THE country’s oldest but abandoned warehouses beside the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal in Penang are set to be revitalised after spending half a century in the doldrums.
The landmark warehouses were first built in 1826 as part of the port’s docks on the island. However, as Penang Port expanded its operations across the island to Butterworth, the warehouses were left idle for 50 years.
Spanning some 21,000sq m along the Weld Quay stretch and strategically located along the best waterfront in the island state, the seven warehouses are now awaiting the selection of the tender for redevelopment.
Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) chief executive officer Datuk Sasedharan Vasudevan said that three of the eight applicants have been shortlisted following an open tender exercise.
“We will enter the final process to select the best company to redevelop the warehouses,” said Sasedharan.
He said the upgrading project, which is also be near the colonial clocktower in the Esplanade, to be ready within the next 24 months.
Sasedharan was briefing the media in Suffolk House here last evening.
PPSB, the operator of the country’s oldest port, will also expand the cruise industry and the commercial value of the historic pier, which has been the main landing point in Penang, a major economic hub in the region.
The project includes the construction of a shopping complex, hotel, and outdoor dining facilities. It has the potential to become a major tourism attraction, said Sasedharan.
Sasedharan said the redevelopment of the warehouses will complement the upgrading of the adjoining marina.
Meanwhile, the state is expecting a boom in its tourism sector with the opening of the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre and renowned hotel chains on the island next year, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
“With such facilities, we can expect to attract more direct flights to Penang, and this will bring in more tourists so we can look forward to a booming tourism sector in the next few years,” he said after witnessing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between IJM Perennial Development and Maxis Broadband Sdn Bhd, GlobalComm Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, Hyatt International-Asia Pacific, and Galaxy Minion Hotel at The Light City here.
“Hopefully it can bring Penang to the next level, especially in the MICE sector,” he said, referring to meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions tourism.
IJM Perennial Development Sdn Bhd, the master developer of The Light City, signed four MOUs for 5G-ready infrastructure, a hotel franchise agreement, and a hotel management agreement.
IJM Perennial signed an deal with Maxis Broadband Sdn Bhd and GlobalComm Telecommunications Sdn Bhd for the provision of smart city technology.
It also inked a hotel franchise agreement with Hyatt International-Asia Pacific to introduce the JdV by Hyatt brand to The Light City and an agreement with Galaxy Minion Hotel to bring the Chinese hotel brand to The Light City.
The Light City, which is being developed in stages, will feature the largest convention centre that can host 8,000 guests, a 750-metre-long waterfront promenade, the largest waterfront mall in Penang, two international hotels, office spaces, and residences. – August 17, 2024.
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