GEORGE TOWN – Penang currently has less than 80ha of industrial land left at the Batu Kawan Industrial Park (BKIP), where most industries are located in the state.
Penang Infrastructure and Transport Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said this has forced the state to turn down several investment opportunities as most major companies require plots of lands of between 8ha and 12ha.
“The current status of BKIP is that all the companies are located on a small plot of land measuring less than 4ha each,” he said in a statement today.
“While there is currently a shortage of industrial land, the state government is working hard on its short-, medium- and long-term plans to fulfil the demand of the industrial sector.
“This includes acquiring more land in Seberang Prai so that we can expand the sector and provide more employment for the people of Penang.
“This is why the state needs the Penang South Island (PSI) project to take off.”
The Tanjung Bungah assemblyman pointed out that Penang also faces challenges over the issue of land ownership when it faced legal action earlier this month.
“The high court granted leave to a private landowner to challenge the acquisition of 153ha of land in Byram Estate, Seberang Prai Selatan, by the state government via state-owned Penang Development Corporation.”
Currently, Zairil said, there are 10 industrial parks in Penang, of which nine are located in Seberang Prai.
The PSI project is part of Penang’s long-term strategy to offer a world-class environmental, social and governance-compliant smart industrial park in the state, he added.
“By doing so, we will be able to secure the future economic security of all Penangites.” – The Vibes, June 28, 2021
