Athi Shankar

GEORGE TOWN: A consumer association leader has claimed that “mafia developers” have usurped Penang to turn the island into an exclusive place for the affluent.

Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam (CASSA) president Jacob George said this had triggered an exodus of the lower income people from their home state.

“Secret deals are done not only here but in Singapore and Hong Kong to turn Penang island exclusively for the rich. It’s clear that mafia developers have taken over Penang,” he alleged.

He slammed the Pakatan Rakyat state government for letting this happen unabated.

George blasted Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for caving in freely to the demands of property developers, who were bent on turning the island into an elitist dwelling.

“The state government is doing nothing about the displacement of communities taking place right under their noses,” he told a press conference here.

He said CASSA received numerous complaints from helpless local residents about the wrongdoings in the state, especially on the island.

He said the association’s ground study revealed that the developers virtually control and dictate all happenings in Penang.

“They even announce policy decisions,” he added.

George pointed to a 2009 news report on a property developer announcing the state government’s decision to raise density for property development.

He was amazed that the state government could allow a developer to usurp its power to make the important announcement.

“It clearly shows developers dictate and manipulate policies in Penang,” he added.

The CASSA president challenged the state government to prove developers’ boast that “higher density would lead to lower property prices.”

He called on Lim’s government to address the pressing issue instead of bragging about rosy statistics to show the state’s high investments and cash reserves.

Culture of fear

He accused Lim of promoting a culture of fear by slapping legal notices against or even insulting and humiliating those who voiced out against his government on the lack of public consultation in development plans.

George said massive development projects were taking place despite complaints from residents like in the Gurney Drive vicinity

He criticised the authorities for turning a deaf ear to numerous complaints regarding late night construction works.

He claimed that residents were threatened and intimidated openly for lodging reports instead of getting help from the authorities.

For the first time in their history, George said, Penangites were being forced to keep their mouth shut.

He said the vocal Penang NGOs were also being shut out and not consulted by the state government on issues of public interest.

“The state government seems to think that the vision for Penang should be what Lim thinks it should be and not what the people want it to be. It’s time for the people to regain their power and stop the state government from having a free way,” he added.

One can find the mysterious and wonderful world of fused glass in I-box Museum of Glass, Penang. This museum is the first glass museum in Malaysia and the only fused glass museum in the world.

The Museum has been given two titles in the Malaysian Book of Records, first is The First Glass Museum in Malaysia and second is the Longest Motive Glass Painting in Malaysia.

The size for the longest glass batik painting is 12.2m in length and 1.5m in height. It took three artists and about five months to complete the painting which is based on the glass batik concept.

Visitors can also purchase glass art such as souvenirs, glass paintings, keychains and accessories.

Address: 80-0 , Jalan Mount Erskine, 10470 Tanjung Tokong, Penang
Tel: : 604-899 2080/ 604-899 1080
Opening hours: Mon-Fri : 9.30am to 6.30pm; Sat : 9.30am to 5.00pm

For more information please visit :

GEORGE TOWN: St Jude Medical Inc plans to spend US$300mil on its new manufacturing facility in Penang over the next five years.

St Jude Medical chairman and president Daniel Starks said the investment would be for infrastructure, capital and wages in Penang, which would create about 2,000 jobs.

He was speaking after the launching of the new plant in Bayan Lepas by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng,

Starks said the investment would include the funding for an advanced technology centre, which was expected to be operational next year.

The company had invested about US$67mil in the manufacturing facility.

“The centre will bring in physicians from Asia Pacific and train them on the latest development in medical technology from St Jude Medical.

“The centre would use virtual reality technology to train the physicians,” he said.

Starks added that the Penang manufacturing facility would initially produce products for the company’s cardiac rhythm management division.

“The CE mark approval, the required endorsement for selling products in Europe, for the manufacture of pacemakers and leads, was awarded in January and the first Accent pacemakers made in Malaysia have already been provided to physicians.

“In addition to pacemakers and leads, St Jude Medical plans to expand production to include additional products such as implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) over the next several years,” he said.

Headquartered in Minnesota, St Jude Medical develops medical technology and services that focus on putting more control into the hands of those who treat cardiac, neurological and chronic pain patients worldwide.

Its products include ICDs, cardiac resynchronisation therapy devices, pacemakers, electrophysiology catheters, mapping and visualisation systems, etc.

The company reported net sales of US$1.3bil in the fourth quarter of 2010 ended Jan 1, 2011, an increase of 12% over the US$1.2bil in the fourth quarter of 2009. Net sales in 2010 were US$5.165bil compared with US$4.681bil in 2009, an increase of 10%.

The United States (US) remains the top investor for Penang with RM7.9 billion in investments last year. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said Penang had recorded Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) totalling RM10.5 billion in 2010.

“We are proud of the American presence here as 75 per cent of the state’s FDI is from the United States,” he told reporters after the courtesy call on him by the United States Ambassador to Malaysia, Paul W. Jones, at his office at the Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (KOMTAR) here today.

He said among the top two foreign investment companies from the US in Penang are leading data storage maker, Western Digital Corp and electronic solutions firm, Jabil.

“Penang had the highest total capital investments in manufacturing projects in Malaysia last year at RM12.2 billion with Western Digital Corp contributing about RM4.3 billion while Jabil had RM2.3 billion,” he added.

He added that from the early 80s until 2010, the state had attracted about RM26.4 billion in US investments.

Based on figures from the Malaysian Industrial Development Agency (MIDA), Penang’s RM12.2 billion in total capital investments in 2010 was a 465 per cent increase from 2009.

Jones said he is proud of the partnership between Penang and the US. “We are proud that American businessman are still continuing to invest in Penang significantly and also in terms of health and education,” he added.

Last year, Malaysia’s electronic and electrical sector attracted the highest US investments of RM10.2 billion, followed by the machinery and equipment sector at RM496 million while that for scientific and measuring equipment attracted RM61.7 million. — Bernama

By KOW KWAN YEE
kowky@thestar.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: A mangrove forest about the size of a football field will soon take shape off Gurney Drive, with the planting of the final batch of 2,000 mangrove saplings.

Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu said the forest would cover the seafront off the Marina Bay condominium, near Tanjung Tokong, to the Gurney Drive coast.

Teh, who is heading the mangrove planting project, urged the state government to gazette the area as a forest reserve to prevent people from cutting the trees.

On reports on the chopping of six young mangrove trees at Gurney Drive in December last year, he said it was done by an owner of a restaurant there.

“The owner chopped down the trees as they blocked his customers’ view of the sea.

“The Penang Municipal Council has warned the owner not to repeat the action. The issue has been resolved,” he told reporters after the planting of the last batch of saplings by volunteers yesterday.

“We have planted 10,000 mangrove saplings in the area since last April,” he said, calling on the state government to provide funds for a walkway in the forest for people to enjoy the natural ambience.

“We can also put the mangrove forest on the map so it that will become a popular tourism attraction,” he said.

Teh said the 8,000 mangrove saplings planted off Tanjung Tokong have grown into trees.

“They have now become a habitat for many types of birds, including cranes,” he said.

Himanshu Bhatt

newsdesk@thesundaily.com

GEORGE TOWN (Feb 23, 2011): A developer that has been ordered to rebuild a colonial-era bungalow here after illegally demolishing it last year is required to restore it to its original condition, the Penang government has clarified.

State Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow today confirmed  that the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) has issued the order to Klassik Tropika Sdn Bhd to rebuild the the double-storey structure at 20 Pykett Avenue.

Responding to a report in theSun on the order, Chow  explained that the MPPP is empowered to act accordingly under section 27 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976.

He also stressed that the developer could reply to the MPPP to seek clarification and to discuss the matter.

The building was originally owned by Khaw Bian Cheng Sdn Bhd, which is connected to the 19th century magnate Khaw Sim Bee who became governor of Phuket in the 1890s.

Klassik Tropika is a subsidiary of Mah Sing Group Bhd. The company had on Oct 6 submitted a proposal to the MPPP for an apartment complex.

However,  it demolished the old bungalow at the site on July 26 last year, prior to getting approval from the council.

The MPPP subsequently took the matter to the court and the company was fined RM6,000 by the George Town magistrate’s court on Jan 17 for demolishing without permit.

“We are in the process of applying to the courts to have the fine increased,” Chow said at a press conference.

He also stressed that the development project plan has still not been approved by the MPPP.

When it was pointed out that the bungalow is not officially listed as a heritage structure by the MPPP, Chow said the action taken by the council was based on the illegal demolition of a building per say.

The company has stressed that it has already complied with court action taken against it, and that it had also obtained confirmation from the MPPP that the building was not identified as a heritage structure before buying the land in 2009.

 
IN 2010, Penang attracted more than RM12 billion in foreign investment and became the top investor destination in Malaysia.

A great part of the foreign investment is from expansion and diversification projects of electronic firms in the state. The quantum leap in foreign investment is not solely due to efforts by the state government; market forces and the investment climate were key factors.

The electronic and telecommunication industry has entered into the new transformation stage characterised by short product life cycles and wide range of models, high level of customisation and automation.

Penang is not exclusive of this transformation. To survive and remain competitive, it is natural for the manufacturing firms to expand their automation lines and upgrade their manufacturing and research facilities to cope with changes in the market trend. Despite tough competition from countries in this region, investors still make Malaysia their first choice because of its political stability and world class infrastructure. But these two factors alone will not be enough to sustain our growth.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said during a dialogue with foreign investors that a big concern is the shortage of professional and skilled workers, therefore it is important for us to give priority to human capital development and encourage companies and workers to take part in life long learning programmes. This is to ensure that we remain dynamic and innovative.

Yamato
Kuala Lumpur

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.

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.

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.

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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.