Latest news with #StGilesWembleyHotel
The Star
27-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Penang honours 17 for service, excellence
IT WAS a dazzling evening of elegance and celebration as over 400 distinguished guests from Malaysia and abroad gathered for the INPenang International Awards 2025. The biennial black-tie gala dinner, often regarded as the most prestigious social gathering in Penang, was held at the St Giles Wembley Hotel, George Town. Dignitaries, business leaders, philanthropists, cultural figures and members of the media were impeccably dressed in formal attire as tributes were paid to achievements rooted in Penang. In his welcoming speech, awards founder and president Datuk Ch'ng Huck Teng remarked how Penang's social landscape had evolved over the years. 'Years ago, people would tell me that Penangites would not dress up for formal dining. 'Today, we are here all dressed in black, showing how far we've come. This is truly Penang's grandest night,' he said, drawing applause from the crowd. The INPenang International Awards honour Penang-born individuals and organisations founded or based in the state. Nominees have made outstanding contributions to society. This year, 17 recipients were recognised for their excellence, innovation and service to the community. Among the top honours of the night was the INPenang Lifetime Achievement Award that was presented to Datuk Andrew Lim Tatt Keong. Lim is the Mercato, TMC and Gama group executive chairman, and president of the Malaysian Retailers Association. His decades of leadership and dedication in shaping the local and national retail landscape were lauded with a standing ovation. Another highlight of the evening was the INPenang International Outstanding Achievers Award that was conferred on Hong Kong-based Value Partners Group honorary chairman and non-executive director Datuk Seri Cheah Cheng Hye. The Penang-born global fund manager was recognised for his contributions in the international financial sector. Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, who officiated the event, took the opportunity to highlight Penang's growing role on the world stage, especially in the high-tech manufacturing sector. 'Penang is now a semiconductor hub of the world, contributing 7% to the global supply. 'This is the time to shine a global spotlight on the 'Made in Penang' brand,' said Sim. He also outlined major infrastructure projects to boost connectivity and tourism in the state. These include the expansion of the Penang International Airport, the upcoming cable car system and the long-awaited Light Rail Transit project. One of the most talked-about moments of the evening was the charity auction of two pieces of exclusive fine jewellery. These were from the Heirloom Series presented by One East Museum and Gallery in George Town, and had been created specially for the awards. The first piece, titled 'Heritage Mosaic', was a dazzling tribute to Penang's rich cultural legacy. It featured intertwined Pinang trees crafted from diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. The second piece, an 18K gold masterpiece inspired by the Malaysian wau, was adorned with luminous sapphires and 38 diamonds. Both pieces captivated the audience with their detail and meaning. Also present were state housing and environment committee chairman Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo, Penang island mayor Datuk A. Rajendra and Penang Chinese Town Hall chairman Tan Sri Tan Khoon Hai. Malaysian Association of Hotels Penang chapter chairman Datuk Tony Goh and Penang Global Tourism chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan were also present. The awards ceremony was organised by CHTNetwork, with Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation as event partner, Affin Invikta as the main sponsor, and supported by The Hour Glass, AirAsia, vivo, Aim Max Media, UB Group and One East Museum.
The Star
20-05-2025
- The Star
Boosting commutes with RM1 rides in Penang
PUBLIC transport is not really an attractive option for most people if the nearest bus stop is a 30-minute walk away. But what if you could get to your destination for just RM1 through Rapid Penang On-Demand (ROD), a first-mile-last-mile transport solution. Jelutong resident Lucia Lai is one Penangite who decided to give it a go. She took an ROD ride from her neighbourhood with booking made through the Kummute app. A passenger using the Kummute app to book her ROD van ride. 'Booking was simple. The app tells you how long it will take for the van to arrive, along with the number plate and driver's name,' she said. For her first ride, Lai was picked up from the bus stop in front of her apartment in Jelutong and dropped off at the St Giles Wembley Hotel in George Town. 'There were only two passengers in the van. I paid by swiping my debit card on the machine and received a receipt right away,' she said, adding that the van was comfortable and the air-conditioning worked. Lai took her first ride from her apartment in Jelutong to a George Town hotel. She said there were 11 seats, three rows with three seats each and a final row with two seats. She was told that one seat in the second row was left empty to make it easier for passengers to get in and out. On the second leg of her journey from St Giles Wembley Hotel to City Bayview Hotel, Lai was the only passenger and sat in the front row behind the driver. 'Overall, I'm satisfied with the service. Some say the wait times can be long during peak hours. 'But I wasn't in a rush, so I didn't mind,' she added. An ROD driver receiving payment from a passenger using her debit card. Receipts are issued. Pharmacist Jusrizal Azeem Jamaludin, also from Jelutong, uses the ROD service a few times a week to commute to Penang Hospital. Usually, he takes a bus from the Sunshine Jelutong stop to Komtar, and then books an ROD ride to the hospital. 'The vans are clean, the seats comfortable and the air-conditioning works well,' he said. 'The drivers are polite and friendly. I have even had nice chats with a few,' said Jusrizal, adding that he appreciated the inclusivity of the service, including accessibility for people with disabilities (OKU). 'The app is user-friendly, and the flexible payment options are a plus. 'One can use the Pas Mutiara My50, Pas OKU Smile, debit or credit card, DuitNow QR or an e-wallet. 'It's a great initiative that offers a reliable alternative to driving, especially in areas not well served by buses,.' ROD vans also have special equipment to cater to people with disabilities. Bridging the gap When the service was first launched on Aug 1, 2024, it featured only two vans operating on the T210B route between Farlim (Bandar Baru Air Itam) and Air Itam. It was then known as Demand Responsive Transit (DRT). Rapid Bus acting chief executive officer Ku Jamil Zakaria said two additional vans were introduced on the T210B route to meet demand and reduce wait times from 17 minutes to 10 minutes. 'With the two extra vans, the average daily ridership has reached 137 passengers, surpassing our initial target of 100. 'In just seven months of operation until February, the total number of passengers on this route has exceeded 26,000,' he said. Ku Jamil said adding vans to serve the route had significantly improved connectivity between the ROD service and existing Rapid Penang buses, while offering passengers more direct access to their chosen destinations. THE ROD can accommodate 10 passengers, with one seat left empty. Today, the ROD service has a fleet of 31 vans covering six key zones, including one on the mainland. The zones are: Gurney and Tanjung Bungah (six vans), Sunway and Butterworth (six vans), Bandar Baru Air Itam and Paya Terubong (five vans), George Town (six vans), Jelutong (four vans) and Bayan Lepas (four vans). Ku Jamil said he hoped the service would encourage more people to shift to public transport instead of using private vehicles. 'Indirectly, this effort can help reduce traffic congestion and address the issue of limited parking space, especially in the George Town city centre,' he added. Ku Jamil emphasised the company's commitment to expanding the ROD service to areas previously underserved by Rapid Penang buses. 'To support the next phase of expansion, we will gradually introduce 21 additional vans, starting next month,' he said. 'The expansion is part of our ongoing efforts to enhance access to ROD services, particularly in regions with limited Rapid Penang bus coverage.' Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) president Mohideen Abdul Kadeer welcomed the expansion of the ROD service, especially with the addition of several new routes. 'Feeder vans like these are essential for residents in areas without regular bus access. 'We have long advocated for services like ROD to boost public transport usage, reduce reliance on private vehicles, ease traffic congestion and shorten commute times,' he said while emphasising the importance of keeping fares affordable to ensure the service remains accessible. The ROD service operates daily from 6am to 11pm. Rides can only be booked through the Kummute app. Once the app is open, click 'book a ride' then choose which type of service. The van service will appear automatically from the commuter's location. Choose the pick-up point and scroll through the list of drop-off points (usually the pick-up and drop-off points are designated Rapid Penang bus stops or landmarks like hotels, malls and apartments). Once booking is made, the app will show how long it will take the van to arrive. The app will show the van's plate number and driver's name. During the ongoing promotion period, fares are RM1.
