All major roads and highways in Penang will have dedicated bicycle lanes, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said the state government was giving special attention to complete the lanes on these thoroughfares by 2020.

He said among the routes where such lanes would be created were from Seri Tanjung Pinang in Tanjong Tokong to Bayan Baru, and from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang. Lim said existing roads would be expanded if necessary.

He also said there would be dedicated bicycle lanes along the proposed 6.5km undersea tunnel from Gurney Drive to Bagan Ajam in Butterworth.

On the death of cyclist Khaw Chun Kok, who was killed in a road accident in Mount Erskine last Saturday, Lim said it was a loss to the state as Khaw was one of the early proponents of bicycle lanes in Penang.

He said Khaw relentlessly pursued the goal of pushing for such lanes on major roads in the state which has become a reality over the last few years.

“We have lost an ardent cyclist who could be seen in every cycling event and took the lead in promoting the healthy sport,” he said after paying his last respects at Khaw’s wake at the United Hokkien Cemetery in Paya Terubong on Tuesday.

Lim, who is Air Putih assemblyman, gave a RM1,000 donation to Khaw’s widow Teoh Bee Imm from his constituency fund.

Khaw, 64, died some 20 minutes after an accident with a motorcycle which was turning out from Jalan Evergreen 4 at 6.30am on Saturday. He was then cycling along Mount Erskine Road to Batu Ferringhi. Khaw, from Air Itam, was cremated yesterday after his funeral at the Paya Terubong funeral parlour.

Among the places where bicycle lanes have already been built is from Queensbay Mall to George Town.

Source: StarProperty.my

Penang Development Corporation (PDC) has inked a joint venture agreement with two Singapore-based companies to develop a RM1.3bil Business Process Outsourcing Prime (BPO-Prime) Complex in Bayan Baru.

The complex will be built on a 2.8ha of land where the PDC office is located currently.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who witnessed the agreement signing ceremony, said the collaboration with Temasek Holdings and Economic Development Innovations Singapore is a testimony of confidence and trust the international business community has in the future of Penang.

“BPO-Prime will represent the prime business hub in Malaysia’s Multimedia Super Corridor at Penang Cyber City 1 in Bayan Lepas with a gross developmental value of RM1.3bil and gross floor area of minimum RM1.6mil sq ft,” Lim said.

He added that the project would start in 2016 and was expected to finish by 2019.

Lim said BPO-Prime would be the catalyst for the Penang’s industrial transformation, such as creating a new cluster of economic development in BPO, Knowledge Process Outsourcing and Information Technology Outsourcing.

“It will also become the home to multinational companies and it is estimated to create 4,000 high-income and quality job opportunities.

“Its high value added ser-vices hub includes customer operations, data processing, back office administration, accounting, technical support, transcription, software development, IT consultancy and disaster recovery services,” he said.

Lim said BPO-Prime would ensure progress in economic vibrancy, social development, liveability and sustainability.

“The Shared Services Outsourcing (SSO) sector has achieved rapid growth over the years and the state’s SSO is providing more than 8,000 high-income jobs to locals as well as serving both regional and global markets,” he said.

Source: TheStar.com.my

Be ready to be spoilt for choices with all the seemingly endless possibilities been offered in Mont Residence at Tanjung Tokong.

In this unique offering, security check point will start from guard house. Access cards are needed to access the entrance to lift lobby, access to car park and also access to the designated floor once the lift is used. Security is treated with utmost importance.

Artist impression – Lobby (Level 1 & 2)

This unique building of thirty eight stories has a mountain facing its back and its very frontal end faces the breathtaking sea view. The building orientation faces northeast which is in line with Straits Quay & Tanjung Tokong view. To have the morning sun illuminating us from the east is indeed a very attractive proposition.

Live a healthy lifestyle

For those who enjoys a dip in the pool, there are three types of swimming pool (children’s play pool, adult lap pool & aqua gym pool with jacuzzi). A 2,000 sq.ft. fully equipped gym is available to tempt you further to lead a healthy lifestyle by incorporating a rigorous exercise regime in your daily routine if necessary.

A conference room on the twentieth floor for entrepreneurs’ use has the availability to cater for twenty people. A fully furnished dining room that has a capacity for thirty people (indoor & outdoor) is also available. Perhaps after the meeting, they could be tempted to venture to the roof top sky garden that offers a splendidly breathtaking view of the blue ocean via the viewing deck. Activities such a barbeque is possible and why would anyone turn down such invitation anyway especially with such tempting relaxing facilities?

Artist impression – Dining & Kitchen (Level 20)

There is even a golf putting green for golf enthusiasts to think about. A unique herbs garden is also part of the wide ranging facilities available.

Designed to pamper your family

Another central theme is the importance placed on ensuring enough family activities are possible. This includes children’s playground, children’s study area and tuition room. There is also a day care centre for babysitting possibilities for the convenience of working parents. It is important to spend some quality time together for families therefore a wading room for entertainment and leisure for the usage of families is made readily available too.

Family theme again takes a centre stage with its unique layout design that is suitable for family comfort with the introduction of a big living room coupled with a unique design of a dining and kitchen area. Master room has a spacious size of two hundred square feet that includes a walk in wardrobe area. The layout is most suitable for a family of four or five members.

Strategic location and accessibility

Strategically located within the established township of Tanjung Tokong, just a stone’s throw away from to all kinds of amenities like hospital, shopping malls, shops and many others. Morning market is just a walking distance away. After all, Tanjung Tokong is one of the most likeable places to live in Penang. Accessibility and location seems to go hand in hand here.

With all these possibilities, you will be very surprise to find that the market price of RM820 per square feet, with a whole range of comprehensive facilities is an attractive option for both investors and those that are keen to make it their new home.

Elderly couples that are hunting for condominiums with a comfortable yet spacious size will find the short walking distance to places that will be able to offer their daily basic needs like food a very tempting option. Idyllic greenery within the vicinity of the area will provide the kind of serenity just like the experience of living by the hillside.

Targeted to complete by the first quarter of 2018, this prestigious project is currently reaching 30% of the completion stage. Piling has already been completed and the construction of the super structure has commenced and it is also ahead of its schedule.

Indeed with such a myriads of possibilities, this project is one of its kind.

Exciting. Exceptional. Exclusive.

That’s Mont Residence Penang.

Click here to find out more about Mont Residence

[Sponsored Review]

by Charles Tan

According to Affin Hwang Capital Research, the property market of Penang will continue to be supported by the many major projects driven by public-private partnerships (PPPs). Some of them include the RM27bil Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) as well as a proposal for a RM11.3 billion business process outsourcing centre and an international technology park by Penang Development Corp (PDC) and Singapore’s Temasek Holdings. besides these PPPs, there are also property developers with huge mixed developments within Penang with total gross development value of up to RM60 billion! They include Eastern & Oriental, Eco World Development and Ewein Bhd.

Seems impressive and the numbers are huge but truth is, none of these have started. It should be soon and the two that I would be awaiting with interest would be the PPPs. These would be a catalyst for many more things to come. Without them, then it would be just the usual mixed developments which will find it harder to get even more buyers, especially if they are trying to sell ever higher prices in the areas which are considered hotspots such as Tanjung Tokong or Bayan Baru. Let’s be really savvy and understand that catalysts would take some time to happen and that’s why it should happen first before anyone starts buying, believing that whatever has been announced will happen. Yes, I rate this as the same as buying where new MRT stations are and thinking that buyers would buy them in future. Problem is, the current buyers are already paying a premium for these new launches near MRTs and they expect future buyers to pay premiums on top of their premiums to buy that property from them. Hmm…..

The research house also mentioned that Hewlett Packard chose Penang instead of Iskandar because the Penang government managed to convince them. Please understand that no MNCs would choose a state just because the state government tells / convinces them to. Not even investment friendly government policies. The reason is because these policies can be the friendliest in the states without much infrastructure to support these MNCs. If I am a new manufacturing company, I would choose Penang because of the availability of a skilled workforce. Penang is the hub for many world class research and manufacturing facilities since the days when Bayan Lepas Industrial Parks started. It may also be the logistics advantage, with airport and ports and even the train services, connecting Penang to the world. I am sure more would choose Penang. So, let’s wait for the next one.

One thing is for sure though, Penang is growing. When I first moved to Penang after my degree, Penang had just 1.2 million population. When I moved out of Penang, its population has already reached 1.7 million. With such a huge population, it meant that much of the growth were due to urbanisation. People moving to Penang for work and business opportunities. These would continue to fan the demands for more housing, as long as it remains affordable. Even though there has been many reports saying that Penang’s properties are way too expensive, I personally do not think so yet. Choices are still aplenty, the only issue is, are they at locations that these Penangites wanted. Just look at the second bridge today. There are hardly any cars. Batu Kawan is definitely not going to be a sudden sensation until 2018 at least. One major catalyst is supposed to be a new IKEA store.

Seriously though, let’s keep out focus on all the new catalysts that will keep the growth continuous. Give pressure to developers who try to tell the world that their projects are luxurious simply because you can see the sea and thus it has to be priced higher. Build good ones at affordable prices, buyers would come and profits will rise. Otherwise, be prepared to keep selling hard because the buyers today are much more well informed than those of yesterday. Comparisons can already be done easily. Distances and durations can even be calculated online! Happy loving Penang. I know I would too as I still have properties there.

>> This opinion article comes courtesy of my friend, Charles, the founder of kopiandproperty.com. He is popular for sharing his thought on property investment mostly based on his own 12 years experience as well as from all the readings and conversations with property gurus in the industry. (Source)

Featured article about population: Penang Island vs Mainland – Population

Runnymede Bay is a 5 acre seafront development along Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah in Georgetown, Penang. Strategically located next to Menara KWSP, only 5-minutes walking distance from E&O Hotel.

The proposed development will feature a mix of hotel and commercial properties, to be completed in two phases:

Phase 1: (45-storey mixed development)

• Commercial lots (level 1 & 2)
• Multi-level car park (level 3-11)
• Office suites at level 12-23 (44 units)
• Serviced residence (132 units)
• Condominium (98 units)

Phase 2:

• 48-storey hotel featuring 133 standard and 100 executive rooms
• Redevelopment of the existing 3-storey hotel with 18 rooms

This is currently pending for approval. More details to be available upon project launch.

Property Project : Runnymede Bay
Location : Georgetown, Penang
Property Type : Mixed development
Indicative Price : (to be confirmed)
Developer : Warisan Pinang Sdn. Bhd. (Runnymede Group)

Location Map: