Hi-tech facility aims at rejuvenating economy in Bayan Lepas
An artist’s impression of the proposed GBS By The Sea project in Bayan Lepas.
Penang Development Corporation (PDC) general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar said the RM200mil project dubbed ‘GBS By The Sea’ would be part of a rejuvenation exercise for the Bayan Lepas industrial area.Hi-tech facility aims at rejuvenating economy in Bayan Lepas
“The project, which will be located beside the Motorola factory, will also be used as a catalyst to rejuvenate the economy.
“Under the first phase, 2.7ha of space will be developed and will feature a nine-storey seafont building which will house the Multimedia Super Corridor Malaysia Cybercentre,” he said after announcing the project in Komtar on Tuesday.
Rosli added that there would be a multi-storey 2,500-bay car park complex, retail and F&B outlets, and also an integrated centre for IT and R&D activities.
“The futuristic hub will also have a central meeting place for people to meet up.
“It will also harness natural sunlight as lighting, making it an environment-friendly development.
“When completed in 2020, the project will create some 3,000 jobs,” he said.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was present, said the project would provide higher value jobs in the manufacturing industry through expansion and diversification of the GBS business.
“Penang aims to be part of the Industry 4.0 Transformation, which revolves around big data analytics, e-commerce, crowdsourcing, cloud computing and the Internet of Things.
“GBS By The Sea is expected to attract many key international players into the state,” he said.
Lim added that according to a study by Outsourcing Malaysia, the country’s GBS sector is expected to see a compounded annual growth rate of 10% to 15% over the next three years.
Global biz hub for Penang
Part of the buildings to be built at the GBS centre.
PENANG has identified a 72.8ha site in Bayan Lepas to be turned into a Global Business Services (GBS) centre.
Penang Development Corporation (PDC) general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar said the RM200mil project dubbed ‘GBS By The Sea’ would be part of a rejuvenation exercise for the Bayan Lepas industrial area.
“The project, which will be located beside the Motorola factory, will also be used as a catalyst to rejuvenate the economy.
“Under the first phase, 2.7ha of space will be developed and will feature a nine-storey seafont building which will house the Multimedia Super Corridor Malaysia Cybercentre,” he said after announcing the project in Komtar on Tuesday.
Rosli added that there would be a multi-storey 2,500-bay car park complex, retail and F&B outlets, and also an integrated centre for IT and R&D activities.
“The futuristic hub will also have a central meeting place for people to meet up.
“It will also harness natural sunlight as lighting, making it an environment-friendly development.
“When completed in 2020, the project will create some 3,000 jobs,” he said.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was present, said the project would provide higher value jobs in the manufacturing industry through expansion and diversification of the GBS business.
“Penang aims to be part of the Industry 4.0 Transformation, which revolves around big data analytics, e-commerce, crowdsourcing, cloud computing and the Internet of Things.
“GBS By The Sea is expected to attract many key international players into the state,” he said.
Lim added that according to a study by Outsourcing Malaysia, the country’s GBS sector is expected to see a compounded annual growth rate of 10% to 15% over the next three years.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, investPenang general manager Loo Lee Lian and other state exco members.
Penang homes priced beyond reach of most youths
More than 90% of respondents surveyed hope to own property but only half believe that it is possible.
THE majority of youths in Penang have no choice but to rent due to high property prices.
Most (73.2%) are staying in a property owned by a family member or a relative and many (93.7%) are hoping to own a house within the next five years.
These are some of the findings of an opinion poll carried out by the state government on a sample group of 606 youths, aged 18 to 29.
Penang Institute senior analyst Yeong Pey Jung (pic) said an overwhelming 90.2% of respondents found it difficult to purchase property in Penang while 43.4% revealed that it was not difficult to rent a property here.
“In looking at the responses on perception towards property prices, 91.8% found prices in Penang to be considerably expensive while 69.3% are of the opinion that affordable housing in Penang is not affordable.
“If we look into the 24 to 29 age group, who have a higher purchasing power, 81.7% conclude that affordable housing is unaffordable. This is a phenomenon observed throughout Malaysia especially in urban areas,” she told a press conference on the outcome of the Penang youth survey in Komtar on Tuesday.
Yeong added that more than 90% of respondents hoped to own property but only half of them believe that it is possible.
“The telephone survey, which was conducted in February this year, was to find out how Penang youths feel towards social, economic and political concerns.”
The survey also showed that over 70% of youths involved in community projects were not interested in taking up leadership roles.
They also expressed a general disinterest in politics.
In terms of health, more than half of youths engaged in regular exercise.
About 56.4% found difficulty in gaining employment, a sentiment shared by their peers and immediate social circle.
Penang Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Chong Eng said the survey was an initiative towards the Penang Youth Development Blueprint.
“The blueprint will be inclusive and function as a guide to encourage social upward mobility and enhance the youths’ development socially, economically and politically.”
The next phase is to conduct a focus group discussion and in-depth interviews with all sectors of the youth community.
Sources: The Star/ANN
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Forum: Vital role for Penang in growing the GBS sector http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2016/10/01/forum-vital-role-for-penang-in-growing-the-gbs-sector/
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