THE Penang Development Corporation (PDC) has a total land area of 4,525.9 acres (1,831.5ha) in Batu Kawan, East Batu Kawan, South Penang Science Park (SPSP) and Byram under its care.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is also PDC chairman, said the industries planned for the Batu Kawan Industrial Park (BKIP) and SPSP were more focused on “promoted industries” like electric and electronic (E&E), light emitting diodes (LED), medical devices, aerospace, semiconductor, automotive and other related activities.
He also gave a breakdown of the land size when responding to a question by Goh Choon Aik (PH – Bukit Tambun), who wanted to know how much land PDC still possessed in those areas, its development plans and whether there would be a Batu Kawan Transport Master Plan.
The PDC land available in the areas mentioned is Batu Kawan (2,946.7 acres for mixed development, industrial park and affordable housing), East Batu Kawan (622.6 acres for mixed development, various industries), South Penang Science Park (173.7 acres for various industries) and Byram (782.7 acres for various industries).
Chow said the estimated investment value for each sector in Batu Kawan is as follows:
1) In the industrial sector, a total of RM10 billion is expected to be generated by multinational companies (MNCs) as well as companies from BIKP until March 2019.
2) In the business sector, a total of RM17.8 billion is recorded based on the agreements that had been signed.
3)In the housing sector, PDC had carried out Suria 1 affordable homes in which the development cost is about RM135 million and is expected to begin the next phase (Suria 2) at end of the year at a cost of RM127 million.
Chow said although PDC did not have Batu Kawan Transport Master Plan, it had carried out traffic and integrated public transport studies at Bandar Cassia.
“The Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) report, which had been approved by Seberang Perai Municipal Council on Dec 5 last year, will be used as a guide for public transport implementation at Bandar Cassia in Batu Kawan,” he explained.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Ahmad Adil Muhamad