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Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Penang offers 5pc housing discount for Indian Muslims under new Madani campaign
GEORGE TOWN, June 5 — The Penang state government will offer a five per cent discount to Indian Muslims for the purchase of residential and commercial units under the newly introduced Madani Home Ownership Campaign (MOC), part of the Madani Inclusive Property Sector Catalyst Policy. State Housing and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo said the discount would be available throughout the campaign period, from June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, to boost the sale of such properties. 'In addition, the Penang State Housing Board has introduced a special category, Rumah MutiaraKu Type D (RMKu D), with a ceiling price of RM400,000, targeted at households earning up to RM15,000 a month. 'This category is not allowed to be sold on the open market and cannot be used to fulfil affordable housing compliance requirements,' he said during a press conference at Komtar today, alongside State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye. Sundarajoo also announced a reduction in contribution rates for developers who do not physically build RMKu Type A or B units-from RM120,000 to RM100,000 in areas under the Penang Island City Council, and from RM120,000 to RM72,500 under the Seberang Perai City Council. To ensure cash flow and timely delivery of RMKu units, Sundarajoo said the previous 20 per cent open market release limit has been increased to 50 per cent. However, a release fee of 10 per cent of the selling price will be imposed. He added that upgrade packages for open market units will be capped at 50 per cent of the base price, and such packages will not be allowed for PN1 units, to maintain transparency in compliance with the RMKu policy. Other incentives under the policy include waivers on the sale or purchase charges of RMKu A and B quotas for developers who do not meet the price-controlled unit requirements, as well as exemptions from conducting a social impact assessment report. Sundarajoo said the policy, which was approved during the state planning committee meeting No. 5/2025 on June 3, is expected to have a positive impact by boosting home ownership rates, encouraging approval of strategic new projects and fostering a more inclusive, sustainable and competitive property development ecosystem. 'We are confident the implementation of the MOC policy will help raise home ownership levels among Penangites. The state government will continue to review, refine and gather feedback from industry players and the public to improve and update these guidelines,' he said. Previous initiatives introduced by the state include the Home Ownership Campaign (HOC) and the Penang State Property Sector Stimulus Policy 2020, which was extended four times, most recently as HOC 3.0 PLUS, which ended on Dec 31 last year. — Bernama
Malay Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
‘Delay sends wrong message': Environmental group questions Penang's decision to not gazette Middle Bank as marine sanctuary
GEORGE TOWN, May 21 — Pertubuhan Jaringan Ekologi dan Iklim Pulau Pinang (Jedi) has called on the Penang state government to immediately gazette Middle Bank as a marine sanctuary due to its role as a carbon sink that strengthens climate resilience. Jedi spokesman Andrew Han said the Middle Bank is one of the last surviving seagrass meadows in Peninsular Malaysia. 'It is not just a natural treasure, it is an ecological life support system," he said in a statement today. 'It supports the livelihoods of coastal fishers, contributes to Penang's food security, and serves as a carbon sink that strengthens climate resilience,' he added. Han was responding to state executive councillor H'ng Mooi Lye's remarks that the Penang government currently has no plans to gazette the Middle Bank Marine Sanctuary. H'ng had said doing so would classify it as an environmentally sensitive area and trigger stricter environmental requirements for nearby developments, including the Jelutong landfill rehabilitation. Han claimed residents were not adequately informed about the scope of the landfill rehabilitation project, which involves sea reclamation and the proposed construction of a waste-to-energy processing facility near homes, schools, and public spaces. 'Delaying or denying protection to Middle Bank in the name of project continuity sends the wrong message to residents, especially those living near Karpal Singh Drive and Jelutong who are already concerned about health, environmental degradation, and broken promises over coastal development,' Han added. He called on the state government to reassess the reclamation and waste to energy plant project near Karpal Singh Drive and engage with stakeholders by holding dialogue sessions on the project. H'ng, in his winding-up speech at the legislative assembly, said the state can gazette the Middle Bank as an environmentally sensitive area after the projects in the area have completed. 'If the project is cancelled, it will give the state a negative image and this also lead to a loss in opportunity to generate revenue through rehabilitation of the landfill,' he said. However, he noted that if the project fails to obtain an Environmental Impact Assessment Report approval before February 28, 2026, the state reserves the right not to continue with the development agreement for the project.
Malay Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Penang rules out gazetting Middle Bank Marine Sanctuary to avoid project disruptions
GEORGE TOWN, May 21 — The Penang state government does not plan to gazette the Middle Bank Marine Sanctuary, according to state executive councillor H'ng Mooi Lye. The state local government, town and country planning committee chairman said the Middle Bank cannot be gazetted as this would classify it as an environmentally sensitive area. 'Any projects implemented within a 500-metre radius of an environmentally sensitive area would require a Second Schedule Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report,' he told Malay Mail recently. He said this could affect planned projects near the area and might also impact the Penang Port expansion project. H'ng was clarifying his response to a written question by Lee Khai Loon (PKR-Machang Bubuk) at the state legislative assembly regarding the rehabilitation of the Jelutong landfill project. The project involves reclaiming 70 acres (28ha) of the sea, with potential implications for the Middle Bank. In his reply to Lee, H'ng said the state approved the 70-acre (28ha) sea reclamation to create a work platform for rehabilitation works at the landfill. 'The Jelutong landfill is unsafe because it has long been used as an open dumping ground,' he said. Lee also asked if the state had an exit clause in case the rehabilitation project failed. H'ng said the joint development agreement would be cancelled if the project failed to proceed. 'A new tender process would then be initiated through a Request for Proposal (RFP) or open tender procurement procedure,' he said. However, he noted there was a risk of claims and legal action by the developer against the state government and Penang Development Corporation (PDC). He added that a new developer would not be able to take over the project until legal procedures were completed, which could take between three and five years. The Middle Bank Marine Sanctuary spans around 10 square kilometres in the waters of the South Channel between Penang island and the mainland. It is home to the only seagrass bed in the Straits of Malacca. A study revealed a total of 429 species of seagrass, trees, vegetation, fish, birds, marine mammals, turtles, molluscs, arthropods and echinoderms inhabit the area. The rehabilitation project has yet to begin as it is still awaiting EIA approval from the Department of Environment (DoE). The PDC signed a deal with PLB Engineering Bhd in 2020 to rehabilitate and develop the Jelutong landfill at a cost of RM1 billion. The DoE issued a public notice on its Facebook page on February 12 this year regarding the proposed rehabilitation and reclamation project.
