DON’T criticise the state government for selling land to existing industries for expansion as well as to new investors who want to set up factories in Penang.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has asked the Opposition not to criticise the state government for doing so as the state continues to acquire land for future development.
Chow today witnessed the official purchase of land by three large local companies – Greatech Technology Berhad (Greatech), Pentamaster Corporation Berhad (Pentamaster) and UWC Berhad (UWC) – from the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) at the PDC headquarters in Bayan Baru.
They collectively took up 35 acres of land in Batu Kawan Industrial Park for their expansion projects that would begin in the first quarter of next year.
“If you (Opposition) are criticising the state for selling land, you are also criticising MNCs for investing in Penang, you are also criticising LLCs for expanding their operations to upscale themselves in the global market, and you are also criticising SMEs looking for expansion opportunities within the nine industrial estates developed by PDC since 50 years ago.
“PDC is a state agency which is responsible for promoting social economic development and industrial development, and it acquires land so that it can get it ready with the necessary basic infrastructure.
“This land then can be made available to the industries to set up their production here and to create jobs not only for the people of Penang but also for Malaysians at large.
“Therefore, appreciate what the PDC is doing together with the state government as we acquire land to get them ready to be turned into industrial parks.
“The last 50 years PDC has developed nine industrial parks. Imagine without the nine industrial parks in Penang and many other private developed industrial parks as well, what Penang would be like,” Chow said in his speech at the investment announcement ceremony of Greatech, Pentamaster and UWC in the PDC headquarters in Bayan Baru today.
Chow added that PDC has planned to open up and develop a few more industrial parks, with two more in Batu Kawan.
He said the state government is also collaborating with private land owners whose land may have been zoned for industrial use.
“Therefore, we will not rescind this important mandate from the people to promote industrial development in the state.
“I would like to appreciate the Federal and state agencies, PDC and InvestPenang for making these 50 years of journey a meaningful one for Penang,” Chow added.
According to PDC chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Bazid Abd Kahar, PDC is currently developing two new industrial parks, namely Batu Kawan Industrial Park 2 (BKIP 2) and Batu Kawan Industrial Park 3 (BKIP 3) that would collectively add 1,500 acres to Penang’s industrial land bank.
He said earthworks had started for BKIP 2 (about 800 acres) and would soon start for BKIP 3 (about 600 acres). Both sites are expected to be ready in two years.
“PDC realises that Penang is the choice for industrial development. We presently have land but we want to be ready for the future.
“That is why we already acquired the land there (Batu Kawan). We’re looking into other areas; we won’t stop here,” Mohd Bazid said.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi