Housing developers in Penang have been warned not to force their buyers pay beyond the fixed prices for low-cost (LC), low medium-cost (LMC) and affordable housing units.

Developers who failed to comply with the warning could result in them getting blacklisted.

State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the developers must abide by the price fixed for LC, LMC and affordable housing in Penang.

“If the buyer is willing to accept your packages, that’s fine. But you cannot force him to take your packages.

“There were such cases before in the past, where developers offer renovation packages, additional car parks and others.

“However, developers cannot force buyers to take their packages. Let this be a warning.

“Please report to the Penang Housing Department if you come across such developers. I will haul them up and they will be ordered to show cause. We can also go to the extent of blacklisting them,” Jagdeep told a press conference today.

The ceiling prices for LC is RM42,000 and RM72,500 for LMC.

It was reported that a few first-time home buyers had claimed that they were being forced to pay more than the price mandated by the state for LMC units.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

Taman Keramat Permai, a landed residential development by Galiancon Development Sdn. Bhd. at Nibong Tebal. It is located along Ipoh-Butterworth federal road, diagonally opposite Boon Koon Groups’ headquarter. Accessiblity wise, it about 5km drive from Jawi toll plaza, less than 20 minutes to Batu Kawan.

The second phase of this housing scheme comprises 29 units of 2-storey terraces and 8 units of single-story terraces. Indicative price starts from RM298,800 onwards.

Project Name : Taman Keramat Permai
Location : Nibong Tebal
Property Type : Residential
Built-up Area: 20′ x 45′
Land Area: 20′ x 65′ onwards
Total Units: 37
Indicative Price: RM418,800 onwards (2-storey), RM298,800 (1-storey)
Developer : Galiancon Development Sdn. Bhd.

Location Map:

Over 100,000 real estate agents are operating without a licence in the country, Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) president Lim Boon Ping said.

According to the New Straits Times, unlicensed agents outnumbered their authorised counterparts by more than three to one.

“While we have seen some reduction over the years, the number (of illegal agents) is still high.

“We are keeping tabs and actively collecting evidence of activities involving illegal real estate brokers throughout the country and are working with the police to curb such activities in a more proactive manner,” he was quoted as saying.

He advised the public not to engage unlicensed agents as doing so meant putting their life savings at risk.

Lim also urged such agents to get certified, adding that his group was working with state governments in Sabah and Sarawak to make certification more accessible.

Citing Section 30 of Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and Property Managers Act 1981, Lim said acting as a real estate agent without a licence was an offence punishable by a fine of up to RM300,000 fine and/or three years of jail.

Local Government and Housing Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin recently warned the public against engaging dubious real estate agents or negotiators when selling or buying property.

She said it was important that people to choose certified agents endorsed by the Board of Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and Property Managers (BOVAEP), which is under the purview of the Finance Ministry.

Zuraida also urged the MIEA to play a more active role in engaging its members to come out with more strategic ideas to help developers market unsold properties.

Source: MalayMail.com

The industrial property sector is expected to remain active for the rest of this year, supported by foreign direct investment inflows.

Knight Frank Malaysia in a recent statement said the launch of Industry4WRD late last year in response to the digital transformation of the manufacturing sector and its related services will pave the way for the country.

The property consultancy said the Klang Valley, Penang and Johor will be primary destinations for investments.

In the same statement, Knight Frank Malaysia capital markets executive director Allan Sim said there was tremendous growth in foreign investments within the Klang Valley in the first half of 2019, driven mainly by robust performance in the manufacturing sector.

“With semiconductors and electrical and electronics players looking to expand within Malaysia, we anticipate more construction activities of factories and warehouses to cater to the relocation and expansion of these foreign manufacturers.”

He said the e-commerce logistics warehousing sector is “another exciting chapter to watch out for”.

“Recall the joint venture between Malaysia Airports and Cainiao in relation to the 1.2 million sq ft air logistics hub within the Digital Free Trade Zone. The facility is slated for completion by year-end and we expect to see further activities in the e-commerce warehousing and logistics market,” he said.

According to the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH) in its Property Market Report 2018, the industrial property sub-sector recorded 6,032 transactions worth RM15.01bil in 2018, which was an increase of 5.4% and 28.9% in volume and value compared to the year before. It said the prices of industrial properties showed a “mixed performance”.

“Johor recorded several negative, double-digit price changes, especially in the Tampoi area. While in Penang, property in the South-west district showed a better price change due to limited supply for the property type,” it said.

Meanwhile, Knight Frank Penang executive director Tay Tam said the attraction of Penang can be attributed to the state’s robust supply chain, with several players home-grown as well as its strong talent pool, well-established infrastructure and good support services to investors.

“Industrial properties within the matured Bayan Lepas Industrial Park continues to be in demand while several multinational companies have set up operations in the newer Batu Kawan Industrial Park which includes several existing manufacturers from the island.

“The industrial sector outlook for Penang looks good over the medium to longer term,” he said in a statement.

As for the Johor market, Knight Frank Johor branch head Debbie Choy said the expansion of Iskandar Malaysia’s boundaries is expected to generate more job opportunities and enhance export volume.

“The industrial sector continues to show positive sentiments as we continuously receive active enquiries for warehouse/manufacturing space.

“Johor is well connected for both imports and exports via three sea ports and an international airport. This is one of the reasons that Johor will house the world’s biggest ship-to-ship hub,” she said.

Source: TheStar.com.my

The conservation of the Old Prangin Market, archaeological sites and landscaping of Sia Boey Rejuvenation Project is going on smoothly under Phase Two.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow visited the Sia Boey site and was briefed by George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee and Penang Development Corporation (PDC) general manager Datuk Mohd Bazid Abd Kahar.

“The rejuvenation project was launched on March 25 last year to transform Sia Boey into an area that facilitates the coexistence of development and heritage conservation,” Chow told a press conference today.

“This is to add value to the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site by enhancing the Outstanding Universal Value with programmes and space created for the local people and restoring the shophouses in future phases.”

Chow said this project would also revitalise the area of Komtar Phase 5, making it the socio-civic centre and business hub of the state.

The project is being undertaken by PDC in collaboration with GTWHI, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and with other stakeholders like Think City and George Town Conversation & Development Corporation. Its concept is an archaeological park.

Touching on how it started, Chow said in October 2015, a granite structure was uncovered at the Sia Boey site and was identified to be the Old Prangin Canal Basin by USM’s Centre for Global Archaeological Research.

The site is one of the largest archaeological sites in George Town with the Old Prangin Canal Basin as Site A and Police Barracks as Site B.

Chow said Sia Boey was the gateway of ordinary people to George Town about 300 years ago, adding that the canal in fact even went as far as Transfer Road for tongkang (boats) to come into George Town then.

The works that had been completed were Prangin Bypass (RM7mil), Archaeological Study of Site A (old Prangin Canal Basin) and Site B (Police Barracks) by USM (RM327,000), Phase 1 (A) Rehabilitation of the old Prangin Canal (RM1mil) and Phase 1 (B) Rescue Archaeology of the Prangin Canal by GTWHI (RM700,000).

The forthcoming Phase 2 (A) works include restoring two shophouses along Jalan Magazine as community facilities space (toilets, changing room, showers and lockers) and having public archaeology programme for children to teach them archaeological methods, an analysis and interpretation programme.

Chow said Phase 3 proposed works also include the restoration and adaptive reuse of all the 22 shophouses and using some of the buildings to display the artefacts in the new Prangin Archaeological Gallery as public education and outreach programme.

He said there would also be an LRT station at the Sia Boey area if ‘it happens’.

Dr Ang said 4,000 man-hours were spent on sieving of artefacts from the deposit of the canal base.

“We’ve found about 15,000 artefacts that weigh about one tonne. We’re now in the process of categorising them,” said Dr Ang, while showing Chow and other guests the items recovered from the 19th and 20th century.

Also present were state Tourism Development, Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, PDC deputy general manager Datuk Yeoh Lean Huat and MBPP councillor Wong Yuee Harng.

Chow, together with them, later released some fish into the canal.

Source: Buletin Mutiara