Latest news with #RM46mil
The Star
06-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Landmark market for Batu Kawan ready in 2027
Chow (third from right), looking at the artist's impression of the new market complex during the ground-breaking ceremony in Batu Kawan. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star AN UPCOMING market and hawker complex, costing RM46mil, will become a new landmark in Bandar Cassia, Batu Kawan, Penang. Featuring 82 market stalls, 32 hawker lots, 20 enclosed stalls and 86 trader lots, it will include amenities such as a multipurpose hall, surau, toilets, waste depot and recycling area, There will also be 449 parking bays when the project, on a 3.1ha land with a built-up area of 64,908 sq ft, is completed in mid-2027. Speaking at the ground- breaking ceremony, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the project was to meet the needs of residents, especially in the rapidly developing Bandar Cassia area. Since the opening of the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Bridge and the development of the Batu Kawan Industrial Park, he said the area was now a key hub for strategic investments in the state. "The state, through Penang Development Corporation (PDC), remains committed to ensuring balanced and inclusive development. 'This market and hawker complex will serve not only as a local economic centre supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), but also as a core component of community well-being. An artist's impression of the modern facility touted as the first and biggest market complex in Batu Kawan. 'It will offer safe, modern and comfortable spaces for traders, while promoting interaction and strengthening local community networks. "Once completed, this complex will provide modern facilities under one roof for traders and the surrounding community,' Chow said. He added that infrastructure upgrades, including the enhancement of the existing Jalan Batu Kawan were also part of the project aimed at improving mobility and traffic flow in the area. Also present at the event were Penang local government, town and country planning committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye, Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik and PDC chief executive officer Datuk Aziz Bakar. Premier Horizon Ventures is the project manager while Success Construction has been appointed the main contractor. The development will proceed in two phases. The RM7.6mil first phase involving earthworks began in November 2022 and was completed in January this year. The second phase, involving the construction of buildings and infrastructure at an estimated cost of RM38.7mil, is scheduled to be completed by June 2027. The development is a condition set by the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) for the issuance of the Certificate of Completion and Compliance for the broader Bandar Cassia development. Upon completion, the market touted as the first and biggest in Batu Kawan will be handed over to MBSP, as official owner, to manage the facility.
The Star
15-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
PM: No levy for private schools
Futuristic machine: Visitors watching a robot demonstration during an exhibition held in conjunction with the National Training Week 2025 summit in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: Beginning January next year, all private schools, colleges and training centres will be exempted from paying their education levies, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister said the exemption will apply across the board and include preschools, primary, secondary and vocational schools, higher education providers and training centres. 'This is the first time in history that the government is exempting the education levy for a full year. 'We have received numerous appeals from education and training institutions asking for relief from this payment,' he said in his keynote speech at the National Training Week 2025 summit here yesterday. Also present at the event was Human Resources Minister Steven Sim. The initiative, which will run from Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2026, will benefit 1,668 institutions and see the government forgo RM46mil in levies. Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said the move is aimed at allowing these institutions to fully focus on improving the quality of their training and education. 'Our children must be given the best training possible. The government will find the necessary mechanisms and funding to support this effort,' he said. He also instructed the secretaries-general of both the Education Ministry and the Human Resources Ministry to closely monitor these institutions to ensure they are delivering top-tier training. 'On top of that, I urge them to also monitor high-profit private companies. They must be prepared to give back, even a little, to their workers,' Anwar said. The exemption applies only to private institutions following the government's move to expand the 6% service tax to private education services beginning July 2025.
The Star
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Exsim wins RM46mil contract for Port Dickson hotel renovation
KUALA LUMPUR: Exsim Hospitality Bhd's wholly owned subsidiary, Exsim Concepto Sdn Bhd, has secured a contract worth RM46mil from TotalBuildz Sdn Bhd. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, Exsim said the contract covers renovation, refurbishment, and interior fit-out works for an 11-storey hotel in Port Dickson. The contract work will commence on May 30, 2025, with overall completion expected within 12 months, no later than May 29, 2026, subject to any extensions allowed under the contract conditions. Exsim expects the contract to contribute positively to its net assets per share, earnings per share and gearing throughout the duration of the contract.
The Star
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Putra Heights inferno: Reconstruction of damaged homes to take two years
KUALA LUMPUR: The reconstruction and repair of homes damaged in the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, is expected to take two years to complete, says Nga Kor Ming. The Housing and Local Government Minister said so far, work on 219 affected homes had been carried out according to plan and within the set timeframe. "Contractors are actively working on the repair and reconstruction of the destroyed homes. I hope that within less than two years, we can complete the construction of new houses for the affected victims. "Homes that have been completely destroyed, we will build new ones, while those that can be repaired will be restored," he said before appearing as a guest on Bernama TV's Ruang Bicara programme, which discussed the topic "UN-Habitat: Malaysia Ready to Lead Global Sustainable Development" at Wisma Bernama on Tuesday (May 13). Nga said the government, through the Housing and Local Government Ministry, had allocated RM46mil to repair homes and public infrastructure affected by the incident. He said that through the allocation from the ministry and the Subang Jaya City Council, RM6mil had been set aside to restore and rebuild public infrastructure and facilities, including roads, drainage systems and public recreational parks damaged. The gas pipeline fire on April 1 caused flames to rise more than 30m high, with temperatures reaching over 1,000°C and took almost eight hours to be completely extinguished. The incident caused 81 homes to be completely destroyed, with structural damage exceeding 40%, 81 homes partially damaged, 57 homes affected but not burned and 218 homes left unaffected. – Bernama
The Star
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
‘Claim up to RM300k for restoration works'
Relentless help: Amirudin (centre) and Nga (second from right) taking questions from reporters during a press conference on the Putra Heights gas pipeline in Shah Alam. — KK SHAM/The Star SHAH ALAM: For houses affected by the Putra Heights gas pipeline fire, home owners can categorically claim for restoration works up to RM300,000, says Nga Kor Ming. The Housing and Local Government Minister said an allocation of RM40mil has been collected by the government through the National Disaster Relief Housing Fund, which is for the benefit of victims who lost their homes due to disaster. Nga said the repair process for residential units would be split into three categories from structural to minor damages. The first category is for homes with 40% structural damage and in need of rebuilding with a ceiling cost of RM300,000 per unit. The second is for affected homes with more than 40% damage but does not need any redevelopment process, with the ceiling cost at RM150,000. 'For units requiring repair works of less than 40%, the ceiling cost of restoration works will be fixed at RM30,000,' he told a joint press conference with Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari at the state secretariat building yesterday. Nga said 291 residential units were affected by the fire. Of the number, 81 units saw damage of more than 40% while 138 units had less than 40%. An additional fund of RM6mil would be used to restore public infrastructure affected by the April 1 tragedy, Nga said. He said the repair works would be carried out through the Subang Jaya City Council, Local Government Department and National Landscape Department. 'This brings the total cost involved in the rehabilitation of the Putra Heights area to RM46mil, comprising RM40mil for reconstruction and repair of homes and RM6mil for public infrastructure restoration.' Nga also said Sime Darby and Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad have been granted access to enter the site and start works today. 'The repair and restoration process will start with residential units along 100m from ground zero. The duration to complete the job is 24 months. 'But the government has urged the developers involved to complete the repair works as soon as possible,' he said. Amirudin said a full technical report by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) is expected to be completed within a month's time. 'While the initial report has been released, we still need more time as the area remain water-logged and requires further investigation. 'We will be able to obtain a full report by then and present it to the Cabinet or the state government,' he said, adding that if there is a need, the report would also be made available for external parties. Amirudin said an independent panel would be appointed to evaluate both technical investigations by DOSH and the police to ensure such a tragedy would not recur. 'This is because we have pipeline routes and other high-risk areas such as the high voltage cable routes and high pressure water pipelines,' he said. Amirudin said the state government would also explore expanding the standard operating procedure to prevent similar incidents, describing the gas pipeline fire as 'a lesson to all authorities'. On the distribution of aid, he said RM2.73mil in rental assistance has been allocated to 455 affected families. 'Each family will receive RM6,000 to cover three month's rent. Additional assistance for the following three months will be provided in July or August for those who need to stay longer,' he said, adding that 214 families have received the aid so far. Amirudin said as the restoration works would start soon, about 60% to 70% would be able to return to their homes by then.
