High-tech industry: An artist impression of the BPO Piazza and the BPO Prime building (right).

Penang Development Corporation (“PDC”) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Temasek and Economic Development Innovations Singapore Pte Ltd (“EDIS”) on 23 May 2014. PDC and Temasek intend to form a joint-venture company to develop Penang International Technology Park (“PITP”) and Business Process Outsourcing Prime (“BPO Prime”). PDC will hold 51% in the joint-venture company with the remaining stake held by investors, including Temasek. EDIS will provide project management services to the joint-venture company. The gross development value for this project is estimated to be around RM11.3 billion. The MOU is subject, among other things, to the finalisation of definitive documents.

Located in Batu Kawan and in Bayan Baru respectively, PITP and BPO Prime have been identified by the Penang State Government as priority projects for Penang’s development. The PITP and BPO Prime with a size 206.8 acres will be completed over the next 5 to 10 years. BPO Prime will be part of the effort by the state government to fulfil Penang’s destiny as one of the 31 BPO hubs of the future.

Penang has experienced two growth transformations – industrialisation and clustering in the past to become a successful industrialised economy and this development focusing on the services sector will help Penang’s economy move up the value-chain, by driving the third growth wave of knowledge intensive and innovation-led growth.

The project’s vision is to create new clusters of economic development with opportunities to live, work, learn and play in sustainable and innovative urban spaces. The strategies are:

1. Economic development – The influx of activity to the project will provide a significant boost to Penang’s economy and act as a major catalyst for further development
2. High value manufacturing and innovation – The focus will be on attracting market leaders in knowledge-based sectors such as Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Information Communications and Technology (ICT) and advanced manufacturing that leverage Penang’s existing comparative advantage and capabilities in the electronics industry.
3. Job creation – Job creation will be at the core of the project’s success. The project is expected to generate about 25,000 to 30,000 high income and quality jobs.

This MOU demonstrates the success of PDC’s efforts to collaborate with foreign investors in attracting world-class international companies. Penang witnessed the completion and opening of the Penang Second Bridge on 1st March 2014. On that same day, Penang launched the RM3.3 billion BPO Hub in Batu Kawan and Bayan Baru, which is one of the main components in the MOU signing ceremony today. Over the next three years, Penang is expecting the realisation of a premium outlet, theme park and international golf resort, and the sprouting up of universities in the Education Hub and other business establishments as well as building of over 20,000 units of affordable housing. The new BPO is the beginning of the growth cycle on Penang.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

Jagdeep: I'm happy land has been bought for the PR1MA project.

THE Federal Government has bought 80.94ha of land in Teluk Bahang for the 1Malaysia People’s Housing Scheme (PR1MA), said Datuk Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah (BN -Teluk Bahang).

He said he had checked with PR1MA Corporation Malaysia which confirmed that the land had been bought for the Federal Government’s initiative for affordable housing.

He said this is response to a question raised by Jagdeep Singh Deo (DAP – Dato Keramat) during the latter’s winding-up speech at the state assembly yesterday.

Jagdeep had asked how many of the 133,000 PR1MA units to be built nationwide would be built in Penang.

In response to Shah Headan’s reply, Jagdeep said he was happy to receive the news that a piece of land had been bought for the housing scheme.

“Hopefully by next month, I can get a positive reply that PR1MA will be carried out in Penang, where the project will be carried out and the timeline for the project.

“We will try to assist to expedite the project because this type of housing is important,” said Jagdeep who is the state Housing, Town and Planning Committee chairman.

In his winding-up speech earlier, Jagdeep had also said that applicants of low-cost, low medium-cost and affordable houses were facing difficulty in obtaining bank loans.

He said the rejection rate was 50%, adding those who were successful in obtaining the loans were slapped with high interest rates.

Jagdeep also said applicants for public housing units in Penang must be at least 21 years old and a voter in the state.

He said this was a new condition set by the Selection Process Enhancement Committee.

Source: StarProperty.my

Primero Garden, a gated and guarded development by Metro Jelata Group in Seberang Jaya, Penang. It is strategically located near AEON Big Hypermarket with easy access to North-South Highway and Butterworth/Kulim Expressway.

This development comprises 33 units of 3-storey bungalows with 2 design types to choose from.

Property Project : Primero Garden
Location : Taman Naluri Emas, Seberang Jaya, Penang
Property Type : 3-Storey Bungalow
Tenure : Freehold
Total Units : 33
Developer : Metro Jelata Group
Indicative Price : RM 2,000,000 onwards

CURRENT and future buyers of Botanica.CT Garden Township will continue to be surrounded by good fortune for the next 20 to 40 years, according to renowned feng shui consultant Datuk Joey Yap.

He made the remark when he arrived at the launch of Botanica.CT’s Botanica 4 show villas to give a talk on Sunday.

He also claimed that fortune was shifting to the southwest side of Penang island or Balik Pulau where the garden township was located.

MTT & Priority Group of Companies group general manager Jason Tan Khee Kwong said Yap was engaged to give a talk to potential homebuyers, adding that having mountains all around was good feng shui.

Meanwhile, the group’s executive chairman Datuk Dr Kenny Ong said response to the launch had been good with 10 people placing their bookings and many more making enquiries, adding that they hoped to sell at least half of the 29 units by the end of the year.

“Our next phase will be the commercial units.

“We hope to start building the pedestrian mall to be called Botanica Walk as soon as the building plan is approved.”

Botanica 4 will have 29 three-storey villas on a plateau with each having a built-up area of 6,000sq ft onwards and land area of 9,000sq ft to 16,000sq ft.

Each villa, priced from RM5.5mil and with seven exclusive designs to choose from, will have a swimming pool and a home elevator.

Botanica.CT has nine residential phases altogether. A heritage club house is due to open soon followed by the pedestrian mall, a medical centre, a health resort and a retirement resort.

There will be a two-day Botanica.CT roadshow from June 7 at Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore from 10am to 7pm in conjunction with Property Guru’s Malaysia Property Showcase 2014.

The launching ceremony of the Botanica 4 show villas was also witnessed by Botanica.CT’s existing residents and potential buyers who were treated to lunch and a lion dance blessing ceremony.

Source: StarProperty.my

Permai 7, a small landed housing development located in Kota Permai, Bukit Mertajam. It is only a stone’s throw away from  SJK (C) Beng Teik, a short drive to the ever bustling Jalan Song Ban Kheng.

As the name implies, this development comprises 7 units of 3-storey terrace houses with spacious built-up area of 3,323 sq.ft. Each unit is design to  have a total of 4 huge big bedrooms in 1st and 2nd floor, and a guest room at ground floor.

Property Project : Permai 7
Location : Kota Permai, Bukit Mertajam
Property Type : 3-Storey Terrace
Built-up Area: 3,323 sq.ft.
Land Area: 20′ x 70′
Total Units: 7
Indicative Price: RM600,000 onwards
Tenure : Freehold
Developer : United Allied Construction Sdn. Bhd.
Contact No.:  012-420 3328

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