A proposed high-rise residential development on a 1.05-acre site within the upscale neighborhood near Jalan Cantonment in George Town. Strategically located adjacent to Disted College and just a stone’s throw from the Penang Turf Club.

The project comprises a single 35-storey condominium block, featuring 144 residential units spread across 25 floors. Beneath, a 10-level podium is planned to accommodate parking bays, community facilities, and utility spaces.

The project is still in its planning stage and more details will be available upon official launch.

Project Name : (to be confirmed)
Location : George Town
Property Type : Condominium
Tenure: (to be confirmed)
Land Area: 1.05 acre
Built-up Size: (to be confirmed)
Total Units : 144
Indicative Price : (to be confirmed)
Developer : (Follow us to find out more)

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.

AmBank Group, through its Islamic banking arm AmBank Islamic Bhd, has extended RM222.8 million in financing to Suling Hill Development Sdn Bhd for the development of Northern TechValley @ BKE — a 175.6-acre freehold green industrial park in Seberang Perai Tengah, Penang.

Suling Hill Development is a 50:50 joint venture between AME Elite Consortium Bhd’s wholly owned subsidiary, Northern Industrial Park Sdn Bhd, and Majestic Gen Sdn Bhd. The project signifies AME’s first foray into northern Malaysia, aiming to replicate its award-winning green industrial park model in this strategic region.

Northern TechValley @ BKE is envisioned as a next-generation integrated industrial ecosystem with a projected gross development value (GDV) of RM1.3 billion. Designed with sustainability at its core, the park will focus on environmental stewardship, resource efficiency, and community well-being — aligning with Malaysia’s broader goals for industrial and economic advancement.

AmBank’s managing director of business banking, Christopher Yap, emphasised the bank’s support for national development efforts, saying the financing reflects AmBank’s commitment to building future-ready infrastructure. “We are proud to partner with reputable groups like AME and Majestic Gen in supporting the industrial growth of Malaysia, especially in key northern regions,” he said.

Dylan Tan, director of Suling Hill Development, described the venture as a strategic expansion for AME. “Northern TechValley @ BKE extends AME’s expertise in delivering sustainable industrial parks to Penang. It will serve as a platform for local and multinational businesses seeking a modern, green industrial environment,” he noted.

With construction plans underway, Northern TechValley @ BKE is poised to enhance Penang’s position as a key industrial and manufacturing hub in Malaysia.

Saujana 61 is a strata residential development by Zuwen Bina Sdn. Bhd., located near the Kota Permai area in Bukit Mertajam. The site is positioned off Lorong Sujana Permai 17, within close reach of neighbourhood conveniences such as Econsave Alma and Billion Supermarket. It is situated less than 3 kilometres from SJKC Beng Teik and is accessible via the main route of Jalan Song Ban Kheng.

This development will feature a gate and guarded housing scheme, comprising a total of 61 units — 4 units of 3-storey semi-detached homes and 57 units of 3-storey terrace houses. The indicative built-up size for the semi-detached homes is 20′ x 48′, while the terrace units offer a built-up of 20′ x 40′.

Indicative pricing starts from RM958,000 for terrace units and from RM1.2 million for the semi-detached homes

Project Name: Saujana 61
Location : Kota Permai, Bukit Mertajam
Property Type : Residential (Gated & guarded)
Total Unit: 61
Built-up Area: 20′ x 48′ (semi-detached), 20′ x 40′ (terrace)
Indicative Price: RM1,200,000 (semi-detached), RM958,000 (terrace)
Developer: Zuwen Bina Sdn. Bhd.

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.

Penang has taken another major stride in its journey to become a regional hub for high-value investments and digital innovation with the launch of GBS By The Sea, a RM296 million purpose-built facility under the Penang Development Corporation’s (PDC) Global Business Services (GBS) initiative.

Located in the Technoplex zone of Bayan Lepas Industrial Park, the state-of-the-art building contributes 290,000 square feet of modern workspace to Penang’s innovation landscape. Notably, the facility is fully tenanted even before launch, underscoring the strong investor confidence in the state’s economic vision.

Officiated by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, the launch marks the fourth GBS project delivered by PDC in recent years. Chow lauded PDC for its speed and ambition, recalling the launch of GBS TechSpace just last year.

“PDC has delivered fast, and delivered well,” said Chow. “This is more than just a building—it’s a sign of what Penang is becoming.”

GBS By The Sea is now home to three major global companies: AMD Global Services, Celestica Platform and Cloud Solutions Malaysia, and Microsoft Knowledge Capital Centre. These firms are expected to collectively create over 1,000 high-value jobs in areas such as research and development, IC design, digital services, and engineering—supporting Penang’s ongoing transition to a knowledge-driven economy.

More than just a workplace, GBS By The Sea was also designed with people in mind. The facility includes a gym, cafeteria, and a six-storey car park with 800 bays, reflecting a new standard for modern, employee-focused work environments.

Looking ahead, Chow revealed that a fifth GBS facility—GBS at Technoplex—is already in the pipeline. With an estimated investment of RM500 million and a proposed 400,000 square feet of space, it has already secured 16% pre-booking ahead of construction.

“This early demand shows the continued strength of Penang’s investment ecosystem,” said Chow.

Beyond infrastructure, Chow also welcomed the recent reduction in U.S. tariffs on Malaysian exports, from 25% to 19%, describing it as a boost to Penang’s global trade competitiveness. He stressed the importance of long-term planning to support this growth, particularly in infrastructure and utilities.

Key among these plans is the Perak–Penang Water Project, which aims to meet growing industrial water needs by 2030 or 2031. Chow confirmed that negotiations with Perak are set to begin soon.

“As Penang opens up more industrial zones, we must ensure the necessary infrastructure follows,” he said, expressing hope for continued support from the federal government and MITI to bolster the state’s semiconductor and digital economy ecosystem.

You’ve probably come across property ads boasting about their “QLASSIC score”—but what is it, really? Is it just another marketing term, or does it actually tell you something important about the quality of a home? As more developers highlight their QLASSIC achievements, it’s worth understanding what this score means, how it’s assessed, and why it could matter more than you think—especially if you’re buying a new home.

The QLASSIC score, short for Quality Assessment System in Construction, is a standardized method developed by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia to evaluate the workmanship quality of building construction projects. Introduced as part of Malaysia’s Construction Industry Transformation Programme (CITP), QLASSIC aims to raise construction standards by offering a measurable and objective benchmark for quality. It plays a pivotal role in promoting accountability among developers and contractors while giving buyers confidence in the homes they purchase.

What is QLASSIC?

At its core, QLASSIC is a quantitative assessment system based on Construction Industry Standard (CIS 7). It assesses the quality of workmanship of building projects through on-site inspections using a scoring system. The inspection does not evaluate the structural integrity or safety aspects (which are covered under other regulations and codes), but rather the visual quality and compliance of completed works against set tolerances and acceptable standards.

How is the QLASSIC Score Assessed?

The assessment process begins once a building reaches a specific level of completion—typically when major works are finished but before the final handover. Trained QLASSIC assessors conduct a physical inspection based on a statistically selected sample of units and building elements. These include:

• Architectural works (e.g., wall alignment, tiling, plastering, paintwork)
• Structural works (e.g., columns, beams, slabs—visually only)
• Mechanical and electrical (M&E) works (e.g., pipe installation, sockets, switches)
• External works (e.g., roads, drains, fencing)

Each component is evaluated against predefined quality standards and tolerances. Points are awarded based on compliance and deducted where defects, non-conformities, or poor workmanship are observed.

The final QLASSIC score is calculated as a percentage, with higher scores reflecting better workmanship. A score of 80% and above is generally considered excellent, while 70%–79% is good, 60%–69% is satisfactory, and anything below may indicate a need for improvement.

What Does the QLASSIC Score Mean?

For developers, a high QLASSIC score is a mark of pride and professionalism. It demonstrates commitment to delivering quality homes and may give them a competitive edge in a discerning market. Some government-linked projects and affordable housing schemes even require minimum QLASSIC compliance as part of their approval conditions.

For homebuyers, the QLASSIC score provides a transparent indicator of construction quality. It helps them make more informed decisions when selecting a property. Unlike subjective marketing claims, QLASSIC scores are certified by a third party (CIDB) and thus offer greater reliability.

Additionally, for industry stakeholders, QLASSIC promotes continuous improvement. By benchmarking performance across projects and developers, it encourages the adoption of best practices, skilled labor, and quality management systems.

– Ken Lim
(Founder, PenangPropertyTalk.com)