The Batu Kawan Industrial Park (BKIP) in south Seberang Perai, which is poised to be the next ‘Silicon Valley of the East’ after Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone (FIZ), continues to attract an influx of investments and job creations from local corporations.

Two public-listed large local companies (LLCs), namely JHM Consolidation Berhad (JHM) and QES Group Berhad (QES), have clocked in their investment projects with a combined investment value of RM190 million. They are set to generate over 1,100 job opportunities in five years.

Constructions of both expansion projects are scheduled to be completed by 2023.

Last month, three LLCs, namely Greatech Technology Berhad (Greatech), Pentamaster Corporation Berhad (Pentamaster) and UWC Berhad (UWC), had announced a total of RM520 million expansion plans in BKIP.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was present during the investment announcement ceremony of JHM and QES at the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) headquarters in Bayan Baru, applauded the two local companies for their decisions to house their manufacturing sites in Penang.

“The entrance of JHM and QES is an acknowledgement of the robust industry clusters in the state.

“JHM and QES are among the key players in the country’s electrical and electronics (E&E) supply chain. JHM is an electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, which specialises in one-stop engineering solutions while QES specialises in the manufacturing of equipment and provision of engineering services.

“We are proud to be the location of choice for the expansion plans of both companies.

“With the strong presence of multinational corporations (MNCs), LLCs and auxiliary industries closed to one another, these companies are able to enjoy far-reaching benefits in terms of operational advantage and increasing penetration into the global supply chain.

“We are also grateful to have existing industry players, who stand by us throughout the journey as well as newcomers who place their trust in us as we celebrate our 50th anniversary of industrialisation journey next year.

“We pledge to be the leader by continuously making Penang’s position as a destination of choice for investments,” he said in his speech during the event.

Chow pointed out that Penang is the most important manufacturing base for E&E products in the country.

“We are among the most vibrant hubs globally, with an estimated of 5% of global semiconductor exports.

“Our exports had surpassed the RM300 billion mark in 2020 to reach a record high of RM310 billion, despite the Covid-19 pandemic. It was mainly contributed by E&E and professional, scientific and controlling instruments, including medical devices,” he added.

Chow also thanked the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida), InvestPenang and PDC for their hard work and efforts to facilitate these investments.

“Congratulations to JHM and QES on your latest achievements. We look forward to seeing the two new facilities in BKIP in the future,” he said.

JHM Consolidation Berhad group chief executive officer Datuk Tan King Seng was delighted to be part of Penang’s robust industrial ecosystem.

“We are setting up a two-storey facility, with 350,000sq ft build-up area in BKIP, with an investment of RM170 million.

“JHM will broaden the business portfolio to include assembly and test services for telecommunication equipment and devices, through this expansion,” he said.

QES Group managing director Chew Ne Weng said the expansion in BKIP would be the company’s second factory in the country. The first one is located in Shah Alam, Selangor.

“The estimated investment for this project will be about RM20 million, which includes the land, construction, facilities and manpower.

“This plant will cater to our expansion in ATE (automated test equipment) manufacturing as well as a new venture in IR4.0 Smart Manufacturing Solutions.

“It is expected to provide 100 new job opportunities in three years’ time, which include engineers, technicians, administrative and executive personnel, ” he said.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

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Penang will consider building its light rail transit (LRT) line separately from an earlier transport master plan if the three islands project does not get regulatory approval.

Previously, the three islands project, known as the Penang South Reclamation (PSR), was supposed to finance the LRT project with land from the reclaimed islands to be sold. The 19km LRT line, starting from Bayan Lepas, is estimated to cost RM8.5 billion. It will have 30 stations.

However the approval to carry out the PSR project was rescinded by environmental regulators after an appeal by fishermen in September.

Executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari told the state assembly today the state government is considering calling for a request for proposal next year to invite companies or consortiums to vie for the LRT project, if the approval for PSR continues to be delayed.

“But I reiterate that this is being studied and will depend on how the study turns out.

“We remain committed to PSR, the Pan Island Link 1 Highway and the Penang Transport Master Plan,” he said.

He was replying to a supplementary question by Goh Choon Aik (PH-Bukit Tambun) who had asked what the state plans to do about the LRT project if PSR fails to take off.

Earlier, Zairil said the PSR approval snag was caused by technicalities involving the state structure plan.

He said the state plans to file a judicial review over the withdrawal of approval and, at the same time, make a new application for approval from the department of environment. (DoE)

Dr Afif Bahardin (PN-Seberang Jaya) asked if the state risks losing the “PSR gambit” altogether if it filed for approval afresh.

Zairil said the new application is nearly identical to what was submitted before, with the difference being the reclamation sequence of the three islands being changed.

He said Island A (south of the airport runway) would be built first, as opposed to the earlier approved Island B (south of Teluk Kumbar).

He said the state government realised that Island A was more important to cater for more industrial land, as the state was severely short of it.

H’ng Mooi Lye (PH-Jawi) asked if it was fair that other states could easily carry out reclamation work without trouble, such as Melaka and Johor.

Zairil said it was “unacceptable and unfair” for federal regulators to “continue to victimise Penang”.

He asked if these same regulators had looked into individual state structure plans in connection with highway projects and reclamation work carried out in Melaka and Johor.

“We are not questioning the law, but why victimise us when we have followed the law?” he said.

Source: FreeMalaysiaToday.com

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The state Public Works Department (PWD) will make an application for an allocation to upgrade the roads in Bukit Tengah to ease traffic congestion.

State Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari (PH-Tanjung Bunga) said the Jalan Permatang Tinggi is a federal road and the allocation had already been applied through the 12th Malaysia Plan.

“Besides that, the widening of Jalan Permatang Tinggi project from south Seberang Perai district to Bukit Tengah roundabout will be implemented after obtaining approval from the Works Ministry and Economic Planning Unit (EPU).

“The PWD will also make a new application for approval for the proposed widening road project in Jalan Perusahaan Autocity.

“The Penang Development Corporation (PDC) is currently undertaking a widening road project in Jalan Perusahaan from the Jalan Kebun Nenas junction to Jalan Juru.

“PWD and Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) are also finding a solution to disperse the traffic at the Juru highway and Jalan Kebun Nenas,” he told the State Assembly today.

Zairil was responding to an oral question by Gooi Hsiao Leung (PH-Bukit Tengah), who wanted to know about any effort taken by state to solve the traffic flow issue in Bukit Tengah.

Zairil added that the local authorities have also issued compounds to any vehicles obstructing traffic to help reduce congestion there.

Source: Buletin Mutiara