News by Wong King Wai

After  waiting for months on end for their applications for advertising permits and developers’ licences (APDLs) to be approved, developers in Penang breathed a sigh of relief recently — they have finally been given the nod. They are now busy with sales and purchase agreement signings and banking in of cheques, says Michael Geh, senior partner of Raine & Horne International Zaki + Partners Sdn Bhd.

New Bob Group soft launched its Tropics 8 hospitality suites in Jalan Gottlieb, Penang, earlier this month (January). The 12-storey building, which offers 88 units, is close to Gurney Drive.

Malaysians love to shop and love it even better when the prices are right. And by mid-2018, they might have the opportunity to satisfy their retail appetite at an outlet mall called Horizon Village Outlets (HVO).

Mainland Penang will soon have its first international hotel chain, thanks to Exopuri Development Sdn Bhd. The company recently signed a management agreement with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) to manage the 288-room Holiday Inn & Suites at Juru Sentral when it is completed in 2019.

The  interview with Eco World Development Group Bhd president and CEO Datuk Chang Khim Wah and divisional general manager Datuk Hoe Mee Ling was held in the sales gallery — two factory lots combined — in EcoWorld’s Eco Business Park I (EPB I) in Tebrau, Johor.

Meeting Dutch designer extraordinaire Piet Boon can be intimidating since he literally stands head and shoulders above many. But his warm smile and affable personality immediately put me at ease as I sit down with him after the October launch of Aira Residence, a luxury high-rise development by Selangor Properties Bhd in Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur. He is in charge of the interior design of the units in the low-density project.

Those who want to have a fun outing may enjoy some retail therapy at Penang’s Design Village in Bandar Cassia (formerly known as Batu Kawan). Opened to the public on Nov 23 by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, with performances and fireworks, this is the only premium outlet mall in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia.

Design Village, the only outlet mall in the northern region, expects to see 85% of its shops leased and opened by June 2017, says its marketing company Savills Malaysia.

The Penang housing market is maturing, says Michael Geh, director at Raine & Horne International Zaki + Partners. The data shows that in the third quarter, properties in the secondary market showed little price movements, compared with the previous quarter and the year before.

SkyWorld Development Sdn Bhd is all set to launch Tower A of Bennington Residences on Nov 5. The condominium project, which comprises two 40-storey towers, is located within the RM2.49 billion 28-acre SkyArena development in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur.