Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has clarified that there is no approval yet for a plan to reclaim three man-made islands off the southern coast of Penang island.

He said the state government must follow the 18 points of advice set by the federal government.

“I did not say that the National Physical Planning Council has approved the project. What I sta­ted was that the council had agreed to its implementation, provided that we adhere to the 18 points of advice,” he told repor­ters here yesterday.

Chow said the confusion could have stemmed from media re­­ports which used the word “approved”, resulting in a statement by Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad to deny that the council had approved the project.

The Penang South Reclamation (PSR) is a project to reclaim three islands: Island A (930ha), Island B (445ha) and Island C (323ha).

This land bank is expected to bring in more than RM70bil for the state, of which RM46bil will be used to fund the Penang Transport Master Plan.

Chow said besides securing approval for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report and a Traffic Impact Assessment report, other points of advice included the preparation for a Environment Management Plan report, Social Impact Assessment report, Road Safety Audit report and Fisheries Impact Assessment survey.

Other notable requirements, he said, were for a national disaster management plan to be put into place to reduce the development risk in event of a natural disaster such as a tsunami or increase in sea water levels, and a ban against the construction of condominiums priced above RM1mil.

He said the project delivery partner – SRS Consortium – would be working on fulfilling the advice points.

“All of us want the project to move ahead but it will take time and we are looking at least two years down the road before starting the physical implementation.

“It’s like in our DNA – that nothing will begin without all the approvals having been obtained.

“For the next stage, the state will have to look at the design and the financial architecture to implement this project.

“I can’t give a definite date when the project will start and any speculation that it will begin this year depends on how fast all approvals can be obtained,” he said.

On another matter, Penang MCA chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng said the oversight by the design team on Penang Island Link 1 (PIL 1) was a serious matter.

“If Penang Forum member Khoo Salma Nasution had not pointed out the flaws, it would have gone through,” he said.

It was earlier reported that Chow had said that the person submitting the EIA report for PIL 1 might have “overlooked” the matter as the Public Works Department had stipulated that the design for cut slopes should not exceed six berms.

A berm is a raised barrier meant to fortify and protect the slopes.

Source: TheStar.com.my

The National Physical Planning Council (NPPC) has approved the proposed Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project to create three islands off the southern coast of the main island.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, in a brief statement, confirmed that the NPPC had agreed to the implementation of the project as long as it adhered to the 18 conditions set, but did not elaborate what they were.

He stressed that the state government will adhere to all conditions set by the NPPC.

“We will adhere to all feedback from the relevant technical departments regarding the implementation of the project in line with Section 2A(2)(b) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976,” he said.

The PSR is a reclamation project that plans to create islands covering 4,500 acres off the southern coast of the Penang island.

It is expected to increase the state’s land bank. Lots on the islands will be sold to raise money to fund the state’s ambitious RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

Gamuda Bhd deputy group managing director Rashdan Yusof had revealed in February that PSR will create islands A, B and C off the coast.

Island A will be zoned as a new industrial park due to its proximity to the airport, while Island B will be specifically for high-end support services for the industrial park, such as financial services, business services and tourism.

Finally, Island C will be for the creation of new tourism products for Penang.

Gamuda Berhad is part of SRS Consortium, the project delivery partner for the PTMP.

SRS Consortium will be reclaiming the sea off the coast for PSR.

PSR is the funding module of the RM46 billion PTMP which will include a Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the building of Pan Island Link 1 (PIL1).

Just a few days ago, Chow announced that the Department of Environment (DOE) had approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for PIL1, paving the way for the project to be implemented soon.

Civil society groups including Penang Forum, Penang Consumers Association and fishermen’s groups have objected against both PSR and PIL1.

The last few days, the groups had issued statements criticising the approval for PIL1.

The groups cited reasons such as environmental damage and loss of livelihoods for the fishermen along the coast.

Source: MalayMail.com

Traffic congestion in Jalan Air Itam and Jalan Thean Teik would ease when the RM3.7 million project to link Jalan Pisang Berangan and Jalan Thean Teik is completed by May next year.

Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng said the project, financed by Penang Island City Council (MBPP), commenced in March and was expected to be completed by May 2020.

“Without widening the roads and intersections or the provision of alternative routes, congestion problems will not only continue but it will also worsen.

“Jalan Ayer Itam, Jalan Thean Teik and Thean Teik highway have become the main connecting roads not only for Ayer Itam residents but also for Paya Terubong, Relau and Balik Pulau residents when heading to George Town.

“The road users here have to face terrible traffic jams every day.

“After the state Planning Committee had approved the suggestion of this project, MBPP then started the construction works to ease the traffic congestion here,” he told reporters when met at Taman Kejiranan Jalan Kampung Pisang in Air Itam on April 17.

Ng added that the appointed contractor is Shanor Intertrade Sdn Bhd.

“We are sorry for the inconvenience caused and hoped that the residents can bear with the construction works for the time being,” he added.

Meanwhile, resident engineer for the project, Johan Ishak, said a new road measuring between 60m and 80m would be built.

The scope of the project includes road widening, road realignment, tree transplantation, rebuilding drainages and opening a new road.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

Project Location

Bayview, a proposed mixed development by Malim Jaya Sdn. Bhd. in Batu Ferringhi, Penang. Strategically located next to Miami Green condominium, just a couple minutes walk away from Miami Beach.

The proposed development comprises 3 blocks of high-rises, offering a mix of serviced residences, affordable housing and several units of shop lots:

• 2 blocks of 34-storey serviced residence (336 units) with shop lots
• 1 block of 20-storey affordable housing
  • 850 sq.ft. (152 units)
  • 750 sq.ft. (30 units)
  • 650 sq.ft. (15 units)

This project is still pending for approval. Details to be available upon project launch.

Project Name : Bayview (to be confirmed)
Location : Batu Ferringhi, Penang
Property Type : Serviced residence & affordable housing
Total Units: 336 (serviced residence), 197 (affordable)
Built-up Area: 650 sq.ft. onward
Indicative Price: RM150,000 (750 sq.ft.)
Developer : Malim Jaya Sdn. Bhd. (Lion Group)

Location Map:

Construction of the proposed Komtar-Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, part of Penang’s multi-billion ringgit Transport Master Plan (PTMP), is expected to begin next year.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the project is currently awaiting conditional approval by the Transport Ministry, which would likely be obtained soon.

He said a team from the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) visited Penang about two weeks ago to view the proposed rail line alignment and suitability of locations for train stations.

“Based on their suggestions and comments, our team (state government) will make the amendments and improvements for APAD to advice the Transport Minister.

“With that, we will (then) be able to fine tune the alignment, location of stations and financing packages,” he told Bernama during his recent visit to the national news agency’s headquarters here.

A state-initiated project, the PTMP is expected to cost an estimated RM46 billion.

It features an undersea tunnel linking the island to the mainland, highways, LRT and monorail, and an extensive bus connectivity on both the island and mainland.

SRS Consortium is a joint venture between Gamuda Bhd
image: https://cdn.thestar.com.my/Themes/img/chart.png

, Loh Phoy Yen Holdings Sdn Bhd and Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd as the project delivery partner for the PTMP and the South Reclamation Scheme.

The proposed projects in the first phase of the PTMP include the Pan Island Link 1 (PIL1) highway, the Bayan Lepas light rail transit system, and works involving several major roads.

The state government obtained a conditional approval (PIL1) from the Department of Environment (DOE) on April 10 after it reviewed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the project.

Meanwhile, the rail line for the LRT project will cover 29.5 kilometres and 27 stations, running from Komtar to the Penang International Airport and to the three future reclaimed islands in the south of Penang, estimated to cost RM8 billion.

Chow said the LRT project would take between six to eight years to be completed and a public display will be held for three months to gather feedback from the public on it.

“The project delivery partner will assist the state government in implementing the project, secure the approval, get funding and deliver it according to the time frame, quality and cost.

“There should not be any overrun in terms of cost, time and other things,” he added.

Source: Bernama