Only a lucky few have ever been to the top of Komtar since it was completed over three decades ago.

Now, 68 floors and at almost a quarter of a kilometre from the ground, it has the highest skywalk in the country.

The Rainbow Skywalk is a semi-circle glass path that juts several metres out of the building, and it is not for the faint-hearted.

“We’ve seen many people who cannot shake off that acrophobic dizziness when they step onto the glass. Some will not even try.

“But many love it. You can lie down and take a selfie with the little buildings below as your background. It is a rare opportunity,” said Only World Group (OWG) chief operating officer Datuk Jean Koh.

The glass was heat-treated, temper-proofed, laminated and is the same glass flooring used in America’s Grand Canyon Skywalk. Universiti Sains Malaysia ran a barrage of vibration, wind and pendulum tests on it.

From the ground, you can see the Rainbow Skywalk if you are standing near the junction of Penang Road, Macalister Road and Datuk Keramat Road.

The old roof used to be a helipad when the monolith was 65 floors. OWG topped it up with three more floors, did away with the helipad and transformed the roof into an attraction.

“Komtar is the pride of Penangites. It was once the tallest building in South-East Asia. When we first went up, the view took our breath away and we instantly started thinking of how we can get people to enjoy their trip to the top,” she said yesterday.

Video taken by Penang Property Talk in August 2016

OWG, a listed company that specialises in F&B and leisure attractions, won a 45-year lease on five levels of Komtar in 2012 and is on a mission to revitalise the building.

The company began with 5,574sq m in the complex and they are now using about 28,000sq m of floor space to turn Komtar into a leisure destination for Malaysians and tou­rists alike.

The official opening is on Dec 18, with many more delights being constructed on the roof, but OWG chief executive officer Datuk Seri Richard Koh is keeping the details secret.

“The best pleasures in the world have to be surprises. If I tell you everything, you will know what to expect when you get to the top.

“But, I will tell you that besides the skywalk, you will have the chance to sit on the luckiest chair in the world up there,” he added.

Read Source: TheStar.com.my

23 Green Terraces, the second phase of Ghee Hiang Gardens at Greenlane, Penang. This is a freehold residential development by Six Eleven Assets Group, comprises 23 three-storey family homes with indicative price from RM2,988,000 onwards.

This development is less than 1km away from Udini roundabout, just a mere minutes drive to Central Park Condominium. Each unit comes with spacious built-up and balconies.

Phase 1: 27 Green Terraces @ Ghee Hiang Gardens

Property Project : 23 Green Terraces @ Ghee Hiang Gardens
Location : Gelugor, Penang
Property Type : 3-Storey Terrace
Tenure : Freehold
Land Area: 22′ x 88′ (Type A), 22′ x 92′ (Type B)
Total Units : 10 (Type A), 13 (Type B)
Indicative Price : RM2,988,000 onwards
Developer : Six Eleven Assets Group

Location Map:

AG Innovation Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of property development and real estate investment company Aspen Group) is collaborating with IBM Malaysia Sdn Bhd to create the first comprehensive cloud infrastructure and technology services platform in Malaysia. The cloud innovation platform, hosted in Penang, is designed to serve local and international users.

The collaboration involves the purchase and subscription of IBM Blue Box, Bluemix, application development, technical services and consultancy for Aspen Group to create cognitive and next generation solutions and services globally.

The collaboration was sealed today by Aspen Group’s chief executive officer Datuk M. Murly, the company’s executive director Woo Kok Weng, IBM Malaysia managing director Chong Chye Neo and IBM Cloud for IBM Malaysia’s general manager Arshad Munir Sharif. Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Aspen Group’s chairman and executive director Datuk Seri Nazir Ariff Mushir Ariff witnessed the event.

Aspen Group said it will invest RM10 million in this next generation technology to aggregate expertise and skills to usher the adoption of cognitive apps among Penangites and Malaysians.

In a joint statement, Aspen Group and IBM Malaysia said the availability of the cloud innovation platform would also spur a culture of innovation among students and enthusiasts. “The strategic collaboration would also enable a vibrant and agile eco-system that will provide a platform for multinationals, local businesses, start-ups and residents to scale their participation in the digital economy.” the statement said.

“The economics of cloud computing,” Murly noted, “can potentially change the game for many businesses. “We envisage new forms of business models would emerge by providing the platform for innovation to happen. “I believe this will trigger a massive wave of innovation from techno-preneurs,” he added.

Meanwhile, another Aspen Group subsidiary Aspen Vision All Sdn Bhd, today signed a collaboration agreement with the Jardine Schindler Group to boost smart digital urban mobility solutions in Aspen’s developments. The agreement was signed by Jardine Schindler Group’s chief executive officer Jujudhan Jena, Antah Schindler Sdn Bhd managing director Ashok Ramachandran, Murly and Woo.

Witnessing the signing of the second signing event today were Lim, Nazir and Antah Schindler Sdn Bhd New Installation director Chan Siu Shing.

Read More: NST Online

A proposed affordable housing by BM Bina Sdn. Bhd. near Jalan Betek in Bukit Mertajam. This is the second affordable housing proposed within vicinity of Jalan Betek,   less than 500 meters away from the first affordable project – Villa Acres Residence.

Strategically located next to Taman Sungai Rambai, just a stone’s throw away from SJK(C) Keow Kuang Primary School. It is easily accessible via the ever bustling Jalan Song Ban Kheng. Amenities such as schools, market, banks, shopping malls and eateries are only a few minutes drive away.

This development will see the construction of a 23-storey high-rise building with 186 affordable units. Affordable housing project in the mainland is expected to be priced below RM250,000.

This is still pending for approval. Details to be available upon project 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
Total Units: 186
Indicative Price: RM250,000 and below
Developer : BM Bina Sdn. Bhd.

Location Map:

An “inspection report” for the review of the Penang Structure Plan 2020 (PSP 2020) will be up for display to get public feedback from today until Jan 31.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the draft of the finalised PSP 2020 would be open for display again in the first quarter of next year after considering all the feedback on the inspection report.

The PSP 2020 and its subsidiary local plans are important for proper planned development of the state in the near future.

It will specify the type of projects allowed in every area in the state that the public can look forward to.

The last structure plan was gazetted in 2007. Such plans are renewed every five years.

Critics had criticised the delay by the Penang government in coming out with the next structure plan, which was due in 2012.

The local plans for Penang Island and Seberang Prai were also not seen although a draft plan was reportedly ready to be gazetted.

Lim said the delay was due to preparation and gazettement of the Special Area Plan (SAP) documents, which would be absorbed into the PSP.

This included the George Town World Heritage Site SAP and Penang Hill SAP. Both the SAPs were gazetted on Sept 1.

“We had to gazette these smaller plans before we could do the PSP,” Lim told a press conference at Komtar today.

Meanwhile, Penang town and country planning department director Mohd Anuar Maidin hoped the public would give positive feedback on the development projects targeted in their areas.

The draft plan will be displayed at the state government office on the third floor of Komtar; Town Hall, Padang Kota Lama; and Seberang Prai Municipal Council office in Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam.

Viewing hours are from 9am to 4.30pm during weekdays.

Feedback forms will be available at the display venues.

The draft and feedback forms can also be downloaded from the Penang Town and Country Plan website.

Source: FMT