About 40 people claimed to have been cheated by irresponsible parties over the purchase of People’s Housing Project (PPR) units, said Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar.

He said the victims claimed to have purchased application forms from third parties at the price of between RM5,000 and RM10,000 each, with losses amounting to RM250,000.

“These people have come to see the KPKT (Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry) to lodge their complaints. They said that the persons who sold the forms had promised they would be able to purchase the PPR houses as they (scammers) claimed that they knew people from higher up.

“The KPKT has also conducted (background) checks on these complainants. Most of them are not eligible to apply as they do not meet the requirements, and some are not listed because they have not submitted (certain) forms to the ministry,” he told reporters after officiating the Natural Heritage Sustainability Programme at Kampung Sungai Sireh here today.

Noh said in fact, all forms for the government housing assistance schemes are given free-of-charge.

Please take note that all forms for Penang government housing schemes are FREE OF CHARGE too!

Source: Bernama

Penang has received approvals for two technical reports for the proposed Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project, which will involve building three islands.

State Local Goverment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the Marine Department approved the Marine Risk Analysis report last Thursday.

He said the report was related to safety issues of the waterways where the PSR project would be developed.

He said the Drainage and Irrigation Department had, on July 18, last year, given approval for the Hydraulics Study, which covered the engineering aspect of the reclamation.

“We are still awaiting approvals for reports on social impact assessment, fisheries impact assessment and traffic impact assessment,” he said, adding that the reports were supporting documents for the overall Environmental Impact Assessment.

Speaking to newsmen in Komtar here today, Chow reiterated that the state government would not start work on the reclamation project without obtaining the approvals.

The PSR project, designed to fund the state’s milti-billion ringgit Penang Transport Master Plan, includes the creation of the three islands at Permatang Damar Laut.

The islands will have a size of 809ha, 526ha and 323ha each.

Source: New Straits Times

A proposed commercial development by Cristal Lagoon Sdn. Bhd. in the heart of George Town. Strategically at the intersection of Penang Road and Burma Road, right next to KOMTAR. This development will see the constuction of a 43-storey commercial buidling, featuring a mix of hotel, serviced residence, and commercial space:

• Hotel (286 rooms)
• Serviced residence (96 units)
• Commercial space (12 units)

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

Project Name : (to be confirmed)
Location : George Town
Property Type : Commercial development
Tenure: (to be confirmed)
Built-up Size: (to be confirmed)
Total Units : 286 (hotel room), 96 (serviced residence), 12 (commercial space)
Indicative Price : (to be confirmed)
Developer :  Cristal Lagoon Sdn. Bhd.

Location Map:

Now that you have known the most popular projects in 2017, I believed you would be interested to know what are the most read news that atttracted Penangites throughout the year of 2017.

The most exciting news in 2017 is the work on the alternative road linking Lebuhraya Thean Teik in Bandar Baru Air Itam to Lebuh Bukit Jambul. This article was read more than 21,100 times since it was published in January 2017. The next in line was none other than the article confirming IKEA Penang is opening in 2019 with a job opportunity for Penang Store Manager surfaced in early 2017.

Read more about the top 5 articles below:

#5 – More RM150,000 homes to be built in Penang

More lower-priced affordable homes await first-time buyers on Penang Island as more developers are willing to build RM150,000 apartments on the island, ever since the state government’s lowering of maximum prices in one category last year. State executive councillor in charge of housing Jagdeep Singh Deo said in August that the state government has so far approved three projects in the RM150,000 category for 750 sq ft (minus finishing) homes.

#4 – RM17 billion approved for Bayan Lepas LRT and Pan Island Link 1

Penang government announced in June that a sum of RM17 billion from an estimated total cost of RM46 billion for the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) project has been approved. State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the RM17 billion cost included the Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit (LRT) from Komtar and the Pan Island Link 1.

#3 – How much do you think land costs in Penang?

Land is the most important asset to a property developer as it enables the developer to sustain and grow its business. We have solicited some actual data from reliable sources (mostly from NAPIC) for land transacted in 2016/2017. Hopefully this will shed some lights for those who has been very curious on land prices in Penang. For those who own a land or any landed property in those areas, you can do a quick math to figure out how much your property is worth now.

#2 – IKEA Penang is really coming!

IKEA Penang being the forth IKEA store in Malaysia and the second one outside of Klang Valley after Johor Bahru. Prior to this announcement, many are still in doubt of whether the plan will really kick-off. With a job opening for Penang Store Manager surfaced in early 2017, this has further confirmed the opening of IKEA in 2019.

#1 – New route through the hills

Work on the alternative road linking Lebuhraya Thean Teik in Bandar Baru Air Itam to Lebuh Bukit Jambul in Penang is progressing on schedule. The construction of 6km-long paired road via Jalan Bukit Kukus has began on Jan 15, 2016 and is slated to be completed on Jan 14, 2019. It comprises a dual carriageway with a bicycle lane, walkway and LED street lights along the whole stretch.

The most viewed project of 2017, according to Google Analytics data (up until 27/12/2017), is the review of Novus condominum at Sungai Nibong. This project is no doubt the most popular project in 2017 and has been sold out.

In second place is The Tamarind executive apartment by E&O Property at Seri Tanjung Pinang. An all time popular project ever since it was reviewed in 2014. The post has been viewed more than 31,000 times in 2017, approximately 100,200 times since December 2014.

The remaining eight posts are mostly affordable housing projects, with the exception of Tropicana Bay Residences at Penang World City which is ranked 9th in the list.

#10 – Imperial Grande (~15,510 pageviews)

A mixed development launched in mid of 2017 by Ideal Property Group at Sungai Ara. Located along Jalan Fettes, surrounded by Iconic Skies, Gardens Ville and Imperial Residence. It offers a mix of landed and high-rise properties, with 2 level of shop offices located below the residential tower.

#9 – One Foresta @ Bayan Lepas (~15,920 pageviews)

The first affordable housing introduced in early 2015 by Ideal Property Group at Sungai Ara. Strategically located along Lengkok Kelicap, only a few minutes away from Penang Internation Airport, It is just a stone’s throw away from Setia Pearl Island housing scheme. The residential component comprises 2 blocks of 41 and 42-storey towers, each affordable unit has a built-up area of 900 sq.ft.

#8 – Tropicana Bay Residences (~16,060 pageviews)

Phase 1A of Penang WorldCity development by Tropicana Ivory Sdn. Bhd. Located within Bayan Mutiara, a new development hub located in the eastern part of the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway and in the vicinity of Sungai Nibong. Comprises four 22-storey residential tower, with condominium unit size ranging from 455 sq.ft onwards. The project has already been completed in 2017.

#7 – Granito @ Permai (~16, 073 pageviews)

Affordable housing project launched in 2015 by BSG Property at Tanjung Bungah. Next to TAR College, adjacent to 2 Permai luxury residential scheme. This development featuring a 50-storey building with two residential towers and 12 levels of car park. There are 980 units of affordable homes featuring a built-up area of 864 sq.ft. with three bedrooms.

#6 – Forest Ville (~16,190 pageviews)

Twin towers freehold project by Ideal Property Group in Bayan Lepas, Penang. Located on an 11-acre land, the two towers were part of One Foresta affordable housing scheme located along Lengkok Kelicap.  Schools, financial institutions and healthcare facilities are only short drive away. Comprising 991 condominium units with size ranging from 1,000 sq.ft. to 1,050 sq.ft. Indicative price starts from RM450,000 onwards.

#5 – The Park @ Mak Mandin (~16,720 pageviews)

The only project in Penang mainland that made it to top 10 in 2017. This is an affordable housing project launched in second half of 2016 by Penang State Government in Butterworth, undertaken by Silver Channel Sdn. Bhd. It comprises 4 blocks of 14-storey towers with 780 apartment units, featuring spacious 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms layout with a built-up area of 1,002 sq.ft.

#4 – Mahsuri Square (~19,830 pageviews)

Affordable housing at the South West district of Penang Island. It is strategically located along Jalan Mayang Pasir, within the established township of Bayan Baru. This development will see two blocks of 29 & 26-storey buildings, offering a mix of affordable and low medium cost units. It’s now ~60% completed.

#3 – Fairview Residence (~23,990 pageviews)

One of the most popular affordable housing launched in 2017 at Sungai Ara. Located next to Setia Pinnacle by SP Setia, about 10 minutes drive away from Setia SPICE. This is a joint venture development between BSG Property and VST Group. Features a 34-storey condominium offering 750 units of affordable housing, with standard built-up size of 970 sq.ft.

#2 – The Tamarind (~31,040 pageviews)

Freehold executive apartment by E&O Property at Seri Tanjung Pinang. Located along Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang 1, within walking distance to Straits Quay and Tesco. Given its strategic location and reputable developer, this is one of the most popular projects in the past 3 years. It was first introduced in early 2015 with initial selling price of RM700,000 onwards. A total of more than 3,800 readers’ comments were recorded since 2015.

#1 – Novus (~32,230 pageviews)

Residential development launched in early 2017 by Prisma Bumiraya Sdn. Bhd. (Pearl Ocean) at Sungai Nibong. It is strategically located near Gerbang Bukit Kecil 2, adjacent to Kristal Court Townhouse and Kristal Villa. The proposed development comprises single block of 44-storey condominium, offering 273 residential units with built-up area ranging from 860 sq.ft. onwards.