Be the first to discover the new 1,675 acres mega township by S P Setia – Setia Fontaines at Ng Yam Huat Hall, Bukit Mertajam. Save the date and join with us at Ng Yam Huat Hall, Bukit Mertajam on 24 November 2018.

Event Date: 24 Nov 2018 (Sat)
Time: 10.00am – 10.00pm
Location: Ng Yam Huat Hall, Bukit Mertajam

*Event Highlight:
10am – Cash Tornado Machine, Games Workshop & Fun Activities,
11am – Blood Donation, Exotic Pet Exhibition, Free Health & Skin Screening
2pm – Colouring Contest
4pm – Kids Workshop
6pm – Zumba Fitness Dance
7pm – SATAY Party

Orange Park, a gated and guarded development by Doublemax Development Sdn. Bhd. (Tah Wah Group) in Bukit Mertajam. It is strategically located along Jalan Betek Manis, easily accessible the bustling Jalan Song Ban Kheng. Just a stone’s throw away from SJK(C) Keow Kuang Primary School.

This development comprises 54 units of 2-storey terrace houses, 1 unit of 2-storey bungalow and a resident clubhouse.

More details to be available upon project launch.

Project Name : Orange Park
Location : Bukit Mertajam, Penang
Property Type : Gated & guarded residential
Total Units: 54 (terrace), 1 (bungalow)
Indicative Price : RM650,000 onwards
Developer : Doublemax Development Sdn. Bhd. (Tah Wah Group)

Location Map:

The state government is planning a new mechanism to prevent low-cost (LC) and low medium-cost (LMC) unit owners from profiting from the sales of units.

Under the new guidelines, LC and LMC unit owners will have to sell their units to the government at a mutually acceptable price.

State Housing, Town, Country Planning and Local Government Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said this was to prevent the owners from excessive profiteering from the sales of their units.

“Owners must adhere to the original intention where the units were for the low-income groups and it’s perfectly alright if they were moving to higher end units.

“However, they were not suppose to sell their units for a ‘durian runtuh’ (huge windfall) as it defeats the purpose of them buying the units in the first place.

“There were cases where a RM42,000 unit was sold for RM300,000 due to speculation,” said Jagdeep during his winding-up speech at the state assembly.

Thus, Jagdeep said the state would buy over the units of those who were planning to sell to be sold to others in the waiting list.

“Through this there would be a continuous supply of LC and LMC units and the state would not have to build new units,” he said, adding that a task force had been set up to look into the mechanism and its enforcement.

On the issue of the urban rejuvenation plan for the Rifle Range flats, Jagdeep said it has been put on hold until the legal aspects are worked out.

“In Singapore, the Urban Rejuvenation Authority has wide powers where a building could be demolished if majority of the unit holders agreed to the move.

“We don’t have such laws here and we are awaiting the feedback from the federal government on the issue where the Strata Titles Act have to be amended,” he said.

Source: TheStar.com.my

The Penang government plans to call for a Request for Proposal (RFP) to offer water taxi services in the state after failing to receive any response on the idea.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the water taxi services would open more routes and more effective transportation networks by connecting the island and mainland via water transport.

Tanjung Tokong, George Town, Jelutong, Butterworth, Perai, Bukit Tambun, Batu Kawan, Nibong Tebal and other areas on the island and Seberang Prai have been suggested as locations for the water taxi services.

“This proposal has already made in into the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP). However, no actions have been forthcoming, hence we might proceed with the RFP.

“This will connect both the island and the mainland and also the multi-level paths between it.

“Rapid Ferrry Sdn Bhd is also welcome if they want to make this proposal because ferries will be the main transportation for its implementation,” he said when met on the sidelines of the state legislative assembly sitting here on Wednesday.

He was responding to suggestions to optimise the frequency of ferry operations, which stands at 54 journeys daily between Monday and Friday and 50 trips for Saturdays and Sundays.

On the operational cost of the Penang ferry, Chow said that the collections for the services was lower compared to its operational cost, hence why Penang Port Sdn Bhd had to let it go to Penang Ferry Sdn Bhd.

“We are however awaiting a response from Prasarana Malaysia Bhd (Prasarana) which is drafting a comprehensive proposal to improve the ferry services.

“It is still in the planning stage and we understand Prasarana needs their own assistance, but the state government hopes action can be taken,” he added.

On a separate matter, he said the state government has forwarded a suggestion to the Finance Minister to consider Butterworth as a location for an Urban Transformation Centre (UTC).

“The company had contacted the Seberang Perai Municipal Council to use its old building to set up a UTC in the previous election. However, there has been no further development until today.

“The Penang Sentral operator at Butterworth had also expressed interest in setting up a UTC in their building,” he said.

Source: NST Online

The Penang government is looking at introducing a new affordable housing category where the units will remain government properties under a leasehold plan that will allow low-income earners to own homes and upgrade to larger units in the future.

State executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo (DAP-Dato Keramat) said under the scheme, the housing options on offer are not just limited to low or low-medium cost units, but also larger homes under the “affordable homes” category.

He said the scheme would allow owners to upgrade from the smallest unit to bigger units in a staggered fashion.

Jagdeep said by doing this, it would ensure that low and low-medium cost homes would always be available to meet rising demands.

“This will benefit applicants wanting to own an affordable home, especially on the island side.

“We will form a special committee to further deliberate on the mechanism to be used in implementing this policy, including the financing options.

“After that, we will bring it up to the relevant authorities for approval,” Jagdeep said in his winding-up speech at the state assembly.

Currently, the capped prices of properties under the “affordable homes” category on the island are (depending on sizes): RM150,000 (750 sq ft); RM250,000 (800 sq ft); and RM300,000 (900 sq ft).

On mainland Seberang Perai, the prices are capped at: RM150,000 (750 sq ft); RM 200,000 (800 sq ft); and RM250,000 (900 sq ft).

As for the low-cost and low-medium-cost categories, the prices of homes are set at RM42,000 (650 sq ft) and RM72,500 (700 sq ft).

Here is the full list of affordable housing in Penang

Outside the assembly, Jagdeep revealed that as of October, there are currently 30,726 people on the waiting list to buy low and low-medium cost units and 12,326 for other categories, with a majority of them on the island.

Jagdeep stressed that the new scheme was merely a proposal and would only be implemented if agreed by the state executive council.

H’ng Mooi Lye (DAP-Jawi) had earlier asked Jagdeep if he would do the same for unsold or abandoned units, which could also be potential homes for the needy.

Jagdeep said the idea could be considered and the state could also look into taking over the units belonging to those who failed to pay assessment fees.

He said the current issue on low-cost and low-medium cost homes was unscrupulous owners who sold their properties at higher prices or rent them out to foreigners.

“We want to stop this abuse of affordable homes and through our lease and buy back plan, we might help the poor get a home,” he said.

Source: FMT Online