Kuala lumpur: Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has urged all parties to await an official announcement on the progress of the Perak-Penang Water Project agreement, which is expected to be made soon, including the signing of the agreement. Chow, who is also chairman of the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP), said he was unable to disclose further details at this stage as the matter must first be announced to Bursa Malaysia in accordance with the requirements for listed companies.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, PBA Holdings Bhd (PBAHB) is a listed company, and the protocol requires informing Bursa Malaysia about significant business developments. Chow emphasized the standard procedure for notifying Bursa whenever there are major developments. He was addressing queries related to Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad's statement about the temporary postponement of the raw water supply agreement signing after Penang requested more time for review.
The Perak-Penang Water Project is a strategic initiative designed to facilitate the transfer of raw and treated water, addressing the increasing water demand in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia, and supporting both domestic and industrial needs in Penang.
In another development, Chow announced that the long-delayed development project at Taman Manggis, Jalan Burma, which has been stalled since 2020, will resume without any changes to the original plan. Construction works are expected to commence soon, following a meeting with developer Kuala Lumpur International Dental Care Sdn Bhd (KLIDC) and the state government on July 8.
KLIDC has received approval for the Building Plan and Permission to Commence Work (COW) from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), based on the planning permission granted on March 19, 2019. The project, a 21-storey mixed development, includes a hospital, hotel, mechanical parking facility, and other amenities, aligning with the Request for Proposal (RFP) conditions approved in 2019.
Work on the site initially began in 2020 but faced suspension due to various constraints such as disruptions in the supply chain for construction materials, labour shortages, rising costs, and financing challenges. Previously, Penang Gerakan chairman Oh Tong Keong had urged the state government to clarify the status of the land, which had remained idle and undeveloped.