Friday, December 9, 2011

减少房屋计划遭搁置 发展商抵押金或调高

吉隆坡8日讯)房屋及地方政府部长拿督斯里曹智雄在国会上议院表示,必须在房屋发展商法令修正案(控制与准证)里增添一项条文,规定发展商需要支付建筑计划成本的3%作为抵押金,以减少遭搁置的房屋计划。 需支付3%建筑成本 曹智雄指出,此新修正案是为了确保发展商是在有信心和拥有足够的资金下,才购地发展。 “如果发展商在计划上遇到什么困难,此抵押金就可以即时地把问题解决了。” “虽然这抵押金的数额看起来相当高,但是如果发展商是以有诚意和认真的态度来进行开发土地计划的话,那这修正案将不会是个阻碍。” 曹智雄是于周四在国会上议院回答巫统上议员拿督费达勿斯的问题时,如是指出。 目前20万抵押金偏低 曹智雄指出,以现在的市场来说,付20万令吉的抵押金已是偏低,而基于许多发展商不符合资格发展,以致加剧房屋计划搁置的问题。 他说,该部会配合此新修正案,研究发展商是有意或无意地搁置房屋计划。 “透过这项新修正法案,房屋部希望能有效解决和减少房屋计划遭搁置的案例,与此同时,也可以维护购屋者的权益。” 对于费达勿斯质问政府是否打算建立一个特定的价格管制方法,以确保房屋的所有权与合理的价格,曹智雄回应说,基于我国是个经济自由的国家,所以目前政府没有这个打算,这也是取决于市场的需求。- 光华

槟政府再出招 峇都丁宜海滩将大整顿

(槟城8日讯)继10月新关仔角大型海滩清洁运动后,槟州政府再出招整顿峇都丁宜海滩,誓要还原其“美貌”! 槟州政府将于周六上午8时至上午11时联合槟岛市政局、酒店业者、各政府单位、非政府组织、丹绒武雅区州议员服务中心、丹绒武雅文秀组屋乡委会、峇都丁宜双溪尔马斯乡委会、厂商及理科大学展开“槟城沙滩大改造01”运动,并成功号召逾380人参与逾2公里海滩清洁运动! 槟州行政议员曹观友表示,过去峇都丁宜海滩问题多多,严重影响槟州旅游业。他说,尽管有关当局采取各项必要措施重振该区旅游业,惟依然徒劳无功,最终导致州政府被逼禁止所有海滩活动,这才让大家醒过来。 他指出,有关当局后来也采取业者互相监督方式、实施扣分制度等一系列措施,才逐渐改善问题。他认为,欲改造海滩,首先必须从思想开始改造。他也强调,槟州政府不仅满足于现状,况且在获得业者配合下,未来将陆续展开更多改造行动,包括整顿该区的夜市,鉴定海水污染程度等。 无论如何,他周四召开“槟城沙滩大改造01”运动记者会时呼吁,水利灌溉局极力争取700万令吉拨款,以改善该区的排污系统,避免海水继续受到污染。 此外,针对记者询问非政府组织投诉槟岛市政局官员在古迹区施工过程破坏古迹看法时,他表示,世遗机构身为古迹领导机构,应更主动提升各政府单位对古迹的敏感度,而非等候其他单位来咨询。 出席者有槟岛市政局主席芭堤雅、槟岛市政局旅游、休闲及国际事务部主任莫哈末阿克峇等。- 光华

14日再开汇报会 选更达标海底隧道公司

(槟城8日讯)拟议中槟威海底隧道计划“大肥肉”出现争夺战,然在近半百个有意竞标公司中,其中一半被发现不合格,已遭淘汰出局。 在槟州政府于上个月29日就海底隧道计划举行的“投标资格预审”(pre-qualification)汇报会中,高达48家海内外工程公司出席汇报会,足见海底隧道这块大肥肉的诱惑力之大,然而回到现实中,却有一半公司不符合州政府所拟定的资格条件,如缴足资本,公司背景等,以致未战先败。 槟州公共工程、基本设施及交通委员会主席林峰成行政议员即向本报记者透露,共有48家海内外工程公司出席上个月29日州政府举行的投标资格预审汇报会,在投票预审程序中,将进行首回合筛选,不合资格公司将被淘汰。 林峰成:半数不合条件 他说,有关预审取得承包公司的热烈参与,然其中有一半公司不合条件,关键原因包括有关公司缺乏此方面即打造隧道或公路经验,再来是有关公司所承接的工程规模有限,并非庞大工程项目。 与此同时,林峰成透露,在汇报会后,州政府继续接获来自“错过”出席汇报会的本地及国际工程公司有意参与投标计划,向州政府作出查询要求,由于有关计划将以公开招标方式进行,州政府决定于本月14日,早上10时在光大4楼,再办另一场汇报会,以便让更多有潜能公司参与在聆听汇报后及进行首回合筛选下,同样加入竞标行列。 林峰成说,也有一些工程公司告知没有阅读到有关汇报会的广告,有鉴于此,州政府决定在5家报馆同步刊登广告。 然而他表示,有关截止日期将保持不变,即必须明年1月14日提交“征求献议书”(RPF)文件。 据本报记者也发现,州政府除了在主流各语文报章刊登进行海底隧道及大道工程的投标资格预审广告,同样也在网络媒体如当今大马刊登广告。 曾家麟:影响巨轮进港 局限槟海运业未来发展 在槟州政府如火如荼启动“两岸三通隧道”计划之际,计划也招来反对声浪,其中马来西亚物流师协会即与槟州港口有限公司同声反对该计划。 物流师协会即指计划不只波及未来槟州海运业发展,更将殃及槟州经济发展命脉,更甚的是影响外来直接投资。 马来西亚物流师协会总会会长曾家麟硕士即向本报记者表示,目前世界最大艘货轮的标准集装箱吨量单位为1万8千TEU,而2万TEU集装箱单位的的货轮也在开发研究中,以目前发展趋势,货轮的体积及运载量只会越来越大,没有人可以保证未来集装箱单位将是多少。 他表示,槟州港口在10年前的集装箱货轮只有500至600TEU,如今的集装箱单位却高达1千至2千,最高可达3千,目前的海床深约10点5公尺至11公尺。同样的道理,集装箱单位将会越来越大。 隧道变得不实际 曾家麟认为,将海底隧道计划放在槟威码头北岸将会造成货轮进港受影响,所以真要打造海底隧道,又能兼顾海运业,那么隧道应改建在码头南部。然而问题却是南部已同时有槟城大桥及施工中的第二大桥,使到隧道变得不实际,这也意味槟州无须建造海底隧道。 他认为,海运业直接涉及世界经济贸易,一旦海运业受波及,将影响槟州的国际贸易,将带来连锁性影响,也会造成外来直接投资(FDI)受影响。- 光华

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Singapore property shares plunge on cooling move

Singapore will impose an additional 10 per cent stamp duty on foreign buyers of its real estate. — Reuters pic SINGAPORE, Dec 8 — Shares of Singapore property developers fell sharply today after the government announced new measures to cool the city-state’s housing market. CapitaLand Ltd shares fell as much as 6.5 per cent to S$2.44 (RM5.93) while smaller rival City Developments Ltd fell 7.6 per cent to S$9.26 and Wing Tai Holdings was down 6.5 per cent at S$1.00. Shares of Ho Bee Investment Ltd, which develops high-end condominiums in Singapore, tumbled by as much as 12.1 per cent to S$1.09. Singapore said yesterday foreigners who buy private homes will have to pay an additional stamp duty equal to 10 per cent of the property value. Analysts said they expect developers with greater exposure to high-end luxury apartments to face more pressure because as foreign buyers make up a large chunk of their sales. “We believe each of the key residential demand drivers, foreign buying, job creation and credit availability, will likely see signs of softness,” Goldman Sachs said in a report. It added that this could lead to a 15 per cent decline in home prices over the next 18 months with the prime segment facing more immediate pressure as foreign buyers pull back. — Reuters

New measures to cool Singapore housing mart

SINGAPORE: Singapore yesterday announced new measures to cool the city-state’s housing market, saying foreigners who buy private homes will have to pay an additional stamp duty equal to 10 per cent of the property value. Permanent residents who already own a Singapore home will pay an additional stamp duty of three per cent when they buy a second and subsequent properties, while citizens who purchase a third and subsequent homes will pay three per cent. Reuters

隆胶囊酒店 住宿新体验

(吉隆坡讯)在东京、上海等人口与游客量密集的城市,到处都能看到胶囊旅馆的踪影。为了节省住宿金钱与成本,这一种密集型的住宿设施,打破了传统的酒店客房的概念,在寸土寸金的市中心以最小的面积容纳更多的住客,形成以组合格子式舱位的住宿设施。 胶囊旅馆逐渐在许多城市流行起来,而大马也于3月份开始引入首个胶囊酒店,并且得到不俗的反应。胶囊酒店最讲究地点的便利性,与吉隆坡时代广场毗邻的UFO Capsule Hotel位于市中心,靠近单轨电车,与著名景点与购物广场距离不远。 引入较大舱位设计 不过,日本胶囊酒店的舱位设计较小,刘宝良认为需寻找更大的舱位以符合体格较大的外国人要求。“找了一段时间后,终于让我在日本找到较大的舱位设计,并且将之引入大马。” UFO Capsule Hotel星期二至星期四的住宿费为28令吉,星期五至星期一以及公共假期的收费则为38令吉(税前价格)。该酒店经理谢招洋说:“其实,附近一带的经济型酒店都是以出租床位的方式营业,一间房间分成四张床,每个床位收费约40至50令吉, 不过彼此间毫无遮掩,少了隐私空间。胶囊酒店的格子式舱位设计能提供更好的隐私空间,而且收费也相对便宜,吸引不少的国外背包客光顾。” 分男部与女部 24小时柜台服务 UFO Capsule Hotel分为男部与女部,分在不同的区域,男宾在楼下而女宾在楼上。男宾也被禁止进入招待女宾的区域,并且有24小时的服务柜台看管。谢招洋说“光顾胶囊酒店的顾客有来自国外的专业人士,他们在本地稍作停留,为节省金钱与方便就住在胶囊酒店里。有的甚至是上班族,因为放工时间交通阻塞而选择在酒店睡几个小时,避开塞车时间。由于酒店与时代广场酒店毗邻,不少的旅游巴士司机也会选择在胶囊酒店过夜。” 舱位里设有床垫、枕头、被子、冷气机、烟雾侦察机、灯、折叠式小桌子、挂衣架、充电插座、柜台服务电话与镜子,能符合基本的住宿要求。舱内高5英尺、长7英尺、阔4英尺,可以容纳体格较大的外国人之余,空间也不至于过于狭窄。UFO Capsule Hotel同时也提供免费无线上网服务,可以让住客随时使用电脑或手机上网。 男部设有13个舱位,女部则有16个舱位,并各别设有3间厕所与3间沐浴间,提供洗发水及沐浴露。“通常,住客都是一早洗刷以后出门,回来以后洗刷睡觉,并不会在酒店内多逗留,这里只是提供他们休息的空间。住客也可以选择将他们的贵重物品锁在酒店提供的收纳柜里。” 酒店里也提供完善的消防设施,可见灭火筒、烟雾侦察机、逃生出口指示牌。 刘宝良也透露即将在KLIA2与马来西亚开设胶囊酒店分行,以迎合市场对于廉价住宿设备的要求。“我们也计划在舱位设置电脑与电视机一体机,为住客提供更多的便利性。” 相关照片 ■ 身高176公分的谢招洋,在舱内里活动自如,可见里头空间颇大。 ■ 住客在晚上睡觉时,可拉下竹帘阻挡光线进入,营造私人空间。 ■ 女部舱位,走道宽阔。 ■ 设计摩登明亮的卫浴间,为住客提供洗刷的空间。 ■ 刘宝良相信胶囊酒店的概念在本地可行,他也不怕其他的本地业者引入一样的胶囊舱位,他认为生意各有各做,不成问题。- The Star

Penang SME Centre looking for tenants

SMALL and medium-scale (SME) operators can now apply to rent lots at the RM40mil Penang SME Centre at Phase Four of the Bayan Lepas Industrial Park. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the centre, aimed at incubating and developing new local SMEs, would be ready in April next year. He said the applicants would be selected by industry experts led by Penang Science Council’s Mentoring Scientific Pillar head Datuk Seri Kelvin Kiew. “By March, the tenant list should be ready. “We hope to get more SMEs that are involved in the solar energy sector,” he said at a press conference recently. For the first year, the rental of the facility lots range from RM1.50 to RM1.80 per sq ft. He said that for the first two years, the state would subsidise 80 sen per sq ft monthly to ensure the rental was affordable for local SMEs. Lim said the subsidy was only for two years because “if they cannot make it in that time, chances are they won’t make it at all and will have to make way for others”. He said the state government wanted to groom technopreneurs — people who are both entrepreneurs and innovators. “That’s why we’ve also established the SME Market Advisory, Resource and Training (SMART) Centre and the SME Village in Bukit Minyak and Batu Kawan. “You go to the SMART Centre for free advice and then you set up your operations at the SME Centre. “After two years, the SME can move to the SME Village and build their factories there,” he said. He said although it was unquestionable that local SMEs had developed strong technical competencies over the last four decades, they had failed to establish “a Penang brand”. He said most SMEs formed the lower tiers of the supply chain of their multinational customers. Kiew said he, together with other industry players, were willing to share their expertise with local SMEs. “All of us started as an SME and we will support companies located in the SME Centre as much as possible. “Although there are many grants and programmes available for SMEs in the country, what’s more important is to look at the basic needs like affordable space and proximity to the industry. “Local SMEs need to be where the action is and the SME Centre allows for that at nominal rental rates,” he said. For details on the SME Centre, call the Penang Development Corporation at 04-6340244 (Sharidah Talib), InvestPenang at 04-6468833 (C.H. Chong) or SMART Centre at 04-6409988 (Lim). - The Star

Composting plants to be set up in each residential area

PENANG plans to take another step forward in its green campaign next year. A composting plant will be set up in each residential area to process food waste into liquid fertilisers. State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the facility would be paid for by the respective assemblyman’s allocation. “The project which is based on 3As — availability, accessibility and affordability — will be available in residential areas as the state intends to expand its effort from hawker centres to households. “By placing the composting plants within the community, we hope to make it more convenient for the people to bring their waste to be processed into fertilisers. “The composting plant is meant to educate the people on the benefits of recycling,” he told a press conference after launching the Penang Eco-Town workshop at a hotel yesterday. Phee added that the approach would be executed through four approaches — educate, create awareness, implement and enforce. “However, we do not intend to impose strict regulations on the people because the commitment to go green should come from within ourselves.” There are currently three composting plants which are at the Bagan Ajam market in Butterworth, Bayan Baru market in Penang and the Desa Damai resource centre in Bukit Mertajam. On May 3, The Star reported that the pilot project at the Bagan Ajam market could process organic wastes into fertilisers within 24 hours.- The Star

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

拒峇都丁宜巴刹缩水 郑雨周反对“一分为二”公寓计划

(槟城6日讯)由于面对州议员大力反对,造成拟议中峇都丁宜巴刹“一分为二”的计划受阻,发展商拟议打造私人公寓的计划也面对触礁! 私人公寓计划触礁 一家私人公司於今年向槟岛市政局建议,以便将一块2.2依格,作为建造耗资500万令吉的峇都丁宜公共大巴刹的土地一分为二,在土地上分别打造巴刹及公寓,然而计划却招来丹绒武雅区州议员郑雨周的反对,反对原作为巴刹用途的土地“一分为二”,从大巴刹成为迷你巴刹。 曹观友:另寻新方案 对此,槟州地方政府委员会主席曹观友行政议员受询时指出,由于计划招来区内州议员反对,造成市政局必须重新另寻找方案,以便公共巴刹计划最终能落实。他承认市政局已接获献议以便能最终完成巴刹,不过在议员反对土地一分为二建议下,造成有关献议也宣布触礁,不能继续进行。 反之,他唯有指示市政局重新审阅有关土地的原本发展概念,不过据他了解,原有计划并未提及涉及打造的在巴刹面积规模,只提及摊格数量,所以在这计划下,即使巴刹的摊格数量不敷,也可以献金方式取代。 他表示,当务之急是如何使巴刹能尽快落实,这也是议员多年来所争取及乐见其成的。他表示,目前局面尚未全面明朗化,州政府必须先再研究以找出最终的方案。 郑雨周:勿沦私人产业 丹绒武雅区州议员郑雨周受询时表示,拟议中的峇都丁宜公共巴刹地将成为公共产业,该土地不该一分为二成为缩小版迷你巴刹,一半土地更最终变相沦为私人地。 他向本报记者表示,上述土地原是峇都丁宜伊甸发展大蓝图下规划为公共大巴刹用途,前朝政府指示发展公司在完成蓝图下的第2000间房屋单位后才须在有关地段上建巴刹。然而他表示,有关土地却被人“看上”,拟议向政府作为交换条件,以在该土地上的一半地段上兴建巴刹,另一边厢要求政府批准另一半土地作为高楼公寓计划。 郑雨周也表示,质疑有关私人公司与该土地的关系及合法性,有关土地原是归划为巴刹,所以不该沦为私人产业及沦为公寓等私人发展用途。不过他承认,市政局原本今年拨款作为峇都丁宜公共巴刹用途,所以若有关拨款未及今年动用将面对收回情况,他希望有关事件可在本月内会出现转机,以便巴刹早日落实。 相关照片 ■ 拟议中的公寓计划触礁。 ■ 峇都丁宜巴刹地一分为二计划触礁,图前方空地即是拟议中巴刹地段,座落於惹兰双溪沙杜,即Pinang Emas公寓毗邻对面空地。- 光华

Monday, December 5, 2011

Residents object to high-rise project proposal

GEORGE TOWN: A group of residents in Lembah Permai, Tanjung Bungah are objecting to a proposal by a developer to construct two 32-storey apartment blocks and a nine-storey apartment there. The residents attended a dialogue session called by the Tanjung Bungah Residents Association (TBRA) to raise awareness about amendments in the development plan that has yet to receive approval from the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP). TBRA founding member Lee Laina, 54, said that the project would be constructed on a plot of land behind Lorong Lembah Permai 4. “The traffic situation in Lembah Permai is already bad with all the developments around, so do we really need more high-rise buildings in the area?” she asked. A spokesman for the developer said the company’s submission of development planning was in accordance with the council’s rules and regulations. - The Star