SkyWorld Development Bhd is set to expand its footprint in Penang with the acquisition of a 25.9-acre land parcel in Batu Kawan for RM48.51 million. The land, known as Parcel 1, is part of a 161.5-acre site in Bandar Cassia, Seberang Perai Selatan, earmarked for the development of Rumah Bakat Madani affordable homes under a joint initiative with the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and its subsidiary, PDC Properties.

This acquisition follows approval secured at SkyWorld’s extraordinary general meeting in April 2025, with the land priced at RM43 per square foot. The company’s wholly owned unit, SkyWorld Cassia Development Sdn Bhd, signed the agreement with PDC as part of the broader Rumah Bakat Madani  affordable housing initiative.

First announced in December 2024, the Rumah Bakat Madani project aims to cater to middle-income earners with monthly household incomes below RM11,800. The units, priced between RM225,000 and RM420,000, will feature modern facilities such as a swimming pool, gym, multipurpose hall, and playground. Applications will be open to both locals and non-residents working in Penang.

The Rumah Bakat Madani development spans two key sites — the Batu Kawan tract and a 34-acre plot in Seberang Jaya — with Parcel 1 strategically located near Jalan Cassia Barat 1, close to the Design Village Outlet Mall.

SkyWorld said the acquisition will be financed through a combination of internal funds, bank borrowings, and remaining proceeds from its IPO. Completion is expected by the second quarter of 2026.

SkyWorld Pearlmont is the first project under the Rumah Bakat Madani Affordable Housing Scheme, a national initiative aimed at supporting the B40 and M40 income groups. The development is located on a 34-acre site in Seberang Jaya, along Jalan Todak, directly opposite the Penang Bird Park. It is a joint effort between PDC Properties and SkyWorld Development Berhad.

Set within a riverside environment, the project is designed with an emphasis on walkability, bicycle accessibility, and integration of green corridors and pathways. The site plan includes residential and commercial components and is in proximity to existing infrastructure such as schools, shopping malls, and medical facilities.

The development is proposed to be implemented in multiple phases:

• Phase 1 features four 40-storey residential blocks with over 1,800 units, a two-level commercial block with 108 shop units, an eight-storey parking podium, and facilities on Levels 9 and 10.
• Phase 2 adds four 41-storey blocks with more than 2,100 units, each with communal spaces on the top floors.
• Phase 3 includes three 41-storey blocks with over 1,700 units and 38 shop units at ground level, with shared facilities on the upper floors.

Based on earlier available information, each unit under the scheme is planned to have a built-up area of 900 square feet, featuring three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with indicative pricing between RM225,000 and RM420,000.

The project is still in its planning stage and more details will be available upon official launch.

Project Name : SkyWorld Pearlmont
Location : Seberang Jaya
Property Type : Affordable housing
Tenure: (to be confirmed)
Land Area: 34 acres
Built-up Size: 900 sq.ft.
Total Units : More than 5,700 units
Indicative Price : RM225,000 – RM420,000
Developer : Skyworld Mutiara Development Sdn. Bhd.

DISCLAIMER: This article is solely based on research done using publicly available data. This is not an advertisement. Any claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a project or service should be verified with the developer, provider, or party in question.

About Lucerne Residences

The final phase of residential development by Ideal Property Group at Ideal Vision Park in Bayan Lepas. It is just a short drive to Penang International Airport, 10 minutes walking distance to Straits International School. The project will see two blocks of 36-storey skyscrapers featuring a European living concept. It offers 480 residential units with a 5-storey parking podium.

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The proposed reclamation and landfill rehabilitation project in Jelutong, near Karpal Singh Drive, is still pending approval from the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow confirmed yesterday.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Batu Kawan Public Market, Chow stated that the public feedback period for the project ended on June 30, and all responses have been submitted to the Department of Environment (DOE) for review.

“Any development must first secure EIA approval. If it’s not granted, we can submit an appeal with improvements. The submission deadline is February 26 next year,” he said.

The project, jointly undertaken by the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and PLB Engineering Bhd, aims to rehabilitate the decades-old Jelutong landfill, which has been in use since the 1970s.

Chow noted that state officials, including Local Government and Town Planning Committee chairman Jason H’ng, have engaged with both PLB and PDC following a recent meeting with the Protect Karpal Singh Drive Action Committee.

The project includes a profit-sharing model, with portions of reclaimed land allocated to the state. However, any downscaling of the project based on public concerns may require the state to forgo part of its share.

“We will consider all feedback carefully and address any concerns if the project receives approval,” Chow added.

The upcoming construction of the Bandar Cassia Public Market and Hawker Complex is set to bring a wave of socioeconomic benefits and new business opportunities for the local community in Batu Kawan.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announced that the project, which spans 7.69 acres of land owned by the Penang Development Corporation (PDC), will include a total of 82 stalls, a 32-unit food court, 20 enclosed stalls, 78 open hawker lots, and 449 parking bays. The project is expected to be completed by June 23, 2027.

“The strategic location of this project was chosen to support the area’s rapid residential, industrial, and educational growth. Situated just three kilometers from Batu Musang Jetty, the market will be accessible not only to nearby residents but also to surrounding communities,” Chow said during the groundbreaking ceremony.

He added that the project will also include the upgrading of Jalan Batu Kawan, improving traffic flow and overall connectivity in the area. Once completed, the facility will be handed over to the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) for management.

Also present at the ceremony were State Executive Councillor for Local Government and Town Planning Jason H’ng Mooi Lye, Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik, PDC CEO Dato’ Aziz Bakar, and other local dignitaries.

Chow noted that this would be the first and largest public market complex built in the Batu Kawan parliamentary constituency. He explained that the state had waited nearly two decades to initiate the project due to Batu Kawan’s previously low population, which did not justify such a large facility.

“Now that Batu Kawan has reached a significant stage of development, it is time to provide key public amenities such as mosques, places of worship, markets, halls, and schools,” he said, adding that Batu Kawan is a vital responsibility for PDC in driving Penang’s economic, industrial, and commercial growth.

Highlighting Batu Kawan’s industrial progress, Chow shared that nearly all industrial lots in the Batu Kawan Industrial Park (BKIP) have been sold, with factories already established. He also mentioned the upcoming Medi-City project, currently in its final planning stages, and other future developments including the Madani Talent Housing Project and a new site launch in Seberang Jaya.

PDC CEO Aziz Bakar added that Medi-City, covering around 230 acres, will cost over RM10 billion and be developed in phases. The planning application for Phase 1 (50 acres) is expected to be submitted to MBSP by September.

Chow concluded by expressing hope that Batu Kawan will evolve beyond just a development site, becoming a key catalyst to elevate Penang’s position in industrial and commercial excellence.