Picture for illustration only

Penang will go ahead with its proposed cable car project to call for a Request for Proposal (RFP), said chief minister Chow Kon Yeow at the state legislative assembly today.

He said the project is expected to take between two to three years and the state will continue to promote Penang Hill as an eco-tourism site.

“For 2021, the state will allocate a total RM14.11 million for Penang Hill development,” he said when reading out the state budget 2021 today.

He added that the state government will continue to implement projects such as the Penang Hill Visitors’ Gallery, upgrading of the Astaka Bukit Bendera building and restoration projects for state-owned heritage bungalows such as Woodside, Convalescent and Fernhill.

“We will also upgrade infrastructure such as the Viaduct Road and the area between Lower Tunnel to Claremont,” he said.

Chow said the state had already implemented several projects on the hills such as the upper station upgrading works, slope stabilisation works, installation of anti-climb fence along the train tracks and a traffic management system.

As part of the state’s efforts to maintain Penang as a safe and interesting tourism destination, Chow said the state introduced a post Covid-19 accreditation system.

“This accreditation is to acknowledge any tourism industry player such as hoteliers and tourist product operators that had fully adhered to all SOPs and rules set by the state to stop the spread of Covid-19,” he said.

He said all tourism industry players who had fulfilled all health and cleanliness guidelines and SOPs will be given an official logo to be displayed at their premises for marketing and promotions.

As for heading towards digitalisation, Chow said the state allocated about RM1.19 million to implement the Digital Coach Scheme and Digital Promoter Scheme.

Source: MalayMail.com

Picture for illustration only

The Penang state government has yet to make a decision on whether the controversial undersea tunnel project will be built, said state exco Zairil Khir Johari (DAP – Tanjung Bungah).

The Infrastructure and Transport Committee chairman said the state will only make a decision after the feasibility report on the tunnel by Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC) is finalised.

“So, at this time, there is no need to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment for the project until the feasibility report is finalised by CZC,” he said in his written reply to a question by Mohd Yusni Mat Piah (PAS – Penaga) at the state legislative assembly.

Mohd Yusni had asked the state to reveal the EIA for the undersea tunnel and to list the agencies that had approved the project.

Zairil said the undersea tunnel is one of the components of the three highways and undersea tunnel project to be implemented by CZC.

“CZC presented the draft feasibility report on the undersea tunnel project on September 6, 2019 to the state after it was inspected by an independent consultant engineer appointed by the state,” he said.

He said the draft report was amended with improvements based on reviews by various relevant agencies and is being monitored by the state technical works committee over several meetings held since November 2019.

“CZC is expected to finalise the feasibility report in the fourth quarter of 2020,” he said.

He said if the state decided to go ahead with the undersea tunnel project based on the feasibility report, an EIA will be prepared and submitted for approval from the Department of Environment (DOE).

He said DOE will be the government agency to evaluate and decide on the approvals for the EIA.

The undersea tunnel is part of an overall RM6.341 billion project that includes three paired roads.

Source: MalayMail.com

SRS Consortium, the project delivery partner (PDP) for the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), is in the process of improving the structure of its financial model in view of the economic uncertainties brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

State Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said SRS Consortium is working on its financial architecture to be presented to the state government before the implementation schedule of the PTMP project is finalised.

The state has planned to reclaim three islands down south, known as Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project, to finance its PTMP which will see highways, rail lines and other modes of transport being introduced.

“The PTMP financing model has always been through the sale of the Penang South Reclamation project,” Zairil said when responding to a question by Goh Choon Aik (PH – Bukit Tambun) at the State Legislative Assembly in Dewan Sri Pinang today.

“SRS Consortium is currently in the process of improving its financial model which should take into account the state of economic unrest due to Covid-19 pandemic and other factors.”

Goh had wanted to know about the implementation schedule of the PSR project, Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transport (BLLRT) and Pan Island Link 1 (PIL 1); any other approval required from the Federal Government, the status of the proposed issuance of bonds for the project and the advantages of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)’s involvement.

Zairil added that the state government is also awaiting feedback from the Federal Government regarding the proposed issuance of bonds for the project.

He said former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had submitted a letter of agreement to the Penang government on Oct 1 last year for the proposed issuance of bonds with the guarantee of the Federal Government.

“The state government is confident that an understanding can be reached with the Federal Government to solve the problem of public transport and road congestion in Penang for the good of the people as well as the economic sustainability of the state,” Zairil said.

He said the state government has formed a Fishermen Taskforce Committee, headed by Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, because they are concerned with the fishermen affected by the PSR project.

He said the taskforce committee would refine initiatives, mitigation measures and the implementation mechanism of the social impact management plan (SIMP) to benefit the fishing community.

“Under the SIMP for the PSR project, the state government is finalising ex-gratia packages,” Zairil said.

“The state government, through relevant departments and agencies, is collecting detailed information to design these packages that can meet the needs and wants of fishermen as best as possible.”

The packages include ex-gratia payment and monthly allowances, empowerment like construction of a new fishermen’s jetty, setting up of a fishermen’s cooperative, tuition and education schemes for their children, training schemes for fishermen and employment opportunities.

Zairil said fishermen who do not own a home would be given priority for affordable housing.

On PSR project, he said the state is just awaiting the approval of Environmental Management Plan (EMP) by the state Department of Environment (DOE). It had submitted the EMP report (Amendment 1) to state DOE on July 17 this year.

The EMP will require the contractor appointed to comply with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval requirements during the reclamation work.

Zairil also said the state government is currently working with Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) to finalise the PSR development master plan.

“The design of BIG has recently been selected as the most suitable design for PSR by a master jury panel.

“BIG’s proposal called ‘BiodiverCity Penang’ was found to have the advantage and potential to make Penang a city with a vibrant development concept as a catalyst for the domestic and foreign economy.”

Source: Buletin Mutiara

Retirees in Penang can look forward to living their golden years in comfort with the completion of the Penang Retirement Resort in Batu Gantong, Ayer Itam, by Penang Turf Club early next year.

Touted as the first of its kind, the seven-storey resort will have 49 units offering assisted care and another 77 units offering independent living.

The size of each unit ranges from 38.46sq m (414 sq ft) to 115.75sq m (1,246sq ft) and will be offered on a leased basis with meals provided.

Residents will have the option of dining in their rooms, or at the resort’s restaurant.

The resort site is also less than 2km away from several hospitals that provide the necessary support and back-up facilities.

Located away from heavy traffic, the resort provides a peaceful and calm environment for elderly residents who can enjoy the beautifully designed landscaped gardens.

They can spend their free time in various recreational spaces like the karaoke room, mini cinema and wellness spa.

Other services include housekeeping, home medication management, personal assistant services, beauty services, round-the-clock security, excursions and shopping trips as well as an in-house convenience store.

(Artist impression)

The resort, which also has 200 parking bays for residents and visitors, is set to be a space that builds the community and celebrates life to the fullest by providing retirees with luxurious comforts and a place to call home.

Caring for the elders has always been a weight that must be carried as one’s worldly responsibilities, especially when a parent is sick or requires constant care.

Having a safe space will not only allow them to live comfortably but also provide them the care best suited to their needs.

In the coming decade, Malaysia will be on its way to becoming an aging society.

With the increasing number of people getting older every day, concerns about having a safe space for the elderly have risen.

Along with statistical findings that one in every five Malaysians will be at least 60, this information has triggered uneasiness among the masses.

It has become the responsibility of the children to come up with a plan so that their parents can live comfortably in their old age.

A space that protects the aged and gives them a life worth looking forward to is what this resort offers.

Investing for the future is something that is often overlooked but has become a necessity in an aging society as people live longer due to medical advances.

For further enquiries, call 04-238 5108 or 04-238 5221.

Source: TheStar.com.my

Penang State Government hopes that the affordable housing (RMM) completed by the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) can further improve the quality of life of the people in this state.

Chief Minister, YB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow said this during the key handover ceremony event for the Dua Residensi project at Teluk Kumbar this morning.

According to him, more than 350 units of the total 694 houses of various categories completed by the state agency here have been successfully sold even though the property market is still challenging due COVID-19 pandemic at the moment.

“It is my hope that with the implementation of these carefully planned affordable housing projects, the people of Penang will be able to own their homes and enjoy a better and safer quality of life,” he explained, who is also the Local Government, Housing Town and Country Planning Committee chairman

It is understood that since 2013, the State Government and PDC have been actively focusing on the supply of affordable housing below the ceiling price.

Apart from the Dua Residensi at Teluk Kumbar, a key handover event for 520 units of the Suria 1 project near Bandar Cassia Batu Kawan was held in May 2008.

Meanwhile, another 707 units at Jiran Residensi project near Butterworth are expected to obtain a certificate of completion and compliance (CCC) in early January 2021.

Kon Yeow added that at this time, PDC is also planning for Cecil Residensi project near George Town and Mak Mandin Residensi near Butterworth where the development progress is now at 21 percent and 3 percent respectively.

“Under the PDC, a total of 26,616 units of affordable housing have been provided, namely 3,307 units completed, 2,947 units under construction and 15,230 units in the planning (to be built),” he added, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tanjong and State Assemblyman (ADUN) for Padang Kota.

Find out more about Dua Residensi