three phases: preparation, normalisation and opening.

The normalisation phase began yesterday and the final opening phase will start next Wednesday.

Traffic on the Penang Bridge increased tremendously yesterday with thousands of vehicles making the crossing.

A check at a department store showed that shoppers were following the Federal Government’s rule against trying on clothes.

Several shoppers expressed delight at being allowed to browse for clothes again, adding that they were fine with not trying them out.

Safrina Azmi said she could buy most clothes without having to try them on because she knew her size.

“But I dare not buy pants as the size varies with the cutting,” she said at Sunshine Farlim yesterday.

Her friend Norhashima Hashim, 36, said she would only buy free size clothing.

“I won’t buy clothes that are too fitting as I am afraid that if I get the wrong size, I can’t return it,” she said.

Hotels can open again and accept guests if they are ready to comply with stringent conditions.

The manager of a five-star hotel in Batu Ferringhi said a few locals checked-in “just to stay a few nights to get away from home”.

A five-star hotel in the heritage enclave said while it was now open, rooms were only expected to reopen after May 20.

“This is subject to further information on the conditional MCO directives should some interstate movement of people be allowed then,” said general manager Alison Fraser.

For now, she said the hotel only resumed operation of its F&B outlet for takeaways as well as standing by for dine-ins in the state’s final stage of reopening the economy.

Legal firms were also allowed to reopen.

Lawyer Ong Yu Shin said he rearranged the tables in his firm to put more distance between the staff members, adding that there were some 10 to 15 clients who turned up at his office upon its opening.

“We now operate from 10am to 3pm as the common areas in the building are usually packed during peak hours. So, we decided to start and finish at different hours.

“We will check the temperature of all our clients. We have masks and hand sanitisers for our staff of eight and clients as well.”

Businesses not allowed to reopen in Penang were largely the same as the rules laid out by the Federal Government.

These include entertainment centres such as cinemas, karaoke centres, theme parks, museums and tourist attractions.

Source: TheStar.com.my

Yet another new phase proposed by Tambun Indah Land at their signature Pearl City township in Simpang Ampat. It is located at the southeast of Pearl City township, near Jalan Tasek Mutiara 7. Amenities within 5 km include Pearl City Mall, GEMS International Schools, SMJK Jit Sin II and several other shops and facilities. It is about 10 minutes drive to the North-South Highway, Penang Science Park and Penang Second Bridge.

This new phase will be a gated and guarded housing scheme, featuring a mix of 2-storey bungalow, semi-detached and terrace houses with swimming pool:

• 2-storey bungalow (1 unit)
• 2-storey semi-detached (92 units)
• 2-storey terrace (162 units)

More details to be available upon official launch.

Project Name: (to be confirmed)
Location : Simpang Ampat
Property Type : Gated & Guarded
Total Units : 162 (terrace), 92 (semi-d), 1 (bungalow)
Land Tenure : Freehold
Indicative Price : (to be confirmed)
Developer: Tambun Indah Land

Location Map:

The Penang government has launched its second economic stimulus package of RM76 million to assist the people during these challenging times in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the stimulus package is an addition to the RM75 million aid package that was announced previously, making it a total allocation of RM151 million.

He said the second economic stimulus package under the Penang People’s Aid Package aimed at putting money in the hands of the affected groups, into the market and for targeted industries.

“The second aid package was formulated based on three main objectives.

“Firstly, it is to provide immediate assistance to the most vulnerable group in the state.

“Secondly, it is to empower the working class to get back on their feet and continue to take care of themselves, their families and continue to strengthen Penang’s economy through productivity.

“Thirdly, it is to ensure business continuity in the state so that the economy will continue to progress after the end of movement control order (MCO) period,” Chow told the public via his Facebook Live message yesterday.

According to Chow, there is a total of 20 incentives in the second economic stimulus package that focuses on the rebate of assessment taxes (cukai taksiran) and cash assistance to the frontliners, fishermen, petty hawkers and traders.

The full list of the incentives from the Penang People’s Aid Package 2.0 is as below:

1. Assessment taxes rebate for the year 2020 involving both city councils, namely Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP).

2. One-off payment of RM500 to 3,103 hawkers and traders who run businesses in the food complex or shoplots.

3. One-off payment of RM500 to registered traders and hawkers under MBPP and MBSP involving 5,666 of them.

4. One-off payment of RM300 to 6,099 frontliners who are involved in the fight against Covid-19.

5. One-off payment of RM300 to the qualified Village Community Management Council (MPKK) and the Women and Family Development Committee (JPWK) members who served as frontliners involving 6,050 recipients.

6. One-off payment of RM500 to the tour bus / van drivers, car rental (limousine tour) involving 321 recipients.

7. One-off payment of RM300 to the beach activity and watercraft operators in Batu Feringghi involving 39 recipients.

8. RM200,000 allocation to launch ‘Show Penang’ programme, a project to develop the digital content involving arts, culture and heritage sectors.

9. One-off payment of RM500 to the childcare centre (taska) operators who registered under the Social Welfare Department (JKM); and kindergartens (tadika) that registered under the state Education Department involving 645 centres.

10. RM100,000 allocation to the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals who help to tackle the domestic violence issues in the state.

11. One-off payment of RM400 to the Zone A fishermen involving 5,814 recipients.

12. The provision of an insulation box worth RM180 to 250 fishermen (inland and river).

13. Incentives for traditional poultry, ruminant and pig breeders. The incentives will benefit 988 recipients.

14. Special allocation from Pusat Zakat Negeri Pulau Pinang (ZPP) worth up to RM5 million to assist the ‘asnaf’, students and teachers in tahfiz (religious) schools, needy people and others.

15. Exemption of rental rates and leases for Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI) and State Secretary Inc (SSI) projects for the month of April and May involving 33 companies.

16. Rental rate discount and rent exemptions for companies / traders / occupants under the management of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) involving 387 companies, premises and occupants.

17. Rental concessions to 24 commercial lots under the Penang Hill Corporation for half month from January and February and in full for March, April and May. A one-off payment of RM500 to 13 jeep service drivers in Penang Hill.

18. An additional allocation of RM10 million under the Penang Business Continuity Zero-Interest Loan (Skim Peka) specifically for the tourism sector.

19. Exemption of rent payment for the People’s Housing Project tenants and those who rent the Rumah Sewa Kerajaan Negeri (RSKN) for another two months (June and July) involving 2,911 units.

20. Exemption of rent payment for shop units under the management of the state Housing Department for another three months involving 122 units.

Source: Buletin Mutiara