State’s hope for historic village soars

GEORGE TOWN: The state is hopeful that the Federal Government will classify part of the historic Kampung Tanjung Tokong here as a heritage village soon.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he was hopeful after he was told that Information, Communications and Cul-ture Ministry Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim had forwarded the state’s proposal to the National Heritage Department.

Dr Rais is also believed to have suggested a meeting be arranged between the villagers and heritage officers to determine if the village can qualify for the heritage status.

“Since the ministry has the authority to gazette heritage villages, a reply (to me) from the minister in charge is certainly a step in the right direction,” said Lim.

When asked on the land size of the proposed heritage village, Lim replied that it should be determined by the stakeholders.

He said: “A meeting should be held with the stakeholders, who are the land owners, UDA Holdings Bhd, the village residents as well as the representatives from the ministry.”

Lim said this after a meeting with heritage expert Prof Datuk Dr Wazir Jahan Karim, who is also the chairman of the joint action committee of Tanjong Tokong that was formed to oversee the gazetting of the village as a heritage one.

Dr Wazir said she was pleased with the feedback obtained and she hoped the proposal would eventually be passed.

“It is important that the village, which is over 300 years old, is gazetted as a Malay heritage zone as we do not want to lose any traditional traits that the village has to offer to development,” she said.

The fishing village is said to have existed before British colonialists landed here in 1786. - The Star

Plots in SME Village offered to 18 local firms

THE Penang Government, through the state’s development arm Penang Development Corporation (PDC), has offered industrial land in an SME Village to 18 local small and medium enterprises (SME).

The SME Village is at the Penang Science Park in Batu Kawan.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that PDC was also currently in the process of offering land to a few more SMEs.

“This is the first of the state’s SME Villages to open its doors to local SMEs.

“The creation of SME Villages on the mainland is the third of the state’s three-pronged approach to develop SMEs in Penang,” he said.

He was speaking during a dialogue session with companies located in the Penang Science Park at Traders Hotel.

The 18 SMEs that have been offered land at the SME Village are engaged in the following activities — design, development and manufacture of precision engineering, automation, system integration, software, measurement instruments, customised systems and medical devices.

He added that PDC also recently proposed to develop a 0.97ha site along the Bayan Lepas coastal highway into an incubator-cum- research and development centre.

“Known as the Penang Research, Innovation and Science Module or PRISM, this centre will build on Penang’s foundation in science and technology,” he said. - The Star

战前屋空置变卖皆挨轰 曹观友叹两面不是人

槟城18日讯）战前屋空置时，州政府挨骂，现在外国人要买州政府又被攻击，槟州地方政府委员会主席曹观友叹政府难做两面不是人。他今日在南华医院街召开记者会，出示槟岛市政局及产业估价局的数字，证明乔治市战前屋买卖数据中，只有不超过3%买家是外国人，以此反驳包括邓章耀在内的一些人士指乔治市古迹建筑物已大量被外国人买下，并批评州政府乖离古迹管理的初衷。
他说，有关数字显示从2008年到今年5月，乔治市古迹区及边沿区共有882个战前屋（土地单位）成功转手，当中只有34个土地单位买主是外国人。单单今年1月到5月则有71个单位转手，其中只有1个是卖给外国人。他说，有关数字是根据土地单位（Lot）来计算，一个单位可能有拥有不同间数的屋子。他继说，数据已经清楚显示，乔治市战前屋大量被外国人买下的说法并不成立。“实际上乔治市有高达50%战前屋是社团组织拥有的，它们一般都只租不会脱售。”
曹观友指出，在战前建筑物开始受到关注前，乔治市曾一度有多达500间老屋失修的问题。“这些战前屋被空置着，一些成为吸毒者窝藏的地点，经常因为吸毒者在里边点火吸食毒品而引起火患，另外也有一些老屋因为年久失修而坍塌，甚至压伤人。”
入遗后战前屋获新生
在2008年乔治市入遗后，战前屋开始受到重视，新买主的出现让很多失修的老屋获得了新生。曹观友展示数据显示，从2008年到2012年，市局共接到428间古迹区内的老屋维修申请。他说，实际上获得修复的老屋数字要比这个数字高，因为一些老屋业主并没有提出申请，只是私自进行维修。他继说，Think City提供的古迹维修拨款对老屋修复也起到很大的帮助。“2008年到2012年古迹区被列为失修的老屋的数字，也从170间减少到了104间。”他说，对于那些仍未进行修复的老屋，地方政府并不能强制业主进行维修，只能限定业主将他们的产业围起来。光华

Home prices fall in major China cities

BEIJING: Prices for new homes in China fell in more than half of major cities in May from April, official data showed, as the government vows to maintain controls over the property market.

Out of 70 cities tracked by the government, 43 registered month-on-month falls in home prices in May, the same number as April, the National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement.

China has implemented several measures aimed at limiting runaway property prices for more than a year, including bans on buying second homes, hiking minimum downpayments and introducing property taxes in certain cities.

But the cities that recorded rises in home prices doubled to six, including Tianjin and Dalian in the north, suggesting prices had started to rebound despite controls, analysts said.

Prices were unchanged in 21 cities, the bureau said.

The government has been encouraging banks to lend to first-time home buyers while at the same time seeking to clamp down on speculative demand.

China cut interest rates on June 8, which analysts believe could bring new life to the market.

“The government insists that its policy controls remain in place, but they do seem to be fraying at the edges,” Capital Economics said in a research report last week.

“But neither property prices nor real estate investment are likely to experience a sharp rebound,” it said. “Prices are likely to remain subdued.”

One Chinese analyst said that a slowdown in property investment had limited supply, causing prices to edge higher.

“In general, home prices will maintain a trend of stable increases in future,” Li Huiyong, a Shanghai-based economic analyst at Shenyin Wanguo Securities, said. - AFP

Asas Dunia to launch properties worth RM300mil in Seberang Prai

GEORGE TOWN: Asas Dunia Bhd is launching 1,356 units of landed properties worth approximately RM300mil in gross development value in Seberang Prai from now until the end of 2013, due to the growing interest to invest in properties in Seberang Prai.

The properties comprise largely single- and double-storey properties, priced between RM200,000 to RM600,000.

“We are launching more properties because on top of the trend to buy properties to stay in Seberang Prai, we are also seeing more people buying properties on the mainland for investment.

“They are gradually realising the investment potential of properties in Seberang Prai, as the second bridge is scheduled to be completed soon, and more investments are coming into the industrial park of south Seberang Prai.

“The state government will probably need to expand the Penang Science Park in Bukit Minyak and the industrial estate in Batu Kawan, as there are more small and medium enterprises from Singapore coming into the country,” group managing director Datuk Jerry Chan said after the company's AGM.

As a result of the demand for properties in Seberang Prai, the price for a double-storey semi-detached house in Bukit Mertajam, for example, has increased to RM1mil from about RM500,000 three years ago.

The price of a double-storey terraced house in Bukit Mertajam town is now about RM450,000, approximately 70% higher than the price three years ago.

“But the RM1mil price for a semi-detached house in Bukit Mertajam is still more attractive than that of a semi-detached property on the island, which is priced between RM2.5mil to RM3.5mil.

“The price of a vacant land per sq ft is between RM20 to RM50 per sq ft, double of what it was two years ago, depending on the location,” he said. For the first quarter ended March 31 2012, the group posted pre-tax profit of RM12mil on the back of RM36.4mil revenue, compared with RM8.6mil and RM29.8mil achieved in the corresponding period the previous year. - The Star

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Construction, renovation sector may not generate RM5bil worth of jobs in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: The construction and renovation industry in Penang may not be able to generate RM5bil worth of jobs this year as forecast by the Penang Master Builders' and Building Materials Dealers Association (PMBBMDA).

PMBBMDA president Lim Kai Seng said there had been a lower demand for construction materials from the residential housing segment since late last year.

“This is reflected in the jobs obtained for the first quarter of 2012.

Lim says there has been lower demand for construction materials from the residential housing segment.

“For the first three months, according to the latest CIDB report, the construction and renovation industry of Penang generated about RM543mil worth of jobs for PMBBMDA members.

“Usually the figures are about 10% higher,” he said in an interview.

Of the RM543mil worth of contracts, about RM133mil were government jobs, while the remaining RM409mil were from the private sector.

Last year, according to the latest Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) report, about RM4.9bil worth of jobs were generated by residential, non-residential, social amenities, and infrastructure projects in Penang for PMBBMDA members.

Some RM1.1bil worth of contracts came from the government sector, while the remaining RM3.8bil were from the private sector.

About RM3.52bil worth of properties are expected to be launched in the second half 2012 by four Kuala Lumpur-based developers SP Setia Bhd,Mah Sing Group Bhd, IJM Land Bhd, and Sunway Group Bhd.

SP Setia plans to launch about RM2.5bil worth projects on the island, of which approximately RM638mil are scheduled for launching in the second half, and RM1.7bil in 2013.

In the second half 2012, the key projects included the RM250mil Setia Triangle, the RM335mil Setia Greens 2, and a RM53mil condominium project in Teluk Kumbar.

Siah says that in comparison, demand in the industrial construction sector is still okay.

In 2013, SP Setia plans to launch RM1.1bil mixed-development project in Tanjung Bungah, a RM175mil condominium project in Sungai Nibong, and the Wave and Breeze condominium projects for Setia Pearl Island, with a gross development value of RM350mil and RM300mil respectively.

Among Mah Sing's projects for 2013 are two residential suite towers in the RM329mil Southbay Plaza, which is part of the Southbay City project.

IJM Land's new launches for the second half of 2012 total about RM500mil, which included the RM300mil Light Collection 3 next to the Penang Bridge, while Sunway's projects for late 2012 comprised about RM200mil worth of residential projects in Sungai Ara in south-west district of the island.

“This would translate to about RM2.1bil worth of construction and renovation work for our members over the next three years.

“Actually, there should be no problem for the industry to generate RM5bil worth of jobs, as we are considering only the projects of four Kuala Lumpur-based developers.

“We have yet to consider projects from other developers in Penang and Kuala Lumpur.

“But because of the economic climate, we expect a slowdown in the launch of new projects or reduction in the size of projects for this year,” he said.

As the demand for construction materials for the residential sector has softened over the past 12 months, the pricing of cement has also not gone above RM15 per 50 kg bag, which has been maintained at this level since late last year.

At the peak two years ago, the pricing of cement was above RM18 per 50kg bag.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Hardware, Machinery and Building Materials Dealers' Association executive adviser Datuk Steven Siah Kok Poay said there was generally pessimism about the demand from the residential construction sector this year.

Lower sale: The Malaysia Hardware, Machinery and Building Materials Dealers’ Association figures show that the sale of building materials to the residential sector have declined by a double-digit percentage this year.

“In comparison, the industrial construction sector is still okay, as the private and international companies are still executing projects.

“As for government projects, there is delay in their implementation.

“So far, this year the sale of building materials to the residential sector have declined by a double-digit percentage,” Siah said. - The Star

‘Govt will provide the funds’ Chua: State should now give land to build the flats

BUTTERWORTH: The Federal Government has agreed in principle to finance the construction of replacement flat units for the 70 families living in dilapidated longhouses in Rumah Hijau, Mak Mandin here.

Barisan Nasional’s Bagan parliamentary constituency co-ordinator David Chua said National Housing Department director-general Datuk Ramlan Harun had conveyed the matter to the area’s Residents Association representative Samsudin Mohamed via a letter dated May 17.

“The Department says it is willing to consider the resi- dents’ application for financial assistance to construct the flat units.

“The construction of a flat unit, measuring 600sq ft cost about RM60,000, while the entire cost for the 70 units is about RM4.2mil,” he said after Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin attended the Jom Bersama TPM (Program Semarak Kasih Rakyat) in Taman Tanjung Aman off Jalan Raja Uda here yesterday.

Chua, who is also MCA Bagan division Youth chief, said he had done his part to convince the Federal Government to help the residents over the last two years.

“It is now up to the state government to provide a piece of land for these residents to build their flat units.

“These residents have waited nearly 40 years for their replacement units, so let us not delay this any further,” he said.

Chua also said Muhyiddin had consented to give each family RM2,000 to repair their houses.

In May 2010, State Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai had said that the Penang Government wanted the Federal Government to subsidise half of the estimated RM30mil low-cost housing project to replace the existing Rumah Hijau longhouses in Mak Mandin.

Wong had also said the project could exceed RM30mil because of a proposed change in the contractual terms between the state and the company. - The Star

PCTH: Traffic jams worsening in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Chinese Town Hall (PCTH) has called on the Penang Government to overcome the worsening traffic congestion on the island.

When addressing the town hall’s annual general meeting, its chairman Datuk Lam Wu Chong said this escalating issue was of grave concern to many Penangites.

“It is always a point of contention for Penang. Rapid economic development has not been met with an equal amount of attention given to proper long-term traffic planning.

“Various steps should be taken to manage the traffic,” said Lam.

The issue was raised as one of the motions and it was supported unanimously.

During the dialogue session, a delegate who declined to be named, said Penang saw one of its worst ever road congestions during the recent school holidays.

“Penang is already congested with traffic and with the influx of visiting vehicles, the situation is getting critical. The state and the Federal Governments should do something about this as it is a major turnoff for tourists,” he said.

Lam responded by saying that the state and the Federal Governments should cooperate and find a solution to ease the congestion.

“The funding to construct the proposed Penang Outer Ring Road and the Light Railway Transit or other possible options will ensure a continued pace of development so the people can benefit from them,” he said.

The Government should also restore Penang’s free port status in promoting the state as a centre of international investment. This can further stimulate Penang’s economic growth, he added.

The two-hour meeting saw various motions passed and among them were calling on the Government to resolve the shortage of teachers in Chinese vernacular schools, to check on suspicious activities of foreign students, to address the recent spate of suicides and alleged spread of racialism. - The Star