THROUGH the Penang Development Corporation (PDC), the Penang government is working on enhancing investors’ experience at the state’s industrial parks.
Meetings and discussions between PDC, local authorities, state legal advisor and the Penang Land and Mines Office are now ongoing to study the idea of establishing the ‘Industrial Park Management Council’.
State Entrepreneurial Development, Trade, and Industry Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain said the industry players in Penang had voiced the effectiveness of the current industrial park management model and proposed the setting up of a special council to oversee the management of existing and new industrial parks in Penang.
Meanwhile, PDC chief executive officer Datuk Aziz Bakar said PDC is finalising the papers and would be tabling them in the state executive council meeting when they are ready.
“We hope to complete them by early next year. The proposed ‘Industrial Park Management Council’ could be tasked to manage issues happening in the industrial parks, such as traffic and infrastructure,” he said during the fourth Penang Socio-Economic Recovery Consultative Council (PSERCC) meeting in Komtar today.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow stressed the importance of enhancing the experience of investors to continue growing the state.
“The industry is a major lifeline for Penang,” he said.
Chow said Penang had recorded the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth compared with other states in 2021.
“If a comparison is made between the period before and after the Covid-19 pandemic, the state’s GDP per capita increased by 6% in 2021 – from RM55,202 per person in 2019 to RM58,527 per person in 2021.
“We will ensure that this excellence can be continued through the implementation of various projects and programmes per the people’s interest, especially in the current endemic phase,” Chow said.
On a separate matter, Penang Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo lamented the inaction by the Local Government and Housing Ministry in providing People’s Housing Project (PPR) units to Penangites, despite the state government allocated five pieces of land totalling some 72 acres for that purpose.
“The Penang government has allocated the land (in 2019), one in each of the five districts in Penang, for the Federal Government to build PPR units for the people.
“However, until today, there is no movement from the Federal Government.
“The Federal Government has completely failed to provide to the people. This was the Federal Government we had.
“We do not even have to talk about the failed promises of the then Federal Government to Penang on PR1MA housing projects,” he said.
Chow said this shows the lack of commitment by the then Federal Government towards providing PPR units for the needy community in Penang.
“Despite being offered land by the Penang government, it (Federal Government) failed to implement the PPR projects,” he said.
Among those present at the meeting were Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, Penang Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, Penang Agrotech and Food Security, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin, the Chief Minister’s special investment adviser Datuk Seri Lee Kah Choon, Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda) Penang past chairman Datuk Toh Chin Leong, Digital Penang chief executive officer Tony Yeoh, Malaysian Association of Hotels national vice-president Datuk Khoo Boo Lim and Penang Institute executive director Datuk Dr Ooi Kee Beng.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Siew Chia En