GEORGE TOWN – Penang is planning its latest tourism offering in a mega agro-tourism project which will sit below the tallest highway flyover in Malaysia at Bukit Kukus in Paya Terubong.
An agreement was signed today between landowner Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and project initiator Kat Resources Sdn Bhd whose core business is in construction and development.
Representing PDC was its chief executive officer Datuk Aziz Bakar while signing on behalf of Kat was its chief operating officer Teoh Kok Chuan.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow told a press conference that the project can spur development in commercial farming while also functioning as another site for tourism.
The designated area spans about 165 hectares.
As the land is located in a hilly terrain, Chow stressed that the developer will ensure that all aspects of the conditions imposed by the authorities are met, including a possible environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval.
Penang is starting to witness the rollout of mega projects after years of attempts.
Among the other projects Chow named was the light rail transit (LRT), the now-completed Bukit Kukus highway link off Paya Terubong, and the cable car at Penang Hill.
“All such projects are engineering feats and have huge financial costs, but they are needed to sustain the growth of the economy,” said Chow.
Kat will lease the land from PDC for 40 years for RM24 million. It will cultivate the land to grow tropical fruits and vegetables while also constructing tourism-friendly infrastructure for glamping, eateries and a lookout point with a flying fox link.
Teoh said that the project will be the next hilly landmark in the state after Penang Hill.
The project will also legalise a hundred-odd vegetable farmers who are technically squatters in the area, as they are expected to be incorporated into the overall development, said Teoh.
In another development, Chow said that he has no details to share on the proposed special financial zone (SFZ), which was presented to Parliament by Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, who is also the DAP chairperson.
Chow, the DAP vice-president, said that perhaps after this special parliamentary sitting, more details can be revealed by the ministries involved in the proposed zone.
Lim proposed in Parliament yesterday that the federal government create an SFZ in Penang that focuses on the northern region, just like the one in Forest City, Johor.
The Bagan MP said that since Penang now has a critical mass with a mature manufacturing industry base, this will drive development and boost the growth of the service sector, not only in the northern region but for the whole country.
It was reported that Penang contributed RM10 billion in state tax to the federal revenue recently.
There were also reports of 436 projects worth RM22.17 billion having been approved for Kelantan and 511 projects with a cost of RM29.5 billion for Pahang. – The Vibes, September 14, 2023
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