Penang Invites Foreign Investors

SINGAPORE, June 30 (Bernama) — The Penang state government on Wednesday offered Singaporean and international investors an opportunity to participate in building and developing some of the island’s landmark projects and historical sites.

Top on the list is the high-end integrated development of a 24-hectare site in Bayan Mutiara, comprising prestigious offices, specialist medical facilities, commercial blocks, residential enclaves, retail and public spaces.

Another project is to build the 70,000 sq metres Penang International Convention Centre (PICC) in Bayan Baru, and upgrading of the existing Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) and Aquatic Centre nearby.

For historical sites, the state government wants the iconic, British Fort Cornwallis at the Esplanade, and the Crag Hotel on Penang Hill to be restored, refurbished, redeveloped and managed as unique and prestigious tourism products.

The request for proposals was made by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng during a press conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing World Cities Summit at the Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre here.

In addition, Lim also requested proposals to build and operate a gold and jewellery bazaar on a strip of 0.4 hectare land near Komtar, in a move to revitalise the area.

The plan is also to promote the city as a regional gold and jewellery centre.

Lim said the projects are in line with the strategy to unlock state assets and capitalise on the sizable heritage value, adding that, it was also to fulfil the desire of the electorate who wanted to see concrete developments taking place in the state under his leadership.

The Chief Minister also said the promotion of the projects is being made here, as he believed Singaporean investors can offer quality proposals and of international standard, looking at what has been undertaken in the republic.

Moreover, local investors are more familiar with the state as Singapore and Penang had an identical history, and the people shared a similar social and cultural background.

However, Lim said the five projects would be given to any investor who could offer the best proposal, regardless where they came from.

He said many Malaysian investors, especially government-linked companies (GLCs), had also shown strong interest in the projects.

Earlier, Wan Zailena Noordin, Managing Director of PDC Properties Sdn Bhd, which is coordinating the projects, said only companies with a minimum paid-up capital of between RM100,000 (US$31,000) to RM50 million (US$15 million) are eligible to participate in the respective projects.

The request for proposal documents for the Bayan Mutiara and the gold and jewellery bazaar projects, can be obtained from the Penang Development Corporation office, while documents for the PICC project is available via the Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang website at http://www.mppp.gov.my.

Documents for the Fort Cornwallis and Crag Hotel projects can also be obtained online at the state government website at http://www.penang.gov.my.

Penang Hill funicular train would make its last trip today

GEORGE TOWN (Feb 21, 2010) : Foreign and local visitors were surprised to hear that the iconic 87-year old Penang Hill funicular train would make its last trip today, and would be replaced with a new train system. College students Tan Soo Ni and her friend Quah Sui Pheng were shocked to find out the train system will be closed for seven months beginning today (Feb22). “We woke up early morning to so that we can get tickets to go up Penang Hill,” said Tan, 19, who lives in Bukit Mertajam. “We will keep the ticket stubs as mementos,” she said.

Engineer Yousuf Al Naabi, 27, from Muscat, Oman, who is visiting Penang for the first time, said he was fortunate to ride on the train today. University undergraduate Mohd Nazrin Mohd Pauzi, 20, did not know that his ride up Penang Hill with his friends from Terengganu would be his first and last on the funicular train.

 ”I did not know work on replacing the train system would start tomorrow,” he said. The Penang Hill Funicular Railway was built in 1907 and is a cable train pulled by steel cable electrically driven with 500 volts power. Penang Public Works, Utilities and Transport Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng reportedly said recently that the new train system would take 10 minutes to ferry passengers from bottom station to top station, without needing to stop at the middle station, compared with the current 30-minute ride.

He added the new system would combine the two tracks into one and a new passing loop would be built about 100m above the present middle station. Lim said Penang Hill residents and hotel operators would operate a jeep service up the hill from the Botanical Gardens during the closure. The RM63 million project is undertaken by the Tourism Ministry and is expected to be ready by the end of the year.

About G Hotel

PRESS RELEASE

G Hotel Makes its Debut as Penang’s Most Stylish Address
New Urban Icon of Ultra Modern Design
Penang, January 22, 2007 –– Ultra chic and unmistakably stylish, the newly launched G Hotel emerges as a new urban icon at Penang’s bustling Gurney Drive. With its stunning interiors and modern contemporary design, the new G Hotel boasts the most stylish address on the island.

G Hotel suffuses modernity, in terms of its bold and innovative approach. “The genesis of G is very much inspired by its location whilst the emblematic design of our logo reflects the quirkiness and welcoming nature of our living space.” said Billy Theodas, Hotel Consultant.

“It is an urban oasis for both discerning business and leisure travellers, allowing them to indulge in every imaginable comfort whilst enjoying impeccable service and ultra modern facilities.”

The energetic pulse of Penang’s most prominent boulevard outside resonates the moment one enters G Hotel. The welcoming lobby evokes a sense of grandeur that continues right through the hotel. Chic designer furniture pieces such as the ‘Spoon Chair’ by Kartell as well as Cappellini’s world renowned Felt Chair provides a feast of senses for design cognoscenti.

The G Lounge, a visual centrepiece at the grand lobby, is where all converge. Designed as an integral part of the hotel reception counter, G Lounge creates a casual feel of hip and informal environment where guests can check in and out with a drink

in hand. Jazz music and chill-out tunes exude upbeat energy and vibrancy to the whole atmosphere.

Through clever use of architecture, lightings and furniture, G Hotel manages to encapsulate contemporary simplicity with sufficient attention to detail. All 304 hotel rooms and suites feature minimalist style furniture and monochromatic colour scheme with strong modernity theme continuing into the immaculate open-concept bathrooms. Cutting-edge amenities, high-tech convenience and accessories such as flat screen TVs and iYiYi sound system are standard in-room features on executive floors.

G Hotel also offers 29 service residences for longer term stay guests, creating a “Home within Hotel” ambience with its 1 or 2 bedroom apartments. Each decorated in mix classic tones, while the designer furniture accentuates the feeling of pure comfort and homely reassurance.

G Hotel certainly knows how to pamper its guests with top-notch facilities, personalised comforts that readily transform ordinary hotel stay into memorably enjoyable ones.

“It is not just design that makes G Hotel hip. G Hotel aims to give its unsuspecting guests an unforgettable experience staying at the hotel”, quipped Theodas. “This encompasses how we treat our customers, right down to the minute detail of delivering unsurpassed quality and reliable services.”

The G Hotel represents a calming retreat within an urban sprawl. With first-class facilities including a swimming pool, spa, gym, yoga, and trend-setting restaurants, the hotel caters for any indulgence to both staying guests and visitors. Complementing facilities such as business centre, function rooms, and a cavernous grand ballroom ensure that the savvy corporate travellers’ needs are well served.

For reservations or further details on G Hotel, please contact the hotel directly at +604 2380000 or email info@ghotel.com.my.

###

About G Hotel
G Hotel which opens in January 2007, is a 304-room design hotel that includes 29 serviced residences at Gurney Drive, Penang. Rich in contemporary architecture and interior design, it is poised to revolutionize the hotel industry in Malaysia. Owned and operated by G Hotel Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Etika Cekap Sdn Bhd, G Hotel is located next to the landmark Gurney Plaza Shopping Mall. G Hotel aims to deliver a refreshing guest experience through its modern facilities and impeccable service standards. Facilities include an infinity swimming pool, spa, gym, trendy lounge, restaurants and state-of-the-art ballrooms and business centre to cater to both leisure and business travellers. For more information and reservations, please contact G Hotel at +604 238 0000 or access its website at www.ghotel.com.my.

Kyzens New Facility in Penang

November 14, 2009 – NASHVILLE, TN — Kyzen opened its cleaning products facility in Malaysia, announced in the October 2009 news, Kyzen Equips Application Laboratory in Penang, Malaysia. Dato’ Lee Kah Choon, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Invest Penang, honored Kyzen and its Malaysian subsidiary Kyzen Sdn. Bhd. by inaugurating the Penang, Malaysia, facility.

Kyzen Sdn. Bhd. was created 9 months ago to serve the local Malaysian and Asian electronics cleaning market, said Kyle Doyel, Kyzen president and CEO. The facility is designed to meet the needs of high-technology customers in Penang and throughout Southeast Asia with sales, technical, and training support, as well as an application and evaluation laboratory. The facility features a large-scale manufacturing capability to produce Kyzen products and began manufacturing in November. The Malaysian location is Kyzen’s 4th global facility. R. Erik Miller is Kyzen’s Asia managing director.

1st Avenue Mall

PENANG, Nov 3 (Bernama) — 1st Avenue, a RM300 million highly anticipated city centre retail mall, is expected to open in Penang in the third quarter of next year.

The mall is jointly developed by three property and retail heavyweights, namely Asian Retail Mall II Limited (ARML II), Belleview Group and Lion Group.

Pramerica Real Estate Investors (Asia) Pte Ltd, the real estate management subsidiary of US-based Prudential Financial Inc, is jointly developing 1st Avenue via its Asian real estate fund AMRL II.

DTZ Debenham Tie Leung (M) Sdn Bhd’s regional head of retail, Ungku Suseelawati Ungku Omar, said situated in the heart of Georgetown, 1st Avenue would feature seven levels of zoned shopping, providing about 400,000 square feet of retail space with 280 shops.

“The official launch which marked the start of the mall’s leasing activities, also witnessed a signing ceremony with Parkson Department Store as 1st Avenue’s anchor tenant,” she said at a news conference before the mall was officially launched by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng here on Tuesday.

Ungku Suseelawati said the lower ground floor of the mall called “Chill” would feature outlets that cater to the young with its fashion and lifestyle offerings.

She said that “Style”, occupying ground floor, would showcase high fashion clothes, accessories and beauty products, dotted with al-fresco cafes.

“One floor up on the first floor is ‘Modish’ featuring men’s apparel, sports, gadgets, kidswear and toys,” she added.

Ungku Suseelawati said “First Asia” on the second floor was designated to feature some of the best Asian lifestyles like Thai spas.

“The third floor will offer various beauty and wellness stores and shoppers can also enjoy good meals at various themed, casual and specialty restaurants,” she said.

The supermarket and foodcourt will be located on the fourth floor and the mall will also have a cineplex and karaoke lounge.

1st Avenue Mall Sdn Bhd’s director Datuk Sonny Ho said the collective expertise of Pramerica, Lion Group and Belleview Group would bring Penangites a new wave of shopping experience

New Trains for Penang Hill

The RM60mil project on a new funicular train system for Penang Hill is expected to be completed by July next year.

The new system – which is safer, low on maintenance and cost effective – is able to fetch up to 80 people per trip in about 10 minutes non-stop.
The present 82-year-old system can only ferry 60 people on 30-minute trips and passengers have to get down at the middle station to take another coach up the hill.

This has resulted in passengers having to wait for several hours to catch the train during peak periods.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the new system would be more comfortable and convenient to passengers as the interchange stop could be a hassle especially during rainy days.

“The new coach is air-conditioned with a glass roof that allows travellers to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the hill,” she told a press conference at her office here yesterday.

She said the decision on the new system was made following meetings with the Works Ministry, Penang Hill residents and non-governmental organisations including Penang Heritage Trusts and Friends of Penang Hill.

Dr Ng said the ministry was expecting more tourists to visit Penang Hill which had great potential in garden and park tourism.

“My wish is to make Penang Hill the most beautiful garden in the world.

“Last year, the hill received 368,000 tourists of which over 36% were foreigners,” she said, adding that the state government would manage, operate and maintain the funicular service.

Dr Ng said the funicular service would be closed for about six months next year to facilitate the construction work.

During the closure, travellers would have to travel up the hill in jeeps, she said.

“I hope the residents will help monitor the construction to make sure there is minimal damage,” she added.

Penang Hill Corporation Bill 2009 Tabled

PENANG, Aug 10 (Bernama) — The Penang Hill Corporation Bill 2009 which was tabled at the State Assembly sitting Monday, is aimed at, among others, giving the corporation the power to manage, operate, control and maintain the Bukit Bendera train service.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the corporation would also be responsible for developing and encouraging the economic, social and infrastructural development in Bukit Bendera.

“It is also aimed at developing the area as a tourist destination,” he said when tabling the bill.

Besides, he said, the corporation would also act as a coordinator and conduct research on all activities implemented in the 464ha area.

When the Penang Hill Corporation 2009 Enactment finally took effect, he said, the Penang Hill Railway Ordinance 1950 would be deemed null and void.

On the fate of employees of the Bukit Bendera train service, Lim said: “The workers will be offered work under the corporation with quite similar salaries and service schemes.

“Those who did not opt to serve under the corporation will be laid off.”

– BERNAMA