Due to the shortage of resources in the state, it is only rational for the state government to use reclaimed land to finance the infrastructure projects, according to two key business organisations in Penang.

Real Estate & Housing Developers Association (Rehda) Penang chairman Datuk Jerry Chan said it was the only currency available as the yearly revenue of the state could not pay for such infrastructure projects.

“The justification is that the reclamation works and the infrastructure projects will generate jobs and business for Penangites, offsetting some of the negative consequences of the reclamation.

“The state government should look into other ways for the affected fishermen to generate an income from fish farming activities.

“Lacking funds and ready land bank should not be used as an excuse to stunt Penang’s economic growth,” he said.

Chan spoke recently in response to the implementation of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), which would see the development of a light rail transit (LRT) system on the island and the Pan Island Link Highway, deemed to be high-priority projects under the PTMP.

Financing the projects under PTMP would involve reclaiming two man-made islands, located near Permatang Damar Laut and Teluk Kumbar, spanning 930ha and 566ha.

The PTMP has raised concerns from certain quarters, particularly from fisherfolk.

The PTMP is a result of the request for proposal (RFP) called by the state government after the Transport Master Plan Strategy Report was unveiled in 2013. The strategy report has recommended plans till 2030, estimated to cost RM27bil.

The original plan was put up with inputs from AJC Planning Consultants Sdn Bhd, Halcrow Consultants Sdn Bhd and Singapore Cruise Centre.

Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) president Datuk Seri Choot Ewe Seng said the state government needed to resolve the traffic congestion problems as soon as possible, as every minute or hour spent trapped in a traffic jam was a loss in economic terms.

“The business community and the public can only benefit from the project. The advantages will outweigh the cost of reclamation.

“However, the state government must ensure that the cost of riding the LRT is minimal and not a burden to the people,” Choot said.

Property valuation and management company CA Lim & Co principal Lim Chien Aun said the state government should set up a fund using the proceeds raised from selling the reclaimed lands to subsidise the maintenance costs of the proposed infrastructure of the PTMP inclusive of the LRT.

“Otherwise the cost of maintaining the LRT would have to fall on Penangites.

“The LRT qualifies as a state project as reclaimed land owned by the state will be auctioned off to fund its implementation,” Chien Aun added.

However, not all are in favour of the move to use reclaimed land to fund infrastructure projects.

Penang Island City Council councillor Dr Lim Mah Hui said the PTMP was planned till 2065. “The plan overestimates the population growth in Penang, compared with the Department of Statistics population projection.”

Lim said the PTMP focus should not be on building roads and tunnels to move cars, but on moving people through public transport.

“The original TMP Strategy Report envisaged 60% to be spent on roads and tunnels and 40% on public transport. This priority should be reversed with public transport accounting for at least 70% to 80% of the total budget,” he said.

Lim said there were faster and cheaper ways of reducing traffic congestions that had been successfully practised in other countries.

“For example, Penang’s traffic congestions are mainly concentrated during peak hours. These can be reduced considerably by imposing charges on vehicles entering the city during peak hours,” he said.

Meanwhile, state local government, traffic, and flood mitigation committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the rapid growth of towns such as Batu Kawan, Butterworth and Seberang Jaya would boost Penang’s population and the demand for an integrated transportation system.

“The Department of Statistics projects a population of 1.86 million for Penang by 2030, the anticipated higher number of 2.45 million people by that year (as projected in the plan) was derived by applying the same average annual population growth rate of 2.3% (which was recorded in the period of 2010-2020),” he said.

Chow said before the move to charge motorists entering the city during peak hours or ’congestion pricing’ could be implemented, there must be an  effective public transport system in place.

“Singapore for example only enforced electronic road pricing (ERP, an electronic toll collection scheme for congestion pricing) in 1998 after building its first MRT line in 1982,” he added.

The PTMP proposes seven public transport lines for the island and the mainland, including two LRTs, three monorails, heritage tram and bus rapid transit, which adds up to a total of 151km of public transport network.

“There are eight highways, including the undersea tunnel, planned under the highway network, in addition to several local road enhancements in Seberang Perai, which adds up to 71.5km of highways and roads proposed under the PTMP,” Chow said.

Source: TheStar.com.my

REHDA Penang (Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association) members led by Chairman, Datuk Jerry Chan were in Komtar for a Transport Master Plan (TMP) briefing on 26 Feb .

Chan congratulates the Penang state for coming up with a workable plan. He said, “It is a good plan. There is procedure and there is principle. The TMP will take Penang forward to accommodate its population growth, economy growth, improve living and can alleviate congestion.”

“In fact, this should have been done 20 years ago. Now, there is a plan to work out how to pay for these works. Therefore, we see something more concrete and a tangible means to pay for the project.”

* Detailed map of Bayan Lepas LRT stations *

The proposed Penang LRT should go through more high-density areas, said Real Estate & Housing Developers Association Malaysia (Rehda) Penang branch deputy chairman Datuk Toh Chin Leong.

He said this was to ensure that the mega project would not run at a loss.

“Priority should be given to areas like Bandar Baru Air Itam or Queens-bay,” he said at a question-and- answer session after a briefing on the RM27bil Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) for Rehda at Komtar on Friday.

Earlier, PTMP project delivery partner SRS Consortium delivered a presentation on the plan which included seven public transport lines.

They are Bayan Lepas LRT; Air Itam monorail; Tanjung Tokong monorail; a tramline in George Town; Georgetown (The Light)-Butterworth (Penang Sentral)-Sg Nyiur LRT; Raja Uda-Sg Nyiur-Bukit Mertajam-Permatang Tinggi monorail; and Permatang Tinggi-Batu Kawan bus rapid transit.

SRS director Szeto Wai Loong said the state government would choose the LRT operator in an open tender.

To a question from Penang Rehda chairman Jerry Chan about acquisitions of private property and cemeteries for the project, Szeto said a few farm houses would be affected in the area where the Bayan Lepas LRT would be built.

He also said SRS and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd were looking into the expansion of the Penang airport, with the matter currently in the early stages of discussion.

Chan had said priority must be given to the expansion of the airport to accommodate the growing number of passengers.

Szeto said the detailed environ- mental impact assessment studies for the Bayan Lepas LRT and south coast reclamation were ongoing.

He added that the studies were expected to be completed and submitted to the Department of Environment by the end of this June.

Source: TheStar.com.my

A total of RM220mil will be spent on the new KDU Penang University College campus in Batu Kawan.

Paramount Corporation Bhd Group chairman and executive director Datuk Teo Chiang Quan (pic) said the first phase on a 4ha site would be completed in 2018.

“There would be another phase of commercial and residential components on a 8ha site to support the campus.

“The entire project is known as ‘utropolis’ coined from the words university and metropolis,” he added after the ground-breaking ceremony of the new campus by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Also present were Paramount Corp chief executive officer (CEO) Jeffrey Chew, Paramount Education CEO Datin Teh Geok Lian, and KDU Penang University College vice-chancellor Dr Chong Beng Keok.

Teo said when completed, the “utropolis” would be able to accommodate up to 5,000 students.

“It would feature a green campus with state-of-the-art facilities that are in line with the requirements of a university college, and include a myriad of informal activity areas designed to promote active discussions and learning beyond the classrooms,” he added.

On the new campus, Dr Chong said the programmes offered would focus on skills development and the spirit of entrepreneurship.

“Our aim is to prepare job-ready graduates especially in the accounting, banking and finance, and engineering sectors,” he added.

The Batu Kawan campus is modelled after the “utropolis” in Glenmarie, Shah Alam, Selangor.

Meanwhile, Teh said that KDU Penang boasted a high record of employability with more than 90% of its graduates finding jobs within six months of graduation. She added that the new campus would be equipped with energy-saving features for effective consumption.

Source: TheStar.com.my

Gurney Wharf post recorded 1.7K shares/likes in less than 2 days!

The Gurney Wharf project has drawn a mixed reaction from the public.

While some have given the thumbs up to the mammoth project, others remain cautious on the impact it would cause to the environment.

Avid jogger and lawyer David Hoon said the project would definitely be a boon for joggers as the makeover would rid the stench emanating from the sea during low tide.

“The air here would be fresher. I hope the project would be people-centric and ideal for recreation for the whole family rather than a commercial one,” added Hoon, 56.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced the massive recreational waterfront project, which would include a seaside food and beverage area, water gardens, beach and coastal groves spanning some 1.5km of shoreline.

The distance from the existing Gurney Drive to Gurney Wharf varies between 230m and 140m out in the sea from the Jalan Pemenang and Lorong Burma underpasses respectively.

Briton Alan Pratt, a marine consultant, said the government should just go ahead with the project rather than wait for feedback.

“I have been coming back to Penang every year and this is my favourite spot for jogging.

“However, you can see the presence of rubbish and mud at low tide. This vibrant waterfront project would address the issue once and for all,” added the 58-year-old.

Restaurant owner Albert Fong welcomed the wharf project as it would transform the promenade which he claimed had been “neglected for a long time”.

Project supervisor Herman Poh, 41, said he was impressed by the concept master plan prepared by award-winning international consultants.

“If you have been to Singapore, then you will realise one of the components of Gurney Wharf is similar to Gardens by the Bay.

“The whole Gurney Wharf will surely inject us with something different that is suitable for people of all ages,” he said when met at the exhibition booth meant to collect public feedback on the project in Komtar yesterday.

However, a mall operator has remained cautious of the proposed development especially during the construction period.

“During this time, it may affect the traffic flow and disrupt the businesses here.

“However, if the construction is out at sea as reported, the impact would be minimal.

“The development would bring in a lot of benefits in the long run,” said Hunza Properties executive director Lily Tan.

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) said the rehabilitation of Gurney Drive was welcome but sourcing of materials including sand and rocks for the reclamation would be a major issue of concern.

“Creating a park in the sea actually causes a devastating impact on the environment elsewhere owing to quarrying and sand-mining or dredging activities.

“This waterfront development is basically pieces of artificial nature,” it said in a statement.

CAP also said that maintaining the artificial beach was going to be expensive in the years to come if the foreshore continues to be sedimented.

Tanjung Tokong resident Fazilah Wallen, 51, said she had some reservations about the Gurney foreshore reclamation totalling 53ha.

She said she was positive about the iconic Gurney Wharf project but it would occupy only 24ha of the land.

“I was told the balance of 29ha would be Government reserve land. What will happen to this land?

“Will high-rise projects be allowed on this land which only benefits the rich and foreigners?” she asked.

The public can give views on the proposed master plan by submitting them in the feedback box at the exhibition area in front of the Popular Bookstore in Komtar today.

The exhibition will then move to Gurney Plaza from tomorrow until March 6.

* Read more about Gurney Wharf *

Source: TheStar.com.my