A LEADING automotive lighting manufacturer Malaysian Auto-motive Lighting (MAL) Sdn Bhd has signed an RM117mil agreement with the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) to expand its operations in Penang.
The agreement will see PDC funding a 26,632sq m manufacturing plant in the Batu Kawan Industrial Park, which will be leased back to MAL for a period of 20 years.
Chief Minister and PDC chairman Lim Guan Eng said the new factory was scheduled for completion in January next year.
“MAL’s investment in Penang over the past three years amounted to about RM81mil and the company is expecting to invest an additional RM117mil for the next four years.
“This new investment will increase the current size of its workforce from 960 to 1,200 employees, opening up employment opportunities for the local job sector,” Lim said during the signing ceremony in Komtar on Tuesday.
Lim said Daya CMT Sdn Bhd was chosen by MAL as the turnkey contractor to build the new factory and construction begun two months ago on the 5.7ha plot of land.
He said: “The activity at this facility involves the manufacturing of head lamps, rear lamps, fog lamps and other automotive accessories for the domestic and international market. When the building is completed, PDC shall lease the land and building to MAL for a period of 20 years with an option to renew for another 10.”
MAL, which is part of German-based corporation Automotive Lighting, is currently located in Phase IV of the Free Industrial Zone in Bayan Lepas.
MAL managing director Mario Corsi, who inked the agreement on behalf of his company, said several locations had been considered for the expansion of the company.
“We searched among favourable locations including in Thailand, China and other states of Malaysia. In the end, we decided on Penang because we treasure the most important asset of a country — its people — and also because of the current and future infrastructure available in Batu Kawan,” he said. - The Star
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