BOTH local councils in Penang namely the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) will maintain the existing rental rates for business premises under their management for the time being.
Penang Local Government and Town & Country Planning Committee chairman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye said the rental rates remain reasonable and are still lower than current market rates.
“The rental rates set by both local councils range from as low as RM6 for stalls and market premises up to RM300, while rates for food complexes start from RM8 and go up to RM800.
“We will not increase the rental rates as we do not want to burden hawkers.
“The Penang government continues to adopt a caring and proactive approach in determining rental rates for business premises under the supervision of the local councils by ensuring that the charges remain affordable and below current market rates, subject to the size of the facilities and the location of the business premises,” H’ng (PH–Jawi) said in response to a supplementary question from Kumaran Krishnan (PH–Bagan Dalam) at the Penang Legislative Assembly today.
Responding to another question from Joshua Woo Sze Zeng (PH–Pulau Tikus) regarding the status of the new hawker centre at Gurney Bay, H’ng said construction works are progressing actively, with physical progress at the site currently standing at 4.16%.
“The project is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2027.
“The planned hawker centre will comprise 17 retail units, 127 hawker stalls, seven beverage stalls and 43 mobile kiosk lots.
“Once construction is completed, a total of 134 hawker stalls together with 17 retail units will be offered through a licensing process by MBPP,” he said.
He added that the rental rates for hawkers are still under review and have yet to be finalised.
“The rental rates will be determined based on operational and maintenance costs to ensure that the hawker centre remains sustainable and resilient in the long term.
“As for the relocation of existing hawkers at Anjung Gurney, the new hawker centre at Gurney Bay has indeed been planned as a relocation site for existing hawkers operating around the Gurney Drive roundabout area, including Anjung Gurney.
“The relocation process will be carried out in an orderly manner to ensure smooth business operations and the comfort of all parties involved,” he explained.
According to H’ng, Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI) currently oversees Gurney Bay and, once the hawker centre is completed next year, CMI will appoint an operator to manage the entire facility.
“In the state government’s planning, this hawker centre is specifically intended to accommodate hawkers currently operating at the Anjung Gurney Hawker Site as well as static hawkers around Gurney Drive.
“According to MBPP records, there are currently 93 traders operating at the Anjung Gurney Hawker Site and 12 temporary static hawkers around Persiaran Gurney,” he added.
Story by Riadz Akmal