Artist Impression

The development of the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) over four phases at RM500 million will begin next month, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said today.

He said it would begin with the most important component – the extension of the existing berth –

to enable the terminal to berth two mega cruise vessels at any given time, carrying 10,000 passengers and crew members each along with a host of infrastructures.

He said the first phase, for RM150 million, was a collaboration between Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) and private investment.

Lim added that upon completion within 24 to 36 months, it would increase the foreign visitors to the state from the current 500,000 capacity annually to 3 million.

“This is a very important phase in efforts to woo more foreign visitors to the state. As it is, the port here is the top port in the whole of the country for last year used for international transits.

“With the development in place, this will further boost the state’s cruising sector, which will see multiplier efforts,” he said after a working visit to the SPCT here this afternoon.

Earlier, he was briefed on the port’s development by Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Jeffrey Chew and PPSB chief executive officer Sasedharan Vasudevan.

Last year, Malaysia was in third place in Asia after Japan and mainland China in terms of cruise deployment and capacity.

The entire four-phase development, at a 2.83ha site, is expected to be completed by 2025.

Meanwhile, Lim said as part of the development, there would be two duty-free shops within the SPCT, with one already in operation selling chocolates and perfume.

He said this was in line with the announcement made during the tabling of the 2019 Budget.

“For now, PPSB is in the process of applying for the necessary licence from the Customs Department to enable more duty-free items to be sold.

“We are looking at turning the whole area into a free commercial zone in future,” he said.

Source: NST Online

Artist impression – Gurney Wharf promenade

The Penang government will be appointing a project manager this month to help in overseeing the running of the newly-reclaimed Gurney Wharf.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said they should be able to appoint the manager in the next one or two weeks.

“We’re targeting the appointment of the project manager to assist the government to create the Gurney Wharf,” Chow told a press conference after officiating the UOW Malaysia KDU Assemble Final Year Exhibition 2020 at 1st Avenue in George Town today.

“The reclamation of the side of Gurney Drive is 131 acres but only about 40 over acres will be used for the green area. The rest are for road reserves and other parts of the land to be given to Zenith Consortium for the project.

Find out more about Gurney Wharf

“It will be followed by the appointment of lead consultant who will take a few months to come out with the design to call for the tender for various contractors to start work maybe in July or August. So, the actual work of planting trees will probably start around July.”

Chow also revealed that the state government would announce the five finalists of the Penang South Islands Masterplan Design Competition next week.

“The five finalists will start their design work from January to April. So, in April, we will have a public exhibition of their works,” he added.

The competition initially attracted applications from 125 firms from 25 countries, out of which 27 of the world’s leading architects and town planners from about 10 countries were shortlisted for the second stage, called the ‘Expression of Interest’ stage.

Chow said one of the conditions for all the consortiums taking part was that they must be represented by a Malaysian architect or town planner.

The winner of the competition chosen by the Master Jury panel will be appointed by the state as the Lead Master Plan Designer, subject to terms and conditions.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

The Ministry of Housing and Local Government is planning to mould Perbadanan PR1MA Malaysia (PR1MA) into a national housing corporation to ensure a centralised and standardised housing industry for easy monitoring and enforcement, among others.

Its minister Zuraida Kamaruddin in brushing off the allegation that PR1MA would be dissolved soon said the government was looking at the way forward for the corporation where housing projects under the education and defence ministries, respectively as well as Felda’s new generation would be placed under PR1MA.

Current and upcoming PR1MA projects in Penang

Residensi Pauh Permai

Residensi Pauh Permai, formerly known as Residensi Permatang Pauh in mainland Penang, undertaken by Excel Focus Properties Sdn. Bhd. Strategically located within the established township of Permatang Pauh, only about 500 meters away from Butterworth-Kulim Expressway. Neighboring communities include Taman Naluri, Taman Naluri Ria and Taman Janggus Jaya. The proposed ...

Residensi Batu Ferringhi

*PROJECT CANCELLED* (Related news) Residensi Batu Ferringhi, formerly known as PR1MA affordable housing, is strategically located along Jalan Sungai Satu in Batu Ferringhi, just a stone's throw away from the Ferringhi Residence housing scheme by Mah Sing Group. This development project comprises 3 blocks of 32-storey building, offering a total ...

PR1MA @ Bukit Gelugor

One of the first few PR1MA affordable housing approved in Penang. This development is strategically located on Kampung Kastam land near the intersection of Jalan Bukit Gambier and Jalan Lembah, undertaken by Ideal Capital Venture Sdn. Bhd. It's only less than 2km away from University Science Malaysia (USM), neighbouring communities include Centrio ...

Source: EdgeProp.my

* PROJECT REJECTED *

Yet another affordable housing development planned near Jalan Betek in Bukit Mertajam. Proposed by JSC Infraland Sdn. Bhd, this development is located along Lorong Tembikai 8, next to Woodlands Park affordable housing scheme by PTL Properties Sdn. Bhd.  It just a stone’s throw away from SJK(C) Keow Kuang Primary School, with easy access to nearby amenities which include banks, famous eateries, markets and shopping mall.

This development comprises a 24-storey residential building, featuring 176 affordable units with a standard built-up size of 859 sq.ft. The units are to be priced below RM250,000.

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

READ MORE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING:

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

Project Name: (to be confirmed)
Location : Bukit Mertajam
Property Type : Affordable Housing
Built-up Size: 859 sq.ft.
Total Units: 176
Indicative Price: RM250,000
Developer : JSC Infraland Sdn. Bhd.
Last Updated: Jan 2021

Location Map:

After the recent breakdown of the funicular train to Penang Hill, the state government resolved to implement an alternative way to ascend the hill, which is through a modern cable car that connects the summit with the Penang Botanic Gardens.

This link will be among several infrastructure projects expected to take off this year besides the Light Rail Transit and the Penang South Reclamation – both of them integral parts of the RM46bil Penang Transport Master Plan.

He emphasised that the need for an alternative to the funicular hill railway became very obvious right after the King and Queen used it on Dec 21 on their maiden official visit to Penang.

“At that juncture, the need for an alternative transport is very important. Of course, there is the road to cater to four-wheel-drives, ” he noted.

Any decision regarding the development of the Penang Hill cable car project will be made once the pre-feasibility study is completed.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said currently the pre-feasibility study of the cable project is still ongoing.

“The study has to be completed first and only after that, we will have a better idea whether the project is feasible or not,” Chow told a press conference in Komtar today.

Under Budget 2020, the Federal Government announced RM100mil for the development of the Penang Hill cable car system.

In dialogue sessions with stakeholders, Chow had earlier said he expected eight to 10 pylons would be needed to support the network, which links the summit to a “station outside the gates of the Botanic Gardens, near Penang Rifle Club”.

At the hilltop, the plan is to have the station near the entrance to the Habitat, a nature park with elevated walkways through the forest canopy.

Chow believes the project will generate growth for the tourism sector and create job opportunities for the people.

On the concern that the hilltop would be overcrowded, Chow said that under the Special Area Plan for Penang Hill, it could comfortably hold about 4,500 people at any one time.

“Rightly, the funicular train itself is a mechanism to control the number of visitors at the hilltop. You can only allow 100 people up the hill every five minutes.

“If I don’t like so many people up there, I can always slow down the train and lengthen the waiting time. It is possible to control the holding capacity of the hill, ” said Chow.

The chief minister also suggested that enhancing the walk up the hill has a role to play in managing overcrowding at the funicular railway stations, especially the upper station.

“If we continue to make our walking track more attractive, I think people need not have to congregate just at the upper station alone.

“They can actually enjoy Penang Hill by talking a walk of a few kilometres up the hill while appreciating nature along the way.

“The crowd will be spread out at other attractions throughout the hill and this will lessen the impact on the upper station, ” he said.

Chow added that the hill has also evolved over the years, particularly at the lower station.

“There is a world of difference compared to 20 years ago. Now, it can hold 1,000 people compared with just about 200 many years ago.

“With the cable car as an alternative mode, we can cater to a bigger crowd, ” he said.

Source: TheStar.com.my