PENANG Development Corporation (PDC) has a masterplan to ensure that Batu Kawan is comprehensively developed.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (PH-Padang Kota) said the plots of land in Batu Kawan had been zoned accordingly for industry, commercial, housing, institution, recreation, sports and others.
“PDC has a strategy to ensure that the state has sufficient industrial land in its land bank to attract investors to Penang.
“PDC has sought help from the state to acquire land in the south and east of Batu Kawan. This is in line with the corporation’s strategy to look for new land for industrial purposes.
“PDC has sold a total of 602 acres of land at the Batu Kawan Industrial Park to local and foreign investors since 2008.
“A total of 356.6 acres of land in Bandar Cassia, Batu Kawan was sold via the Request for Proposal (RFP) concept and via open tender.
“Five proposed projects were awarded via RFP while one proposed project was awarded via open tender,” Chow replying to an oral question from Goh Choon Aik (PH-Bukit Tambun) during the state legislative assembly sitting today.
Penang Opposition leader Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Nor (BN-Sungai Dua) questioned the reason why much land were sold to investors by PDC.
“Is this because PDC can no longer run the projects on its own or via joint venture?” he questioned.
Chow said PDC focused its attention on housing development.
“The corporation will also consider working together with investors to develop commercial real estate and recreational areas if the returns are good.
“PDC prefers to offer industrial land to investors to attract them to Penang,” Chow said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis