Heritage at stake: Unesco status or high rise dilemma for Penang
By ANDREA FILMER
The Star Thursday November 20, 2008
GEORGE TOWN: The state government has found itself in a catch 22 situation – jeopardise George Town’s Unesco World Heritage Site status or run the risk of being sued for hundreds of millions by developers.
The crisis centres on the building of four high-rise hotels in the heritage core and buffer zones which violate the guidelines approved by the World Heritage Committee (WHC).
Under stringent heritage guidelines sent to the committee in August 2007, a maximum height of 18m or roughly five storeys was set for new buildings in the two zones.
“The guidelines were not made widely known when they were first put in place. Only when George Town’s Unesco status was approved did we realise the guidelines,” Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said after a dialogue session with the Heritage Steering Committee’s
More from this link:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/11/20/nation/2598297&sec=nation
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Work begins on Second Bridge
Work begins on Second Bridge
NST Online » Local News 2008/11/09
By : Sharanjit Singh
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (right) with Chinese Trade Commissioner to Malaysia Gao Wen Kuan after the launch of the project site office and jetty in Batu Maung
GEORGE TOWN: Construction of the Second Penang Bridge by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) finally started yesterday. The RM4.3 billion bridge was scheduled to be ready by 2011 but the project has been delayed by more than a year due to unresolved issues among parties involved in the project.CHEC now projects the completion date to be in May 2012.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who opened the project site office and temporary jetty in Batu Maung here yesterday, described the second bridge as a "bridge of hope" for Penang.Lim said the project would boost the state's economy, especially in the industrial sector, and help authorities better manage the traffic on the island. "It is indeed a historic moment for the people of Penang as the second bridge project has finally started." Present at the ceremony were Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB) managing director, Tan Sri Zaini Omar, Chinese Trade commissioner to Malaysia, Gao Wen Kuan, and China Harbour managing director Sun Ziyu.At the peak of its construction, about 100 vessels and 12 piling rigs will be deployed and 1,500 people will be working non-stop on three eight-hour shifts.
The sea portion of the bridge will be built, spanning 16.37km over water, at a cost of RM2.2 billion.The amount is RM100 million less than the original tender price as the new bridge design has done away with the two viewing platforms which were originally planned.The cost was also reduced as the final contract between CHEC and JKSB allows for variation of price for base materials like fuel, cement and steel, and the re-measurement of piling work, both of which were originally the most uncertain risks to be borne by CHEC.Now, both parties will share the risk and benefits together. CHEC will be reimbursed if there is an increase in the price of materials, and it will revise the contract price accordingly if there is a drop in prices.Sun said the project had become not just any design-and-build task but a "sacred political mission" entrusted to the company by leaders of Malaysia and China.He said there were ample opportunities for local companies to benefit from the project by becoming sub-contractors, material suppliers and technical service providers."
At the moment, 30 per cent of the project management team is made up of locals and more will be engaged as work progresses."Asked if the company was confident of working without any more delays to the project, he said: "The project duration is 42 months and the completion date will be on May 7, 2012, for which we have worked out a detailed programme."We will strictly follow the contract requirements and complete the work on time. "Although we were unable to start work for the past one year, a lot of preparation work has been done, which means we are ready to carry out the construction schedule full swing."Zaini said UEM Builders, which had been offered the contract to build the land portion of the bridge, had until next week to state whether it wanted to take up the offer.He said the contract worth RM1.35 billion would be opened to restricted tenders if UEM did not take it up.
NST Online » Local News 2008/11/09
By : Sharanjit Singh
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (right) with Chinese Trade Commissioner to Malaysia Gao Wen Kuan after the launch of the project site office and jetty in Batu Maung
GEORGE TOWN: Construction of the Second Penang Bridge by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) finally started yesterday. The RM4.3 billion bridge was scheduled to be ready by 2011 but the project has been delayed by more than a year due to unresolved issues among parties involved in the project.CHEC now projects the completion date to be in May 2012.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who opened the project site office and temporary jetty in Batu Maung here yesterday, described the second bridge as a "bridge of hope" for Penang.Lim said the project would boost the state's economy, especially in the industrial sector, and help authorities better manage the traffic on the island. "It is indeed a historic moment for the people of Penang as the second bridge project has finally started." Present at the ceremony were Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB) managing director, Tan Sri Zaini Omar, Chinese Trade commissioner to Malaysia, Gao Wen Kuan, and China Harbour managing director Sun Ziyu.At the peak of its construction, about 100 vessels and 12 piling rigs will be deployed and 1,500 people will be working non-stop on three eight-hour shifts.
The sea portion of the bridge will be built, spanning 16.37km over water, at a cost of RM2.2 billion.The amount is RM100 million less than the original tender price as the new bridge design has done away with the two viewing platforms which were originally planned.The cost was also reduced as the final contract between CHEC and JKSB allows for variation of price for base materials like fuel, cement and steel, and the re-measurement of piling work, both of which were originally the most uncertain risks to be borne by CHEC.Now, both parties will share the risk and benefits together. CHEC will be reimbursed if there is an increase in the price of materials, and it will revise the contract price accordingly if there is a drop in prices.Sun said the project had become not just any design-and-build task but a "sacred political mission" entrusted to the company by leaders of Malaysia and China.He said there were ample opportunities for local companies to benefit from the project by becoming sub-contractors, material suppliers and technical service providers."
At the moment, 30 per cent of the project management team is made up of locals and more will be engaged as work progresses."Asked if the company was confident of working without any more delays to the project, he said: "The project duration is 42 months and the completion date will be on May 7, 2012, for which we have worked out a detailed programme."We will strictly follow the contract requirements and complete the work on time. "Although we were unable to start work for the past one year, a lot of preparation work has been done, which means we are ready to carry out the construction schedule full swing."Zaini said UEM Builders, which had been offered the contract to build the land portion of the bridge, had until next week to state whether it wanted to take up the offer.He said the contract worth RM1.35 billion would be opened to restricted tenders if UEM did not take it up.
Work on sea portion of second Penang bridge begins
Work on sea portion of second Penang bridge begins
Sunday November 9, 2008 By PRISCILLA DIELENBERG TheStar
Sunday November 9, 2008 By PRISCILLA DIELENBERG TheStar
Work starts: The temporary jetty in Batu Maung built by China Harbour to facilitate logistics support for the building of the second Penang Bridge, suchas the construction materials, plant and equipment, and construction workers.
GEORGE TOWN: Construction has begun on the 16.37km sea portion of the 23km-long second Penang Bridge which will have a middle cable stayed span much like the present Penang Bridge.
The two viewing platforms that formed the “pearl” in the original design have been scrapped.China Harbour Engineering Company, which was awarded the letter of acceptance on Oct 20 for the first of three packages, began its work yesterday and is scheduled to complete the project by May 7, 2012.
China Harbour’s RM2.2bil contract for the first package covers the design and building of the main navigation span, which is a 475m-long cable stayed bridge, and the substructure and foundation works of the 15.9km approach spans.
The bridge will have a dual carriageway with two lanes and a motorcycle lane on each side. Its width will be 29.8m for the approach spans and 35.6m for the main navigation span.Speed limit has been fixed at 80kph, just as on the present bridge.
China Harbour’s managing director Sun Ziyu said that the RM2.2bil contract was RM100mil lower than the original tender price of RM2.3bil.He said the main reason for the lower contract was the decision by the project’s special task force in January to do away with viewing platforms.
He said another reason was the final contract allowed for variation of price (VOP) for base material such as fuel, cement and steel, and re-measurement of the piling works.
At the ceremony to mark the commencement of work at the Batu Maung site, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng hoped the construction would be completed ahead of schedule by end of 2011.
Monday, November 10, 2008
WIFI project to go ahead-Jeff Ooi
9 November 2008 - 12:11pm
Penang WiFi project to go aheadBy ANDREA FILMER(Star)
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Government will proceed with a free state-wide WiFi initiative under its Wireless@Penang project.
Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi said the state would proceed with the project as long as there was no conclusive evidence of health risks posed by the initiative.
“There will always be dissenting views and it is only fair that we engage them and share our information. From our perspective, it is a measured risk but we have to do things for the larger group of society.
Penang WiFi project to go aheadBy ANDREA FILMER(Star)
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Government will proceed with a free state-wide WiFi initiative under its Wireless@Penang project.
Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi said the state would proceed with the project as long as there was no conclusive evidence of health risks posed by the initiative.
“There will always be dissenting views and it is only fair that we engage them and share our information. From our perspective, it is a measured risk but we have to do things for the larger group of society.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Penang's gangster contractor/developers are still free to squeeze house buyers!
Wednesday November 5, 2008
Gangster contractors(Star)
AS a new homeowner living on Penang island, it has come to my attention that they are certain developers who allow gangsters to run renovation projects and businesses within their premises.
The process goes like this: The developer who is either most probably involved in such activities or has come to an agreement with local gangs for not causing trouble within their given area, fails to inform potential buyers that they will have to deal with these gangsters for the renovation work.
http://www.penangwatch.net/node/3202
Gangster contractors(Star)
AS a new homeowner living on Penang island, it has come to my attention that they are certain developers who allow gangsters to run renovation projects and businesses within their premises.
The process goes like this: The developer who is either most probably involved in such activities or has come to an agreement with local gangs for not causing trouble within their given area, fails to inform potential buyers that they will have to deal with these gangsters for the renovation work.
http://www.penangwatch.net/node/3202
Firm to start work on second Penang bridge
Monday November 3, 2008 TheStar
THE Chinese construction firm awarded the contract to build the base of the second Penang bridge would start work next week, Sin Chew Daily quoted China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Liu Jian as saying this.Despite the global financial crisis, construction of the bridge would proceed after several problems were resolved, he said at a dinner organised by the Federation of Malaysia China Trade Associations on Saturday.He added that he would be visiting Penang to witness the commencement of the construction work.Liu said the commencement of project during the financial crisis showed the good relationship between China and Malaysia, adding that Malaysia played a crucial role in trade and investment in China.The bilateral trade between the two countries had reach US$55bil (RM195bil), he said, making Malaysia China’s largest trading partner in Asean, the daily reported. Work on the 22.5km bridge is scheduled to start on Nov 8 and completed in 42 months.
THE Chinese construction firm awarded the contract to build the base of the second Penang bridge would start work next week, Sin Chew Daily quoted China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Liu Jian as saying this.Despite the global financial crisis, construction of the bridge would proceed after several problems were resolved, he said at a dinner organised by the Federation of Malaysia China Trade Associations on Saturday.He added that he would be visiting Penang to witness the commencement of the construction work.Liu said the commencement of project during the financial crisis showed the good relationship between China and Malaysia, adding that Malaysia played a crucial role in trade and investment in China.The bilateral trade between the two countries had reach US$55bil (RM195bil), he said, making Malaysia China’s largest trading partner in Asean, the daily reported. Work on the 22.5km bridge is scheduled to start on Nov 8 and completed in 42 months.
An artist's impression of the new design for the second Penang bridge
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Widening Of The First Penang Bridge
Info taken from the Penang State Website at
Construction Period : 33 months
Start Date : 27 December 2005
End Date : August 2009
Construction Period : 33 months
Start Date : 27 December 2005
End Date : August 2009
Prestige Heights pregress update
This are some of the pictures taken today to show the construction site pregress of Prestige Heights (Teluk Kumbar).
Penang Travel Tips
For those who want to know more about Penang, this site is quite useful. The site guides you with lots of pictures, maps, recommendations and tips for new and regular visitors. Hope this site will help you...
http://www.penang-traveltips.com/
http://www.penang-traveltips.com/
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