THE Penang Development Corporation (PDC) will be calling for a Request for Proposal (RFP) to reclaim and develop a 150-acre area – between the Queensbay Mall roundabout and the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge.
PDC deputy general manager Aziz Bakar said the corporation would be the owner of the project and it would call for an RFP to invite the private sector to participate.
“We want to provide more recreational space for the people, rejuvenate and develop the site.
“We hope to create the longest sea-facing promenade in Penang, estimated to be about 8km-long, for the people to jog, exercise and cycle.
“The area will be equipped with comprehensive infrastructures and facilities. It will also consist of mixed-development projects,” Aziz told a press conference in Komtar today.
Aziz said the theme for the transformation project is ‘Linear Waterfront’.
Commenting on the current situation, Aziz said that the proposed project would affect a few premises which include a Penang Island City Council (MBPP) food complex, a fishermen’s jetty and a fishermen’s station (balai nelayan).
“Currently, the fishermen are not able to fully utilise the jetty during low tide. The food complex is also quite dilapidated.
“We foresee that the transformation project will equip the area with modern facilities and boost the economic activities there,” he said.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the proposed project was aimed at creating a new development site to complement the Bayan Lepas industrial area.
“The aim is also to draw in investments and to increase the land bank in the state for future, high-impact development.
“Among the developments identified by PDC are medical, commercial, restaurants and hotels.
“However, PDC will not propose the development components of the project. It is up to the bidders to propose the components during the RFP submission period,” Chow said.
Chow also said that it was difficult to estimate the gross development value (GDV) of the proposed project at the present moment.
“I believe the GDV can be more than RM1 billion,” he said.
Chow added that since the 1970s, PDC had reclaimed 1,120 acres of land from the Penang Bridge to Batu Maung for development purposes.
“The area has been used for housing, commercial, infrastructure, tourism, industry and mixed-developments.
“The reclaimed land enables the state’s industrial sector to thrive, as many renowned corporations and factories invest in the area.
“It has also contributed to the state’s economic growth, enabling Penang to be one of the main contributors to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP),” he said.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy and PDC general manager Datuk Mohd Bazid Abdul Kahar.
The RFP is scheduled to be called on July 31. The tentative deadline is Sept 30.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Ahmad Adil Muhamad