Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (KOMTAR) | Georgetown, Pulau Pinang (Penang Island) [Archive]

nazrey

June 16th, 2007, 09:47 AM

Upgrading work on Komtar soon
Friday June 15, 2007
By BERNARD SEE
TheStar

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2007/6/15/north/komta.jpg

Better surveillance:Security guards manning the
CCTV control room in Komtar yesterday.

Komtar will be restored to its former glory with a RM10mil upgrading works to be carried out over the next few months.

Penang Development Corporation (PDC) senior assistant manager (Pro-perty Division) Roslan Hassan said additional lighting would be installed and new tiles would also be laid on the entrances at Penang Road and Lebuh Tek Soon.

“Work on the toilets has already started while the upgrading of the car parks would start soon. The level three concourse would also be given a major facelift.

“We expect the upgrading works, which would bring new life to the state's main landmark, to be completed by the first quarter of next year,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Roslan said allegations that Komtar was now “old and tired” were not true as a majority of the 600-odd shop lots were still occupied and the office block was 90% taken up.

“We have had many enquiries about the remaining 10% units. Telekom Malaysia Bhd recently took up the entire 58th floor to be used as its northern region call centre.”

PDC Setia Urus chief executive officer Ori Dan, who was also at the conference, said shoppers' safety was of utmost importance and they recently upgraded their CCTV system.

“We also have 32 security guards working on three shifts round the clock. A recent allegation by a wo-man that she was gang-raped in the men’s toilet on the third floor turned out to be false.

Komtar Co-ordination Committee chairman Lim Gim Soon said meetings were held monthly with the traders to hear their problems and ideas.

“I have told them that they needed to change business plans if they wanted to attract the upscale youths to the mall. They must have the latest gadgets and apparel for sale.

“I have also urged Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon to turn Komtar into a cyber centre within three years,” he told reporters after the conference.

Lim, who is also Komtar assemblyman, said the lack of visitors to Komtar was because there was no replacement after Super Komtar de-partmental store wound up a few years ago.

TYW

June 17th, 2007, 12:48 PM

anyone seen any renders?? i can't wait to critic the makeover :D

Geminian

June 18th, 2007, 01:37 AM

Remember to post some pics of it mates.Me too, criticism is a way of improvement hahaha

cooltemper

September 6th, 2007, 02:56 AM

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/2219/dscn3833zb5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

cooltemper

September 6th, 2007, 02:58 AM

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/2977/dscn3835gn6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

nazrey

October 11th, 2007, 12:09 AM

nazrey

October 20th, 2007, 12:05 PM

Not too late for Komtar
Friday October 19, 2007
By ANDREA FILMER
TheStar

http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2007/10/19/north/not.jpg

The Komtar tower in Penang.

This is the view of one of the Komtar To-wer’s original architects Datuk Seri Lim Chong Keat.

“Komtar, which was all built by local contractors and local consultants, is something Penang is and can be proud of,” Lim said in an interview.

“What Komtar requires now is to be constantly improved and refurbished with the aid of good management to promote it as an urban centre.”

Lim, who designed the Komtar tower 21 years ago, hopes the project can be revitalised to serve the community more effectively.

The tower, Lim added, was proposed as a one-stop-centre for public services that incorporated local, state and federal departments.

“We wanted the people occupying the buil-ding to be able to look down and see the full extent of their responsibilities,” he said.

He added that making the tower accessible to the public in such a fashion was also a symbol of transparency for the authorities.

“Through this project, we wanted to keep public spaces alive and bubbling with culture,” Lim said.

The Komtar project was conceived in the early 1960s due to the need of an urban centre for the renewal of George Town.

It was launched in 1974 and to date, two of the originally planned five phases have been completed.

Lim was part of an architectural firm called Jurubena Bertiga International who were ap-pointed as special consultants to the then City Council of George Town.

Along with officers from the council and state government, a team was put together called the Central Area Planning Unit (CAPU).

CAPU’s objectives included a conservation strategy to save some of the old city as well as focusing development in a central area that could be linked to the major highway system of the island, Lim added.

A strategic 11-hectare site was identified for the project after extensive planning studies on the land were carried out.

“Originally, there was also a proposed jetty as a feature,” Lim said.

Public amenities including the geodesic dome at the base of the tower were built to provide the people with facilities for sports, exhibitions and the performing arts, he ad-ded.

nazrey

December 8th, 2007, 02:35 PM

Proposal for school in Komtar
2007/12/08
NewStraitTimes

GEORGE TOWN: Imagine Komtar tower being turned into a Chinese secondary school.

This is the proposal by Komtar state assemblyman Datuk Lim Gim Soon to bring the once-popular tower back to its glory days by turning it into a school.

"At the moment, there are no Chinese secondary schools in the inner city. By turning Komtar into a school, students living in town need not have to travel far to study," he said.

He said only three storeys of the 65-storey tower need to be turned into a school.

Komtar, which houses many government offices and has a large area of retail space, has seen a decline in fortunes over the years.
Many traders have since closed their businesses or moved elsewhere as new shopping complexes have sprung up in the state.

"There are many empty shoplots around and these lots can be easily turned into classrooms.

"I have spoken to the state government and I hope they will seriously consider it."

He claimed that many of the traders were agreeable to his proposal and had hoped that it would materialise as soon as possible.

"They supported the move as they felt the more people come to Komtar, the better it will be for Komtar as well as their businesses," he said.

proud_penangite

December 8th, 2007, 05:22 PM

what? save the retail industry in komtar instead of turning komtar into school. this is ridiculous..

taro_80

December 10th, 2007, 03:58 AM

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h137/jamesarkoss/Komtar_5.jpg
QUOTE]

the jet is add one one or originate flying through?

[QUOTE=nazrey;12936943]by Sails in the sunset

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/149814666_60cb20613b_b.jpg

this awsome...hardrock cafe hav motorbike on top the roof...this one hav rickshaw:lol:

Arkdriver

December 10th, 2007, 06:15 AM

holy cow where did you get the jet photo taro? superb. i think it's hornet. based in butterworth rmaf.

turning komtar into a chinese school is a decent idea but if i were the authority i would turn them into a college or business school instead, or an IT Mall. Komtar cant compete in retail anymore. Prangin Mall next door, then Times Square across the street, i think it's time to change.

taro_80

December 10th, 2007, 09:06 AM

Pablo

December 11th, 2007, 08:11 AM

A school....?????....OMG...i always wish it turn into hotel.

proud_penangite

December 11th, 2007, 10:58 AM

A school....?????....OMG...i always wish it turn into hotel.

me too!!!! hotel is a great idea!!

TYW

December 14th, 2007, 08:57 AM

^^ actually i think turn it into a haunted complex will be cool. world's biggest haunted house!! :okay:

taro_80

December 14th, 2007, 09:50 AM

^^ then it will become 2nd tallest hotel in ther world after BURJ AL ARAB HOTEL (321metres)

Irwin

December 18th, 2007, 10:03 AM

by rescue dog

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd216/jegelsker99/1287542734_4a4cfe5f6e_o.jpg

TYW

December 22nd, 2007, 09:58 AM

^^ OMG!!! so Ah Beng!!!

wonder when was that taken??? normally KOMTAR is as dark as a black hole...

fairul

December 23rd, 2007, 07:24 AM

^^ then it will become 2nd tallest hotel in ther world after BURJ AL ARAB HOTEL (321metres)

correct me if wrong..but komtar is slightly around 200++ meters...almost the same as Singapore's Stamford...how can it be the second tallest hotel in the world..

even Bangkok's Baiyoke at the height of 300++ m, not the tallest hotel in the world..

liping_t

December 25th, 2007, 10:10 PM

^^ actually i think turn it into a haunted complex will be cool. world's biggest haunted house!! :okay:

HAHA ! Excellent idea!!!

Venycal

December 25th, 2007, 11:42 PM

:weird: turning part of KOMTAR into a chinese secondary school is weird.....for me personally this a bad idea......turning it into a Hotel/College is still acceptable.......but hell no to school......even they manage to set up a Smart School........I dont think it will improve the situation there.......in fact it will worsen the traffic situation in that area.....

If I had all the money.......I would demolish that 'soon-to-be-dead'/'already dead' Prangin Mall and build a huge park on it......the problem with inner-Georgetown is that it lacks of green and water.......and another reason on why I would demolish Prangin Mall is that the design and the floorplan is horrible and has too many things that needed to be corrected......and of course a major revamp for Komtar and Gama would do well for that area

Venycal

December 25th, 2007, 11:55 PM

^^and if it's possible I would build an underground carpark under the park to solve the parking issue.......and of course after demolishing Prangin Mall......we can improve the traffic there

Pablo

December 26th, 2007, 03:26 AM

^^Prangin Mall still maintain the crowd, i don’t think it is going to de dead so soon. Prangin Mall is one of the malls in penang for the lower to middle class ppl, it will still attract shoppers and of course tourist as it is the tourist spot. If I hv money I wouldn’t demolish it, but i'll maintain it well, the only problem that prangin mall facing is its maintenance, organisation of the shop lots and lack of parking space. Think of what are u going to do after demolish it? Rebuilt all those pre-war houses? They are no longer original if u does so. A park? Great idea but still it is not worth. What hv been done is done, an excellent maintenance is indeed for the Penang landmark to return with its glory. It will still become one of the famous shopping mall in Malaysia like when it is first built. By demolishing it will only brings another disappointment. The disappointment that we felt when all the pre-war houses give way to Komtar.

Venycal

December 26th, 2007, 05:29 AM

I, on the other hand, think the mall will soon out latter lose its crowds like what had happened to Bj Complex.....the thing is Prangin Mall is already half-dead......the part with the Prangin's main anchor tenant barely has any crowd......the other side of it is ok......but will it maintain the crowd for the next ten years?......I dont think so......because the design of the mall is not good......the main atrium is too wide and too big.....and it's too dark.....I dont think lighting will help to improve the situation.....remember Berjaya Times Square?.....The atrium is too tall and and it is fully covered but at least it has a better lightning......so does it help???I don think so.....as you can see the upper floor has not much of stores and we barely can see any crowd there.....
For now, all malls should have designs in which it allows natural sunlight to penetrate if they wanted to build a huge atrium......of course the atrium shouldn't be too big/too tall.....

Venycal

December 26th, 2007, 05:32 AM

And it's not only about the atrium......the floorplan of the mall has problem as well.....remember the shoplots between the two atriums?.....it is too isolated.....I bet you remember it did happened to Gurney Plaza before.....remember the part where MPH was located before the renovation?....the walkway that connected the two atrium had quite a number of shops.....still there weren't many crowd.....why?It's the design.....architect should not only design 'nice buildings' but it has to connect with the humans behaviour as well :cool:

Pablo

December 26th, 2007, 06:12 AM

agree with u that the floor plan of prangin mall has problems and it makes the part with the Prangin's main anchor tenant barely has any crowd. There isnt has much shops open there, do u know why? as most of the shop lots has turn into their store room. Besides, as i mention earlier the bad organisation of the shop lots is 1 of the reason that bring down the mall, they should hv allocated the food and beverage corner, the fashion corner and the entertainment corner well. The lighting, no doubt, play an important role and the idea of an atrium with natural sunlight penetrate in has been used to most of the new malls recently, but Prangin was designed long ago, b4 gurney plaza, b4 BJ...so we cant expect more. But all these mistakes can be corrected, rather than demolish it. Better maintenance will determine how far this mall can go, take an example of sungei wang...well, it dosent hav nice floor plan, atrium that bring sunlight but look at the way they maintain it, still it is always pack with youngster. We cant demolish the only 1 mall ( if want to take it as serious count ) in penang where we can get cheap stuff and funny cloths...demolish it means ruin the city centre of penang as Prangin is the only attraction.

Venycal

December 26th, 2007, 06:14 AM

Venycal

December 26th, 2007, 06:20 AM

^^Oo.....I have totally forgotten about Sungei Wang.....now I have only realized I have not visited one of the most popular shopping complex in Malaysia :bash:

Pablo

December 26th, 2007, 06:20 AM

so it will take hell lot of work to improve Prangin Mall and its surrounding.....
for me "IF" I had all the money.....I would just demolish the building and build a better one or even a park :nuts: :crazy:

But of course there will be other alternatives......just need a little extra effort :grouphug:......for me....for a long term plan and to bring back the long time lost glory of Komtar......sacrifices is needed.....especially this $$$$ :hahaha:

a better mall should be the one that under construction now, Lion Mutiara Parade. Learn the mistakes from the Prangin and stupid Komtar, then comes out with an outstanding mall. Let wish it wont bring us down...

hmm...Lion Mutiara Parade...wondering, will it has Lion statue around this mall :D:D:D

Venycal

December 26th, 2007, 06:33 AM

I do really hope Prangin will at least get a major revamp.....the design can be change slightly.....expand the walkway in the main atrium......and after expanding the walkway and the main atrium got shrink down......I think it might be possible to build the roof that allows penetration of natural sunlight(sorry I have no idea what's that called).....and yea.....just like what you have pointed out......reorganize everything.......

Venycal

December 26th, 2007, 07:05 AM

a better mall should be the one that under construction now, Lion Mutiara Parade. Learn the mistakes from the Prangin and stupid Komtar, then comes out with an outstanding mall. Let wish it wont bring us down...

hmm...Lion Mutiara Parade...wondering, will it has Lion statue around this mall :D:D:D

and after hearing the word 'Lion'....Robinsons from Singapore came to Penang :lol:

Honestly I see a 'hidden' potential in this area.......the retail in this area is not dead yet......just need a little bit of touch up......

Imagine this......
the shophouses between Penang Times Square and GAMA turn into a street like Parco Bugis Junction in Singapore which is a glass-covered air-conditioned shopping street......and build a link from GAMA/'The street' to Komtar......and from Komtar you have links to Prangin and Lion Mutiara Parade......tada......you will have this nice huge area with easy access for you to shop......

And of course.....
GAMA - will cater families/medium low income
Penang Times Square - Teenagers/Medium high income family
Lion Mutiara Parade - Medium high income family
Prangin - Medium income family
'The Street' - where you get all the best local souvenirs/great for tourists
Komtar - I personally wanted this area to be the absolute best.....I think it's possible to turn this complex to cater high income family......some might think that it doesn't look grand at all......because of the low level ceiling and the board(I cant think of a better word to use-the one where the shop's name is placed)looks small......but they can always change the design.....instead of placing it on top of the of the entrance......they can always place it beside it which they can make a better design leaving the top empty.....this I believe will make the place looks classier and not too short :)

Venycal

December 26th, 2007, 07:17 AM

and yeah.......to bring its former glory........the area needs to have a distinctive places where the people cant find it in GurneyPlaza/Queensbay/the upcoming GurneyParagon/PGCC.......

Presently what we have.....
1 - tallest building in Penang
2 - cineplex(too common/need a better one)hopefully we can see a better one in Penang Times Square
3 - Popular bookstore(too common)
4 - I heard there is a bowling alley there.....not so sure.....
5 - Multipurpose Hall

Venycal

December 26th, 2007, 07:22 AM

What they can have as an extra credit.....
1 - Move the Toy Museum from Batu Ferringgi this area
2 - A huge green park
3 - Bowling Alley
4 - Snow House
5 - Ice Skating Rink
6 - Rock Climbing
7 - Theme Park
8 - IMAX Theater
9 - .......

Any suggestions???

Arkdriver

December 26th, 2007, 10:41 AM

yeah toy museum should be moved there. For Komtar, i would like to suggest to turn it into a hotel..a 5 star hotel. And all the shoplots to be reorganised and turned into restaurants instead. It will attract crowds.

But hotel patrons will not like bus station there. With big office space the hotel room could be huge indeed. First 20 floor for hotel and the remaining for service apartment.

Shangri-La KOMTAR. hahaha since the shangri la next door already change name to traders hotel.

Pablo

December 26th, 2007, 11:36 AM

We can have a lot of nice ideas...and we all always wish that they can do this and do that...these are all our dreams...but, comes to our government, they are too ''efficient'' and too ''clever'' to make our dreams come true...

For the IMAX theather, penang cant have it, even in KL..the IMAX is not doing well...A snow house is great, but it is just temporary attract ppl, after a few months u'll c no1....i always wish penang will have the ice skating rink again, and i always think that many ppl will like it. But look at the roller 1 in QB...the crowd is so much lesser than the first few months it open. So, i'm wondering, penang need an ice skating rink or not.

Venycal

December 26th, 2007, 01:26 PM

^^For the IMAX Theater, I think it could do well if only big blockbusters like Harry Potter/Transformer/Superman Returns were released into IMAX version in Malaysia.....in the States they have these big blockbusters in IMAX.....but in Malaysia.....most of the time all you can get is Animation like Open Season that does not worth to watch in IMAX Theater at all :ohno: and now they only have Aliens Vs Predator2 :ohno:

I was kinda surprise to find out that the IMAX ticket only cost RM15 for adults
I thought it would be like RM35++ :nuts:

Venycal

December 26th, 2007, 02:06 PM

I Am Legend was released in IMAX version in the United States but again here we only get to watch Alien Vs Predator2 :ohno:

Last weekend I Am Legend opened at $USD613,822 in 66 theater in Malaysia.....
meaning each theater received an average grossing number of $USD9,300 in merely three days......of course half of that will go back to the studio.....
still.....IMAX Kl had miss all the fun.....

Other crazy blockbusters that would do well in IMAX but IMAX Kl did not released them/Movies with IMAX version......
Beowulf
Opening Weekend- $USD373,680
Theater Count- 41
Average Per Theater- $USD9,114
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Opening Weekend- $USD1,147,046
Theater count- 100
Average- $USD11,470
Spider-Man 3
OW- $USD1,544,778
TC- 110
Average- $USD14,043

proud_penangite

December 26th, 2007, 05:02 PM

and after hearing the word 'Lion'....Robinsons from Singapore came to Penang :lol:

Honestly I see a 'hidden' potential in this area.......the retail in this area is not dead yet......just need a little bit of touch up......

Imagine this......
the shophouses between Penang Times Square and GAMA turn into a street like Parco Bugis Junction in Singapore which is a glass-covered air-conditioned shopping street......and build a link from GAMA/'The street' to Komtar......and from Komtar you have links to Prangin and Lion Mutiara Parade......tada......you will have this nice huge area with easy access for you to shop......

And of course.....
GAMA - will cater families/medium low income
Penang Times Square - Teenagers/Medium high income family
Lion Mutiara Parade - Medium high income family
Prangin - Medium income family
'The Street' - where you get all the best local souvenirs/great for tourists
Komtar - I personally wanted this area to be the absolute best.....I think it's possible to turn this complex to cater high income family......some might think that it doesn't look grand at all......because of the low level ceiling and the board(I cant think of a better word to use-the one where the shop's name is placed)looks small......but they can always change the design.....instead of placing it on top of the of the entrance......they can always place it beside it which they can make a better design leaving the top empty.....this I believe will make the place looks classier and not too short :)

ur idea is totally hot!

cooltemper

December 27th, 2007, 07:11 AM

I hope IKEA will take over Komtar.

travellator

December 28th, 2007, 04:50 AM

sasaumau

December 28th, 2007, 05:05 AM

Venycal

December 28th, 2007, 05:12 AM

FYI IMAX KL is showing 'I am legend' :)

Oo....I see....my mistake....I have no idea about the showings in IMAX Kl because they do not have their own website....so basically I only get to know about the screening from the ad they published in newspapers....but for the last few weeks....I only saw ads for AVP2-IMAX....

proud_penangite

December 28th, 2007, 01:12 PM

Irwin

December 28th, 2007, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by sasaumau

Georgetown sebenarnya tidak memiliki kapasiti sama ada dari segi saiz mahu pun sumber untuk menjadi sehebat Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Johor Bharu mahupun Shah Alam. Keempat-empat bandar ini jauh lebih baik dari segi prasarana sama ada jalanraya, pengangkutan awam, peluang pekerjaan mahu pun kediaman. Jika dilihat dari prospek pembangunan masa depan, keempat-empat bandar yang dinyatakan mempunyai jumlah keluasan tanah yang luas untuk dibangunkan. Keadaan menjadi amat berbeza di Georgetown apabila masalah pembangunan bukan sahaja berkait rapat dengan faktor geografinya tetapi juga penentangan dari penduduk.

Selain harga tanah yang mahal, masalah akses dari tanah besar juga memainkan peranan. Georgetown untuk beberapa tahun akan datang akan hanya mempunyai tiga akses iaitu Jambatan Pulau Pinang, Jambatan Kedua dan perkhidmatan feri. Keadaan ini amat berbeza dengan bandar-bandar lain yang mempunyai akses jalan raya dari pelbagai arah.

Sesungguhnya masalah harga tanah yang mahal berikutan saiznya yang kecil, jumlah kediaman yang terhad, peluang pekerjaan yang terhad serta kesukaran membina lebuhraya yang baik telah menjadikan Georgetown tidak mesra untuk didiami. Segala kekurangan ini telah berjaya dimanipulasi sebaiknya oleh bandar-bandar lain di Malaysia untuk menarik perhatian masyarakat.

Suka atau tidak, itulah hakikat yang harus diterima.

Erm...mengapa Georgetown dipilih sebagai salah satu daripada 10 Bandaraya yang Paling Sesuai Untuk didiami di Asia (Most Liveable City in Asia) pada tahun 2007?

Mengapa Georgetown diundi pada kedudukan ke-6 pada tahun 1998 dan ke-9 pada tahun 2000 sebagai salah sebuah Bandaraya Paling Baik di Asia (Asia Best City) oleh Asiaweek?

Mengapa Hong Kong boleh berkembang begitu maju sebagai huh kewangan dan pelabuhan antarabangsa? Geografi Hong Kong adalah lebih kurang sama dengan Pulau Pinang dengan pusat bandarayanya terletak di sebuah pulau kecil (Pulau Hong Kong) seperti Georgetown di Pulau Pinang?

proud_penangite

December 28th, 2007, 04:51 PM

nak tahu kenapa?
sebab mereka yang tidak tahu tentang Pulau Pinang secara mendalam.
that's why. Jangan terkejut apabila kamu melihat Pulau Pinang 10 tahun yang akan datang. Pulau Pinang berpotensi menjadi seperti Singapura, Hong Kong dan mungkin Kuala Lumpur juga.

cooltemper

December 29th, 2007, 03:43 AM

Have you personally come and visit Penang, Mr Sasaumau?
I think with all the project gearing up, the next ten years will be golden year for Penang.
Bear in mind, JB is so developed because of Government Fund...
PG and PJ are kinda of self development with lots of private projects.

KL no need to said already lar, all the money are pour to them, If Jalan Sungai Besi is jammed, then government come out with a brilliant idea to construct a underground road for the KLites...

But if Penang is jammed or even PG bridge is collapsed, government will only ask you to use ferry lor, cause the 2nd bridge still a long away to be completed.

Wheras JB is always BN strong hold, so fund will always be there. SOmemore sometimes got big plan like Crook Banana Bridge...

Arkdriver

December 29th, 2007, 05:01 AM

macam yang abang sasau cakap georgetown mungkin tak cukup tanah, kurang shopping kompleks, tak happening dan sebagainya tapi aku rasakan yang orang2 penang tak pernah pun nak rasa macam tu sebab orang penang mmg shopping kat georgetown pun. Kalau nak bandingkan mmg la georgetown tu ada komtar ngan prangin mall sahaja tapi betul ke bandar2 lain orang nilai dari segi "city proper" maknanya JB dalam JB sahaja, bukan kawasan lain macam skudai, tebrau, pasir gudang etc. Petaling Jaya pulak, ada ke orang berbangga dengan akses tapak asal petaling jaya yang penuh kilang2, orang pergi shopping kat ikea, mutiara damansara dan area2 sekitar. Petaling jaya proper tu ada apa sangat. KL tak payah cakap laa...mmg capital Malaysia.

Maybe abang sasau komen based on Georgetown proper sahaja, excluding other area Bayan Lepas Bayan Baru gurney drive batu feringghi tanjung tokong batu gantong ayer itam jelutong etc. Dah nama pun pulau, macam mana nak ada akses lain lagi, jambatan kedua pun terhegeh2 nak buat, feri pulak lembap ngan jambatan yang sedia ada pun asyik sesak, Georgetown is still doing good. Penangites love Penang. Come and live in Penang Island and see the difference. It's indeed a good place to live. Cannot compare to other cities la especially KL and PJ.

I suka your comment. At least we can explain what we think otherwise. JB has good public transport? Teksi je boleh, bas mmg haprak. JB has good kediaman? Boleh explain kot harga rumah/tanah kat JB ngan Penang mana lebih competitive? Peluang pekerjaan? Habis tu kilang2 kat bayan lepas prai bukit tengah tu tak pakai orang ke?

Abang sasau mungkin compare berapa ramai mat/minah kilang je kot sebagai tanda aras peluang pekerjaan yang ada. JB mmg lah banyak mat2 minah2 kilang, sebab kat Penang ni dah tak lagi focus industry yang labor intensive. Ish ish ish, kalau tak banyak peluang pekerjaan kat Penang ni takkan lah airport penang ni yang kedua tersibuk dari segi jumlah kargo udara yang diproses. Nak banding senai airport? Qatar Airways cargo je yang international, yang lain tak pernah dengar pun. Tu pun 3-4 kali je seminggu. tak tahulah kalau dah daily sekarang.

For PJ and KL, they are slightly better than Penang (not georgetown). No point arguing with that.

Abang sasau, welcome to SSC....

TYW

December 29th, 2007, 11:22 AM

Georgetown sebenarnya tidak memiliki kapasiti sama ada dari segi saiz mahu pun sumber untuk menjadi sehebat Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Johor Bharu mahupun Shah Alam. Keempat-empat bandar ini jauh lebih baik dari segi prasarana sama ada jalanraya, pengangkutan awam, peluang pekerjaan mahu pun kediaman. Jika dilihat dari prospek pembangunan masa depan, keempat-empat bandar yang dinyatakan mempunyai jumlah keluasan tanah yang luas untuk dibangunkan. Keadaan menjadi amat berbeza di Georgetown apabila masalah pembangunan bukan sahaja berkait rapat dengan faktor geografinya tetapi juga penentangan dari penduduk.

Selain harga tanah yang mahal, masalah akses dari tanah besar juga memainkan peranan. Georgetown untuk beberapa tahun akan datang akan hanya mempunyai tiga akses iaitu Jambatan Pulau Pinang, Jambatan Kedua dan perkhidmatan feri. Keadaan ini amat berbeza dengan bandar-bandar lain yang mempunyai akses jalan raya dari pelbagai arah.

Sesungguhnya masalah harga tanah yang mahal berikutan saiznya yang kecil, jumlah kediaman yang terhad, peluang pekerjaan yang terhad serta kesukaran membina lebuhraya yang baik telah menjadikan Georgetown tidak mesra untuk didiami. Segala kekurangan ini telah berjaya dimanipulasi sebaiknya oleh bandar-bandar lain di Malaysia untuk menarik perhatian masyarakat.

Suka atau tidak, itulah hakikat yang harus diterima.

What sasaumau said is actually true to some extent. While other island cities are able to expand vertically and also horizontally to neighbouring land masses, being networked with a perfect web of public transport system and be a centre of economic activities, Penang seems to be stagnant. this might be because of it's low population - thus lower demand for development, coupled with the constant complaints about new projects and the inefficiency of the government. to prove this, simply ask these questions: which projects are actually applauded by Penangites? and how many of those projects have started? Where is PORR? where is Penang Monorail?

i guess this will still go on for a very long time until some things change - the planning, the people and the silly politics.

Venycal

December 29th, 2007, 11:49 AM

Arkdriver

December 30th, 2007, 05:48 AM

Georgetown itself is a disgrace. I took his comment as a view about georgetown not the whole Penang Island. I am myself a staunch critics when it comes to new projects especially government infrastructure. PGCC? still in debate with local,selfish, horse lovers, punters and so called environmentalist residents of batu gantong who'd rather see people destroying themselves with horse gambling enjoyed by certain people rather than building new city center for Penang which can give spillover effects to the whole economy.

Venycal

December 30th, 2007, 11:04 AM

Telus. Jujur. Ikhlas. :puke:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2208/2147944919_8b3a1ea971_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2361/2148729140_db5e489580_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2207/2148728986_b80bcb242d_o.jpg

Venycal

December 30th, 2007, 11:08 AM

More pics....
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2180/2148739034_84aee3e288_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2323/2147945167_9a4a82e5b8_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2155/2148738934_2a8330b998_o.jpg

Lion Mutiara Parade Site???
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2065/2147935427_c960abe391_o.jpg

Ethaniel83

December 30th, 2007, 11:26 AM

I think what he meant was other cities in Malaysia have the potential to develop and surpass Georgetown in the future if our Penang government do not start to do anything. I was rather disturb when I saw the situation in Komtar and its surrounding.....there are beggars everywhere.....words cannot describe how I felt at that time when I saw an old chinese grandma just lying there.....it's like she's waiting to die.....and there are tons of them in the fifth floor foodcourt......when will our government help these people?

And yeah read this article.....it's very interesting.....
http://www-cgi.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/97/0905/nat5.html

The article in Asiaweek magazine dated 5-9-97, means 10 years ago. The magazine had stopped its publishing in 2001. Btw if we want to look back, Geogetown once ranked 7th best Asian City by Asiaweek, ahead of KL which in at 8th place ^^

here the source
http://www-cgi.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/features/asiacities/ac1999/data/list.html

Venycal

December 30th, 2007, 03:38 PM

I do really hope Dato Seri Koh Tsu Koon will at least do something major for Georgetown before he leaves.....

I'm hoping for a massive revival project for Komtar and its surrounding

And most importantly,
Gain back our long lost Free Port Status

Venycal

December 30th, 2007, 04:06 PM

I searched the net for quite some time on why Penang's Free Port Status was revoked in 1969. Sadly to say I couldn't find anything. I'm wondering whether this has anything to do with the 13th May incident. Because it occurred in the same year. The unemployment rate at that time shoot up to 16%++ in Penang after the status was revoked. And to deal with this matter our Tun Dato Seri Lim Chong Eu set up the first FTZ in Penang......that's the only info that I get from the net.....

But according to my dad, he said Tun Dato Seri Lim wanted FTZ in Penang but the PM at that time only allowed Penang to have either Free Port Status or Free Trade Zone.......so our Tun picked FTZ and now it is one of the largest electronic manufacturing bases in Asia.

And after seeing the success of Penang's industrialization, many states in Malaysia follow what Penang did......so Penang is no longer the only states which has FTZ.......and of course this gives a direct hit to Penang......so we Penangites should be given back our Free Port Status to really revive Georgetown as one of the major powerhouse in Asia

From there I have no doubt Georgetown will regain its former glory :)

Venycal

December 30th, 2007, 04:09 PM

I'm not sure whether u guys have heard of this rumour before.......it's about Intel......
I heard they said Intel might move its whole plant from the Island to Kulim......
of course this is just a rumour.......

Arkdriver

December 31st, 2007, 06:12 AM

dont really know, but if they do it will have little effect since shipping of chips will be done through Penang airport anyway and all the engineers are likely to maintain their residence in penang. They are likely to move out to Kulim but RnD facility will stay there.

nazrey

April 6th, 2008, 08:34 AM

Bringing life back to Komtar
Sunday April 6, 2008
By DAVID TAN
TheStar

PENANG:The state government will "restore" life to Komtar and for a start, the podium will be refurbished before the end of the year, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said.

He said there was a need to rejuvenate Komtar, which was opened to the public in 1974, in view of its strategic position as the “heart” of the state govern- ment.

“We will restore life to Komtar and make it dynamic. This is an integral part of our plan to revitalise George Town.

“This plan includes relooking into what we can do with the heritage trail located in inner George Town, Fort Cornwallis and Suffolk House which is being planned as a museum to show- case Penang’s heritage and his- tory.

“Most of Komtar is already occu-pied. We need now to look into putting life back,” he said in an interview.

Lim added that the agreement with The Store Corp Bhd had to be renegotiated.

In March, the previous state administration signed a rental agreement with The Store Corp Bhd for its RM15mil supermarket and department store to be located in Komtar.

Lim added that the state government was also exploring the setting up of an interna- tional exposition centre at the present Pesta site in Sungai Ni- bong.

“Besides the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA), we need to have another centre for exhibition purposes.

“The plan is also to have a food and beverage complex to showcase the well known local delicalicies at the site,” he said.

khensthoth

April 6th, 2008, 04:11 PM

Sorry for the unflattering photographs. It was taken using my camera phone, on 27/12/2007.

http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/8413/image053bp4.jpg
Ceiling of one of the toilets in ground floor, near the bus station

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9474/image054ed8.jpg
Extremely dirty information board, with the previous (failed) bus revamp notice still intact.

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9224/penang000oi6.jpg
The sorry state of the integrated bus station, notice the total emptiness of the stores in the background.

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/8458/penang001gp0.jpg
Lane 1 and 2, dedicated to RapidPenang. On a side note, why would people buy food or eat at the stores (in the background), where carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide fumes are overwhelming?

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/9419/penang002uf4.jpg
Well, self-explanatory.

proud_penangite

April 6th, 2008, 06:06 PM

omg!!! KOMTAR makin teruk!!!

cooltemper

April 7th, 2008, 03:36 AM

Today headline in Kwong Hwa newspaper - Ex Garment Spent RM10mil to renovate or repair 7 toilets.

OMG, RM10mil for 7 toilets? I think can built new one already.

khensthoth

April 7th, 2008, 03:40 AM

A ‘new’ Komtar by June next year
Wednesday October 10, 2007
TheStar

Upgrading work on Komtar will be completed by June next year, Penang Development Corporation (PDC) general manager Rosli Jaafar said.

He said the RM10mil upgrading work project was awarded to three contractors.

The upgrading was aimed at transforming Komtar into an attractive shopping complex, he said.

“Three parties are interested in renting the vacant space previously occupied by Super Komtar Departmental Store but priority will be given to retailers,” said Rosli.

The upgrading work involves the construction of new toilets, a facelift for the three-level concourse car park and putting up of additional lights and new tiles at the entrances at Penang Road and Lebuk Tek Soon.

Speaking to reporters during a charity event at Sunshine Square yesterday, he said that the vacant space would not be leased out to offices.

Saw that headline too cooltemper. However, if we refer back to the older post (news article), we can see the 10 million is for "the upgrading work involves the construction of new toilets, a facelift for the three-level concourse car park and putting up of additional lights and new tiles at the entrances at Penang Road and Lebuk Tek Soon."

I am not trying to defend the old government. I merely want to see what these contractors come up with in June this year.

Magician

April 7th, 2008, 08:54 AM

Today headline in Kwong Hwa newspaper - Ex Garment Spent RM10mil to renovate or repair 7 toilets.

OMG, RM10mil for 7 toilets? I think can built new one already.

Erm... can build dunno how many onesssss with RM10MIL

cooltemper

April 7th, 2008, 11:53 AM

Saw that headline too cooltemper. However, if we refer back to the older post (news article), we can see the 10 million is for "the upgrading work involves the construction of new toilets, a facelift for the three-level concourse car park and putting up of additional lights and new tiles at the entrances at Penang Road and Lebuk Tek Soon."

I am not trying to defend the old government. I merely want to see what these contractors come up with in June this year.

Yes, i had read the article, the 10mil is just for 7 toilets. And according to Kwong Wah, Rm10mil had been spent. Not left even a single cent. :bash:

cooltemper

April 7th, 2008, 11:54 AM

Erm... can build dunno how many onesssss with RM10MIL

Ya lo, maybe can built to auto toilet already, like the one in Bukit Bintang area.

khensthoth

April 7th, 2008, 05:27 PM

Well, Kwong Wah news again. The former political secretary to the former Chief Minister said the new political secretary to YAB Lim Guan Eng, Ng Wei Aik shouldn't sound like the opposition now that they are in power. He said they should have researched on the issue and gather the information correctly before making such statement.

He also said that this issue was discussed in a previous state assembly meeting, and that the RM 10 mil is for a lot of development, not just the toilet. Searching through the records, this is what I have found (in Malay though):

MESYUARAT KEDUA PENGGAL KEEMPAT
DEWAN UNDANGAN NEGERI PULAU PINANG
YANG KESEBELAS. TAHUN 2007
Soalan Bertulis No. 20w-2
Tarikh : 19 November 2007
ADUN : JM
EXCO : TCY
Perkara : Perdagangan
Tajuk : Ruang Unit Perniagaan di KOMTAR

Apakah langkah-langkah yang telah diambil oleh kerajaan negeri bagi memastikan peniaga-peniaga di KOMTAR terus beroperasi dan tidak
menghadapi masalah sepertimana ketika ini?

Kerajaan menyedari akan kemerosotan Perniagaan di Komtar pada ketika ini. Sehubungan itu pihak PDC pada 9 Januari 2007 telah melantik sebuah syarikat juruperunding profesional iaitu Henry Butcher Malaysia (Penang) Sdn Bhd (Henry Butcher) untuk menjalankan kajian pemulihan Komtar. Ianya merangkumi kajian terhadap masalah yang dihadapi oleh bangunan Komtar pada ketika ini serta punca-puncanya dan strategi serta langkah-langkah yang perlu diambil untuk memulihkan Komtar dan seterusnya menarik kembali para pengunjung.

Henry Butcher telah memasuki fasa kajian seterusnya iaitu ‘Retail Consultancy Plan’ yang akan menggariskan cadangan baru terhadap pelan dalaman susunatur lot-lot perniagaan di kawasan Podium Komtar. Kajian ini dijangka selesai dalam bulan November 2007.

PDC juga baru sahaja berjaya memperolehi kembali milikan kosong (vacant possession) ke atas ruang Super Komtar. Ini berjaya dilakukan selepas kedua-dua pihak merekodkan Penghakiman Persetujuan di mahkamah. Sehubungan itu, dengan selesainya kes mahkamah ini, pihak PDC kini sudah boleh mempergiatkan usaha untuk mendapatkan penyewa yang berminat untuk mengisi ruang tersebut. Pengisian ‘anchor tenant’ ini amat kritikal untuk menjana kembali pengunjung ke Komtar. Di dalam usaha mencari penyewa baru ini, pihak PDC juga telah melantik Henry Butcher untuk memasarkan ruang Super Komtar kepada mana-mana pihak yang berminat. Buat masa ini, pihak PDC dan Henry Butcher telahpun memulakan susulan awal dengan beberapa pihak yang telah menyatakan minat mereka untuk menyewa ruang kosong tersebut. Sehingga kini, terdapat 5 pihak yang telah menyatakan minat mereka.

Dengan minat yang ditunjukkan oleh syarikat-syarikat ini, ianya menunjukkan bahawa walaupun keadaan Komtar dikatakan merosot, sebenarnya terdapat ramai pihak yang masih melihat potensi Komtar ini.

Pihak PDC akan memastikan cadangan yang dikemukakan oleh pemohon ini mestilah berdaya maju dan mampu menarik kembali pengunjung ke Komtar dan seterusnya selari dengan pelan keseluruhan pemulihan Komtar yang dicadangkan oleh Henry Butcher.

PDC juga melaksanakan kerja-kerja menaiktaraf bangunan Komtar yang setakat ini melibatkan kos yang dianggarkan berjumlah RM8.3 juta iaitu sebahagian dari RM10 juta yang telah diperuntukkan. Sekiranya perlu tambahan kos ke atas penambahbaikkan akan dilaksanakan. Kerja-kerja yang terlibat adalah seperti berikut:-

(a) Kerja-kerja Menaiktaraf Pintu Masuk Utama berhampiran Maybank
Ianya merangkumi kerja-kerja menukar siling, mengecat, mengganti kemasan lantai dan pemasangan lampu di kawasan pintu masuk utama berhampiran Maybank sehingga ke kawasan lobi lif. Kerja dijangka bermula pada bulan Disember 2007 dan siap pada April 2008.

(b) Kerja-kerja Menaiktaraf Kawasan Konkos
Kerja-kerja ini melibatkan pertukaran siling, lampu, kemasan dinding dan ‘railing’ di Aras 2 dan 3 Kawasan Konkos. Kerja dijangka bermula pada bulan April 2008 dan siap pada Ogos 2008.

(c) Kerja-kerja Menaiktaraf Pintu Masuk VIP dan Tempat Meletak Kereta VIP
Ianya melibatkan kerja-kerja mengecat, memasang kemasan lantai yang baru dan menaiktaraf laluan masuk ke tempat letak kereta VIP. Kerja telah bermula pada Oktober 2007 dan dijangka siap pada bulan Disember 2007.

(d) Kerja-kerja Menaiktaraf Tandas
Kerja-kerja ini melibatkan kerja-kerja menaiktaraf tandas-tandas di Podium Komtar (dari Aras 1 sehingga Aras 5). Kerja sedang berjalan dan dijangka siap sepenuhnya pada bulan Mac 2008.

Selain daripada itu, pihak PDC juga menjalankan kerja-kerja Mekanikal dan Elektrikal (M&E). Ianya melibatkan kerja-kerja ke atas ‘chiller’ di Paras 5 dan Paras 1 di Fasa 2B serta 2D Komtar, membaikpulih dan memasang semula komponen CCTV di Fasa 1 dan Fasa 2, memasang ‘Main Wire Rope untuk 2 buah lif di Fasa 1A, Podium Komtar, menukar ‘repeater’ serta menukar ‘rubber gasket’ dan mencuci tingkap di Menara Komtar, kerja-kerja penggantian ‘fire rated cables’ dan ‘busduct’ di Fasa 2B Komtar.

Pada masa ini juga PDC sedang mengkaji untuk menaiktaraf lif-lif di Menara Komtar. Kerja-kerja pencahayaan (lighting) juga akan dikenalpasti di dalam kawasan yang memerlukan penambahbaikan serta hiasan.

Diharapkan dengan usaha PDC untuk mencari ‘anchor tenant’ baru bagi mengisi kembali ruang Super Komtar serta kerja-kerja naiktaraf selaras dengan strategi pemulihan Komtar yang sedang dilakukan oleh PDC ini, akan membantu merancakkan kembali keadaan di Komtar dan seterusnya menarik kembali pengunjung ke sana. Ini kemudiannya akan memberikan kesan limpahan manfaat yang besar kepada para peniaga lain untuk terus mengekalkan perniagaan mereka di Komtar.

proud_penangite

April 7th, 2008, 06:34 PM

i miss the glory days of KOMTAR. seriously!!!

Pablo

April 13th, 2008, 04:02 PM

embarrassing....that is the only word that i can describe komtar

khensthoth

April 13th, 2008, 06:16 PM

embarrassing....that is the only word that i can describe komtar

Exactly.

agent

April 16th, 2008, 10:24 AM

as a property agent in penang,its quiet embarassing,but lets hope the new dap govt can do something to clean up penang to bring it to its former glory

jlshyang

April 17th, 2008, 01:46 AM

i miss the glory days of KOMTAR. seriously!!!

Same here. Good old days. My family and I visit KOMTAR every weekend and have lunch at this particular restaurant called H20 in Super Komtar departmental store every Sunday without fail. :nuts:

proud_penangite

April 17th, 2008, 11:49 AM

^^ yeah i miss that H20 restaurant at Super Komtar also. The food is yummy!!!

forever consern

April 17th, 2008, 04:53 PM

the new shopping mall that currently undergoing construction work, the Lion Mutiara Parade is a joint-venture project between belleview group, lion group and a US based company..hopefully another shopping icon will coming out..

but before that, Penang Times Square comes first

johnsonooi

April 17th, 2008, 05:55 PM

well, let see the new government has the intention to "rejuvenate" the komtar? I am not penangite, but I still miss the those glory memory when i was young! Travelling from AS to Penang by PLUS, you can see the icon at the highway before passing Sg Dua Tol. It was the pride of Penang, but now?

proud_penangite

April 17th, 2008, 06:32 PM

KOMTAR is still our pride. Only the interior is unacceptable! Wah Penang will have so many malls coming up lah... gonna be like Klang Valley one day!

cooltemper

April 18th, 2008, 04:31 AM

I hope Penang won't be like klang valley, a zombie city.

Magician

April 18th, 2008, 05:14 AM

I hope Penang won't be like klang valley, a zombie city.

Well, I think it is unlikely that Penang will ever become a zombie city (but there's still a possibility)... coz still a lot of investors interested in putting their money here...

However, I think our Government, local or central plays a big part in keeping those big money here.

Arkdriver

April 19th, 2008, 05:55 AM

my first pizza hut experience was at KOMTAR....sweet memory

jieloe

April 19th, 2008, 06:07 PM

my first wayang n McD experience was at KOMTAR:):):):):)

proud_penangite

April 19th, 2008, 06:30 PM

mmy first wayang at komtar but mcd at greenlane hehe.. please bring the glory back to KOMTAR

forever consern

April 22nd, 2008, 02:02 PM

the new shopping mall coming up, just besides Prangin Mall

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P4210064.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P4210065.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P4210066.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P4210067.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P4210068.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P4210069.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P4210070.jpg

proud_penangite

April 22nd, 2008, 05:56 PM

no rendering of the mall?

forever consern

April 25th, 2008, 02:57 PM

no rendering of the mall?

what mean by rendering?

proud_penangite

April 25th, 2008, 06:31 PM

rendering is perspective drawing of an architect's design my dear..

forever consern

April 26th, 2008, 06:53 AM

ok.. havent get it, but I think the developer will display it at the site signboard

proud_penangite

April 26th, 2008, 07:40 AM

i hope the design is cooler than queensbay

Magician

April 28th, 2008, 10:57 AM

Why build a new one??? What is the name of the mall...?

How about komtar then?

proud_penangite

April 28th, 2008, 01:00 PM

Lion Mutiara Parade

forever consern

April 28th, 2008, 02:08 PM

yes, is Lion Mutiara Parade the name...

is now developed by Belleview Group, constructed by Rimbaco Sdn Bhd

rizalhakim

April 29th, 2008, 09:14 AM

under belleview? not Lion Group coz i found a co by the name of Lion Mutiara Parade S/B a subsidiary co. under Lion Group????? any rendering for this project?

proud_penangite

April 29th, 2008, 11:23 AM

no rendering yet but i hope the mall looks nicer than prangin mall

forever consern

April 29th, 2008, 01:44 PM

under belleview? not Lion Group coz i found a co by the name of Lion Mutiara Parade S/B a subsidiary co. under Lion Group????? any rendering for this project?

ya, actually that piece of land belong to Lion Group

Belleview joint venture to them , together with one US based company to set up this mall

forever consern

April 29th, 2008, 01:45 PM

no rendering yet but i hope the mall looks nicer than prangin mall

for sure will look nicer than prangin mall

forever consern

May 1st, 2008, 06:02 AM

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P5010064.jpg

Pablo

May 1st, 2008, 11:50 AM

When will it be completed?

forever consern

May 1st, 2008, 04:50 PM

hmm, may be next year....

khensthoth

May 4th, 2008, 06:01 AM

Penangites hope to see better days for the tower

PENANGITES have not given up hope on Komtar and are optimistic that the state’s landmark would one day regain its lustre.

Komtar Merchants Association (KMA) chairman Jimmy Chan said Penangites are still hanging on to the hope that things would turn for the better for Komtar.

Chan, who has been running a goldsmith-cum-jewellery shop on the ground floor of Komtar’s four-storey podium area for more than 20 years, said his customers often enquired about the latest development at the complex.

[http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/9522/npg26leongjb9.jpg
Ng: ‘Instead of being our pride, it has become the biggest thorn in our hearts.’

“Some felt sad and others were sorry that the island’s landmark, which every Penangite was once proud of, is now deserted.

“Some of them even tell me that they are afraid of coming to Komtar after office hours because it looks spooky,” he said.

Chan said the absence of anchor tenants at the complex had resulted in a significant number of merchants moving out.

“At present there are between 300 and 400 merchants operating in Komtar and rental rates here are reasonably priced between RM1.50 and RM4 per sq ft,” he said.

However, the RM10mil upgrading work aimed at transforming Komtar into an attractive shopping complex would not do much to attract shoppers, he opined.

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/8226/npg26spookyfj4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Creepy corridors: Shoppers are afraid to enter Komtar after office hours because it looks spooky.

Penang Development Corporation (PDC) general manager Rosli Jaafar had said in early October last year that the upgrading work involved the construction of new toilets, a facelift for the three-level concourse car park and putting up of additional lights and new tiles at the entrances at Penang Road and Lebuk Tek Soon.

Chan suggested that besides upgrading the facilities, the management should also consider organising more big-scale activities and promotions at the complex.

“The management could bring in cultural shows and attractive contests or maybe even hold bazaars such as the ones organised at other shopping complexes,” he said.

Chan believes that if all parties worked together, it was not an impossible task to bring Komtar back to its former glory.

“Everyone, including the management and the merchants, must work together to provide better service, good merchandise and even attractive sales to attract the crowd back to Komtar,” he said.

Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik in an interview with StarMetro North, which appeared on April 7, said the state government was reviewing at least two contracts involving private companies in its effort to restore Komtar to its former glory.

He said the state had received complaints that the car park rates there were exorbitant and that it was on the look out for a “more experienced” management company to manage Komtar.

He added that at least 10 out of the 65 storeys of the Komtar Tower were currently vacant and that the state has invited experts to join the Komtar restructuring committee.

“The committee will work on coming up with a new 'Komtar concept'.

“We can't just have shopping complexes. We need to look at transforming it into a digital or IT centre or even an entertainment hub,” he said.

A check at the ground floor of the former Super Komtar showed vagabonds sleeping on the counter tops.

Lighting was also poor, giving the whole place a very creepy and unsafe atmosphere.

Paraplegic Ng Boon Leong, 32, who used to sell lottery tickets in his wheelchair but now runs a mobile phone shop, recalled the good old days when Komtar was the pride of Penang.

“Every Penangite was proud and impressed with Penang having the tallest building in the country then,” he said.

“Everyone in town wanted to go to Komtar to do their shopping or just to hang out because it was ‘the’ place to be at the time.

“I even boasted to friends and family who visited from other states about the building just to make them jealous.”

But, he lamented, “It’s in a very pitiful state now. Instead of being our pride, it has become the biggest thorn in our hearts.”

Retirees Lucy Choo, 78, and Yong Ah Kheng, 90, who usually spent about almost three hours daily in Komtar catching up with their friends, said it was a pity to see so many shops close down.

“We used to come here in our younger days, and this place was so alive back then,” Choo said.

From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/4/focus/19760140&sec=focus

khensthoth

May 4th, 2008, 06:05 AM

Putting Komtar together again
By K. KASTURI DEVI AND ANDREA FILMER

Once described as the pride of every Penangite, Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (Komtar) is now the sharpest thorn in their hearts. But the building may regain its lustre with a fresh boost from the State Government.

AT 65 storeys high, Komtar Tower is the tallest building on the island, and serves as a famous landmark. It was once a major shopping centre and the sixth tallest building in the country.

The tower, together with the four-storey podium, was built in 1974 and completed in 1986 at a cost of RM207mil. The podium used to house anchor tenants like Super Komtar, Yaohan that became Aktif Lifestyle, and later Parkson Aktif, making the place the state's most exciting shopping centre in the 80s and 90s.

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/5465/npg26komtarxk6.jpg

Today, however, it is a completely different story, with visitors to the podium area finding the place to be creepy, dark and even unsafe.

Almost 40% of the traders there have left especially after the anchor tenants “closed shop”. More are planning to leave if the State fails to revive the place.

It is learnt that the value of the shop lots on the first and second floors have dropped by at least 40% and about 10% to 20% for the ground and third floors.

The drop in value was attributed to poor maintenance, lack of facilities and the mushrooming of new shopping complexes such as Prangin Mall and Gurney Plaza.

The Penang Times Square project nearby at Jalan Datuk Keramat is also expected to pose a threat to the already “ailing” Komtar once it is completed and operational.

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/4782/npg26keatto5.jpg
"What Komtar requires now is to be constantly improved and with good management to promote it as an urban centre" - DATUK SERI LIM CHONG KEAT

The Square is an iconic RM1bil integrated development and is a self-contained urban village covering 5.2ha.

However, things might change for the better as the State Government, through its development arm Penang Development Corporation (PDC), has pumped in RM10mil for the clean-up job at Komtar.

PDC had explained that Komtar needed the facelift to compete with the newer shopping complexes to remain competitive.

Datuk Seri Lim Chong Keat, one of the original architects of Komtar, believes that it is still not too late to turn the complex around.

“What Komtar requires now is to be constantly improved and refurbished with good management to promote it as an urban centre,” he said in an interview.

Lim was hugely involved in the “birth” of Komtar and was one of the consultant architects and planners from Architects Team 3 (Jurubena Bertiga International), which had been appointed to work with officers from the then City Council of George Town and the State Government on the proposal for an urban centre on the island.

The proposal made in 1962 was to develop the area around Prangin Road/ Maxwell Road/ Magazine Road into a hawkers' complex and civic centre.

However, the idea did not get off the ground immediately and was reviewed in 1969.

Lim said a new team called the Central Area Planning Unit (CAPU) was formed, and it was in 1973 that the State Government entrusted the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) to implement the multi-million Ringgit project.

Extensive planning studies were conducted in 1971 and the decision to proceed with the Urban Centre was made with the objective, of among others, to revitalise the commercial trading sector and optimise use of land in the city centre.

Thus was Komtar born, and named after the second Prime Minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.

The project was supposed to be progressively built in five different phases, with Phase One comprising the tower block and podium.

The complex incorporated a wide variety of services and modern facilities for shops, offices, and civic and recreational activities.

An observatory on Level 58 was included in the plan as well as a multi-purpose centre known as Geodesic Dome, a post office, a cinema with 1,001 seating capacity and even a landscaped roof garden.

Tun Abdul Razak himself launched the start of piling work on Phase One of the project on Jan 1, 1974 and part of the complex's podium block was completed in 1978.

When the skyscraper topped out, it was then the tallest building in Asia.

Today, more than 30 years later, only two and a half phases have been completed.

And the question that remains unanswered until now is, whatever happened to the rest of the project?

The Consumer Protection Association of Penang president K. Koris said the uncompleted pockets of proposed development under the Komtar master plan have created “an urban slum” in the inner city of George Town.

“The pockets of proposed development under the remaining phases have been left idle and have become an eyesore,” he said.

Former Chief Minister Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu's Komtar masterplan was meant to prevent the inner city from becoming an urban slum, he said.

“But this is what the whole area has become today,” he said, adding that it would be useless for the state to inject RM10mil to transform Komtar into an attractive shopping mall if the surrounding areas were left neglected.

To date, only Phases 1, 2A and 4 of the masterplan, comprising the tower, the Geodesic Dome, four-storey podium, a hotel, bus interchange and the Prangin Mall, have been completed.

Plots of land under Phases 2B and 3 were sold off to Metrojaya Bhd and Postmix Sdn Bhd respectively and Phase 5 was revised in 2002, with the new plan featuring a centralised transportation hub.

A PDC spokesman said that plans for the transportation hub were put on hold as the state has yet to finalise the routes for the proposed LRT project.

“We cannot finalise the plans for Phase 5 now because it is dependent on the LRT routes that the state has yet to finalise it,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman also said PDC was in the process of resettling 41 families who are currently living in some of the pre-war houses sitting on the area marked for Phase 5 development.

“We have offered accommodation to these families but some of them refused the offer. . We are looking into solving such issues.

“We also have plans to clear the land and turn it into a temporary parking space,” he said.

As for the vacant pre-war houses, which are an eyesore and have become a haven for drug addicts, the spokesman said some of the buildings have already been torn down.

On Komtar's revival, the spokesman said several departmental stores have expressed interest in the space previously occupied by anchor tenant Super Komtar.

“A college was also interested in turning the space into a hostel for its students. However, nothing positive was achieved from those discussions,” he said.

A check by The Star on the plot of land marked for development under Phase 3 saw some piling works being carried out on the area which has been boarded up.

An 11-storey shopping complex would be coming up on the plot, and it is expected to be completed between 2009 and 2010.

A signboard put up on the land indicated that the developer is Lion Parade Mutiara Sdn Bhd, formerly known as Postmix Sdn Bhd.

With the new complex, those involved in the Komtar project can cling on to the hope that the complex, once the pride of Penang, can regain its image and inject progress to the “ailing” inner city of George Town.

From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/4/focus/19622019&sec=focus

khensthoth

May 4th, 2008, 06:11 AM

Penang to scrap ‘Mini Putrajaya’ project

PENANG: The new state government will scrap the proposed centralised state government administration centre nicknamed “Mini Putrajaya”, which was mooted by the Barisan Nasional government in 2001.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state would not pursue any project that was “too expensive”.

“We are not going to go on the heavy expenditure projects,” he said in an interview.

Lim, however, said the state had other plans for the 20ha reclaimed land north of the Bayan Bay project near the Penang Bridge on the island.

“We have other plans to bring development to that area, which would benefit the state and people. The plans would be announced at the right time,” he said.

Former Penang chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon had announced the RM30mil mini Putrajaya project in 2001 as the new government’s administration centre.

He had said the site on the reclaimed land belonging to the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) was chosen because its location was more central to the state’s population distribution.

The project, known as Bayan Mutiara, was expected to house the offices of the Chief Minister, his deputy, state exco members, state assemblymen, state secretary and state financial officer as well as the new state assembly hall and Speaker’s office.

Dr Koh had also said that once the government administration offices were relocated, there were plans to turn the 65-storey Komtar tower into a hotel or commercial centre.

The state government then had also announced plans of converting the state assembly building in Light Street into an art gallery.

However, the Bayan Mutiara project drew flak from ratepayers and public interest groups who felt that it was a waste of taxpayers’ money.

In May 2003, Dr Koh said the project would be deferred indefinitely due to economic slowdown.

In an interview early this month, Lim said there was a need to “rejuvenate” Komtar, which was opened to the public in 1974, in view of its strategic position as the “heart” of the state government.

Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik in a recent interview carried in the StarMetro North said that the Komtar restructuring committee would work on a new “Komtar concept”, which may include ideas of transforming Komtar into a digital or IT centre.

From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/4/nation/21002784&sec=nation

khensthoth

May 4th, 2008, 06:17 AM

Komtar Time Line

1962-1963

Idea mooted for urban renewal programme Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak.

City Council of George Town appointed the Malayan Architects Co-partnership to study proposal for construction of a civic centre around the Prangin Road, Maxwell Road and Magazine Road area.

1969 – 1970

City Council of George Town reviewed proposal.

July 1971

The Central Area Planning Unit (CAPU) was formed incorporating City Council and State Government members with consultant architects and planners firm Architects Team 3 appointed as project consultants.

1973

Penang State Government entrusts project to its principal development agency Penang Development Corporation.

January 1, 1974

First piling ceremony officiated by second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.

Work commenced on Phase 1A

1975

Work commenced on Phase 1B

December 1976

Phase 1A incorporating 107 units of net commercial area opened for business.

January 1, 1977

Official opening of Phase 1 by Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Sardon Jubir.

April 1981

200 units with a net rentable space of 20,496 sq metres opened for business.

January 1983

Work commenced on Phase 2.

Fire broke out at the 43rd floor of the Komtar tower and destroyed the floors above it.

July 1983

Low Zone of tower block completed.

September 1983

Work began on Phase 1C1 and 1C2.

November 1983

State Government moved into new offices in Low Zone of tower block.

1984

Piling work began on Phase 2B and 2D.

June 1984

Mid Zone of tower block completed.

July 1984

Piling work began on Phase 1E.

October 1984

Work commenced on Phase 2C.

1986

Phase 2A incorporating a multi-storey car park completed.

1989

Penang's oldest shopping mall – Komtar Complex – was opened.

2000

Prangin Mall incorporated into Phase 4 completed.

2002

Plan for Phase 5 revised.

Plots of land under Phases 2B and 3 sold off to Metrojaya Bhd and Postmix Sdn Bhd.

From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/4/focus/19812163&sec=focus

From PDC Website, just for references:
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/8891/komtarphaseskg2.png

cooltemper

May 5th, 2008, 08:09 AM

[SIZE="4"]

Extensive planning studies were conducted in 1971 and the decision to proceed with the Urban Centre was made with the objective, of among others, to revitalise the commercial trading sector and optimise use of land in the city centre.

Thus was Komtar born, and named after the second Prime Minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.

The project was supposed to be progressively built in five different phases, with Phase One comprising the tower block and podium.

The complex incorporated a wide variety of services and modern facilities for shops, offices, and civic and recreational activities.

An observatory on Level 58 was included in the plan as well as a multi-purpose centre known as Geodesic Dome, a post office, a cinema with 1,001 seating capacity and even a landscaped roof garden.

Tun Abdul Razak himself launched the start of piling work on Phase One of the project on Jan 1, 1974 and part of the complex's podium block was completed in 1978.

When the skyscraper topped out, it was then the tallest building in Asia.

Today, more than 30 years later, only two and a half phases have been completed.

And the question that remains unanswered until now is, whatever happened to the rest of the project?

The Consumer Protection Association of Penang president K. Koris said the uncompleted pockets of proposed development under the Komtar master plan have created “an urban slum” in the inner city of George Town.

“The pockets of proposed development under the remaining phases have been left idle and have become an eyesore,” he said.

Former Chief Minister Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu's Komtar masterplan was meant to prevent the inner city from becoming an urban slum, he said.

Even before KLCC was built, and of course not even the controversial PGCC is suggested, Tun Dr Lim already have the idea to turn the surrounding of Komtar into a real PGCC.

I respect you Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu.

proud_penangite

May 5th, 2008, 09:21 AM

i kinda like the new CM of Penang.

forever consern

May 5th, 2008, 03:08 PM

ya, current penang state government should regain the glorious day of KOMTAR some years back ago.

new project is working now (the one besides prangin mall), hopefully more to come out

Magician

May 6th, 2008, 11:18 AM

Current government has brain!

TYW

May 10th, 2008, 12:53 PM

great to hear about the scrapping of the mini putrajaya project. that money can be used for a complete make over of KOMTAR.

proud_penangite

May 16th, 2008, 01:02 PM

towering fire on 1983 by Rescue Dog, Flickr

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/194/478480248_5b8bbd2ed6_o.jpg

Pablo

May 16th, 2008, 03:51 PM

wahhh.....thanks for the pic...hard to get this pic, i think.

forever consern

May 19th, 2008, 08:01 AM

construction progress on the KOMTAR phase 3, the Lion Mutiara Parade shopping mall

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P5190070.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P5190069.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P5190068.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P5190067.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P5190066.jpg

Pablo

May 19th, 2008, 01:32 PM

wondering what happen to the heritage buildings in front of the traders hotel...what project is carrying out there? Hotel? They didnt even safe the facade...demolish the whole thing.....that is really really bad.

forever consern

May 19th, 2008, 01:50 PM

which one u mention actually?

Pablo

May 19th, 2008, 02:10 PM

which one u mention actually?

just in front of the traders hotel

khensthoth

May 19th, 2008, 04:12 PM

just in front of the traders hotel

I might be wrong, but I thought that was for the development of the new Wembley Park. Read this news (http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/4/7/north/20860458&sec=North), there are several mention of it.

Excerpts:
"He said the redevelopment of another nearby iconic landmark – Wembley Park (famously known as Choon Man Hui among locals) - was on track."

"A popular haunt back in the 1930s, Wembley Park has been earmarked for development by a private company, Messrs Salient Glory City Sdn Bhd."

khensthoth

May 19th, 2008, 04:21 PM

Found something interesting online:

MMC International Architects Ltd.
RDG Planning & Design

Location: Penang, Malaysia
Client: Lions Group & Mutiara Parade Sdn. Bhd.
Size: 80,000 sq.m.
Services: Design Architect, Masterplan, Interior Design

Retail planning and design services for a proposed retail complex located in the commercial heart of the city. It is adjacent to the landmark tower Komtar, Shangri-la Hotel and Prangin Mall. Direct bridges links will make this an integral part of this central area.

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/3061/mutiaraparade13hh3.gif

Venycal

May 19th, 2008, 06:04 PM

^^hmm......well it looks ok to to me.......
I think we need more renderings - the floorplan etc.....then only we can decide whether it's good/bad

proud_penangite

May 20th, 2008, 03:34 AM

looks like bangsar village 2. kinda nice. maybe this compex is targeted on high income group. looks like a "boutique style" mall

forever consern

May 20th, 2008, 02:54 PM

ya, this is consider as up-market mall

TYW

May 24th, 2008, 12:04 PM

i don't quite like it... i think the KOMTAR area is really a disaster. the architecture of the pre war houses , the 60's and 70's design of KOMTAR complex, the 90's prangin mall and now mutiara parade leaves a very messy feeling on the area...

maybe it'll look better after it's finished?? hope so...

forever consern

May 24th, 2008, 02:22 PM

everybody hope so, but penang island itself is mushrooming shopping mall

proud_penangite

May 24th, 2008, 07:02 PM

the mutiara parade mall itself is kinda big.
the same size of gurney plaza i think.
correct me if im wrong...

forever consern

May 25th, 2008, 05:24 AM

may be, but if add in the recently extended Gurney Plaza, it will definitely bigger

but not as big as Queensbay Mall

forever consern

June 1st, 2008, 12:48 PM

recently progress on the Mutiara Parade construction work

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P6010095.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P6010094.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P6010093.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P6010092.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P6010091.jpg

khensthoth

June 1st, 2008, 01:53 PM

Thanks forever concern. Since you a re in the vicinity, maybe you could update us with the development of the new Wembly Park too? =)

It's the development directly in front of the Traders' Hotel.

forever consern

June 2nd, 2008, 01:46 PM

Thanks forever concern. Since you a re in the vicinity, maybe you could update us with the development of the new Wembly Park too? =)

It's the development directly in front of the Traders' Hotel.

i think nothing is going on there, except they erected the safety hoarding around the site

khensthoth

June 2nd, 2008, 04:20 PM

Oh well. Thanks anyway =)

Magician

June 5th, 2008, 05:20 PM

http://lh3.ggpht.com/epchandavid/SEf-1250IUI/AAAAAAAAAFg/hXti8sTcKKE/s800/IMG_1228.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/epchandavid/SEgEFAZq7DI/AAAAAAAAAGs/xe0L3deYVKQ/s800/IMG_1225.JPG

forever consern

June 15th, 2008, 06:10 AM

current progress on mutiara parade mall

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P6150785.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P6150784.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P6150783.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P6150782.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P6150781.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P6150780.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/P6150779.jpg

proud_penangite

June 15th, 2008, 09:53 AM

^^ when is the target completion?

forever consern

June 21st, 2008, 01:48 PM

should be next year, the basement earthwork not easy to construct

proud_penangite

June 26th, 2008, 01:54 PM

pirates of the caribbean 4?? haha

Jim856796

July 24th, 2008, 09:25 PM

The KOMTAR Shopping Mall is undergoing a modernisation by the Penang Government throughout 2008.

SEED

July 25th, 2008, 03:59 PM

^^ yeah i think ive seen someone post an article bout it here.. tot it was just another 'talk only' thiggy.. so.. its true then the gov is doin somethin..

forever consern

July 30th, 2008, 04:44 PM

the Lion Mutiara Parade mall, has been changed the name from Lion Mutiara Parade to Paragon Penang, and now to 1st Avenue

khensthoth

July 30th, 2008, 05:30 PM

^^ Interesting. Information source? =)

forever consern

July 31st, 2008, 04:05 PM

from the construction team & consultant of the respective project

proud_penangite

July 31st, 2008, 06:08 PM

1st Avenue? seriously its fancy and sounds high class.. i love it!!

rizalhakim

August 1st, 2008, 05:48 AM

^^1st Avenue sound 2nd class & small to me...paragon penang sound better, more highclass....maybe can be the penang's version of siam paragon!!!

proud_penangite

August 1st, 2008, 06:40 AM

hmm should we have 2 malls with paragon names? gurney paragon and penang paragon. i think 1st avenue is ok kot...

forever consern

August 1st, 2008, 03:18 PM

^^1st Avenue sound 2nd class & small to me...paragon penang sound better, more highclass....maybe can be the penang's version of siam paragon!!!

from the source I heard from Belleview Group, they had chosen Paragon name even before Hunza, but is due to Hunza Group launch their Gurney Paragon project earlier on, so the name of the mall has to change to 1st Avenue

TYW

August 14th, 2008, 06:36 PM

The "1st Avenue" name might have came from the chinese name for Magazine Road, 1st Road...

wmkp

August 24th, 2008, 03:14 PM

While discussing about the future of KOMTAR, a thought occurred to me. Why don't we renovate KOMTAR's massive mall into an university. Penang needs its own university, for example an industrial or tourism based university. Selangor has its state owned university, Universiti Industri Selangor. The PSDC institute can be upgraded into an university and instead of wasting millions on a new campus, it would be better to convert KOMTAR into a campus, the shoplots can be merged into classrooms and labs, the Geodesic dome can be converted into an indoor hall.Swimming pools and recreational areas can be built on the former 5th floor hawker centre. KOMTAR is a prime area as it has easy access to food/transportation etc that is important for an educational hub. The state administrative complex within the KOMTAR Tower can function as usual and MPPP can move there. I believe this idea makes some sense as it would be cheaper to renovate KOMTAR mall into a city university than to build one from scrap and to "revitalise" KOMTAR into another mall might not be a wise idea given the number of new malls around the area. Any opinions?

jlshyang

August 24th, 2008, 06:18 PM

^^^ Fortis Atque Fidelis 1999'. You're only 3 years my senior. I'm from class of 2002 :)

nazrey

September 9th, 2008, 06:54 AM

by venycal

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2371/2366136208_21cbcf2187_b.jpg

khensthoth

September 9th, 2008, 08:20 AM

^^ Is any public event still held there? I remember the days when PC fair used to be there. Seems like a state of run down currently.

jieloe

September 12th, 2008, 09:34 AM

by nicholaschan's
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3176/2723167412_f1092d6d56.jpg?v=0
by stitch_iz's
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3276/2820626700_5911157e92_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/2819271771_652f3b23a5_b.jpg

khensthoth

September 12th, 2008, 09:49 AM

by nicholaschan's
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3176/2723167412_f1092d6d56.jpg?v=0

This is such a huge improvement over the deteriorating state of that area a few years ago.

Venycal

September 12th, 2008, 11:09 AM

^^yea....it looked so much better now but I hope the renovation extents to other parts of Komtar as well

TWK90

September 12th, 2008, 11:26 AM

by venycal

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2371/2366136208_21cbcf2187_b.jpg

Sad to see this, the geodesic dome looks unique and at the heart of Georgetown, should a decent area for convention purpose...

They should reclad the dome, modernise interior and the entrance (including the words, with a more plesant, modern look font) to make it relevant...

khensthoth

September 18th, 2008, 07:27 PM

http://www.kwongwah.com.my/news/2008/09/18/138_2.jpg

From KwongWah Online. Yea I am breaking copyright law, but look at nicely lit lobby! And now with FREE Wifi!

nazrey

September 26th, 2008, 09:38 PM

The Store will bring new life to Komtar
By Marina Emmanuel Published: 2008/09/27

http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/Saturday/Nation/pacific.xml/Article/Current_News/BTIMES/Images/btgraph10/store.jpg

THE fortunes of Penang's first shopping centre and superstructure - Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (Komtar) - are set to be revived soon with the entry of The Store Corp Bhd.

The company yesterday pledged to invest RM20 million as the anchor tenant of the 65-storey complex, via its subsidiary Pacific Departmental Store in George Town.

It plans to open its new outlet at Komtar by year-end and create 400 new jobs in the process.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who welcomed the investment, has also said all efforts will be made to woo more investors to Komtar, which serves as the seat of the state administration.

In the last five years, the mushrooming of shopping malls and other retail centres in other parts of Penang saw a decline in Komtar when both the complex's anchor tenants - Super Departmental Store and Aktif Lifestyle - ceased operations.

This caused many owners and tenants of shoplots in the podium area to close down.

Komtar Assemblyman Ng Wei Aik, who heads a committee to revamp the complex, said the state government - via the Penang Development Corp - is in talks with three parties keen to be Komtar's second anchor tenant.

"Two of the parties are Penang-based, while the other is from Kuala Lumpur," he told Business Times.

Pacific Hypermarket and Departmental Store Sdn Bhd executive director Charlie Tan said the company is targeting revenue of RM80 million for the first year of operation.

"We will have a departmental store and hypermarket in Komtar catering to the middle and upper markets," he told reporters after a tenancy signing agreement between The Store and PDC in George Town.

Lim witnessed the signing of the deal, which will see The Store occupying 138,704 sq ft of retail space for 18 years.

SEED

September 27th, 2008, 06:50 PM

^^ hehehe:naughty:

wmkp

September 28th, 2008, 08:22 AM

forever consern

September 28th, 2008, 11:19 AM

KOMTAR phase 3 project, the 1st Avenue shopping mall project

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/DSC00039.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/DSC00054-1.jpg

khensthoth

September 28th, 2008, 11:57 AM

Is the idea feasible? Nearby Times Square will have its own anchor tenant and soon 1st Avenue will be opened. Prangin Mall has both Parkson and Giant stores and lets not forget about Gama, all within a radius of 1km. Super Komtar and Komtar in general went into decline is because of Prangin Mall's proximity. I hope Pacific would not suffer a similar fate.

Actually, Super Komtar went bust because they didn't pay their suppliers, which causes other suppliers to stop supplying to them. It's the same case with Super Tanjung, which is under the same mother company.

That's why on the last few months of operation there were hardly anything on the shelves of Super Tanjung.

I wouldn't disagree that Prangin's presence is a factor, but it's not the only one.

rizalhakim

September 30th, 2008, 04:38 AM

http://www.veritas.com.my/newsletter/Website%20Newsletter/September%202008/03.jpg

khensthoth

September 30th, 2008, 12:27 PM

Nice. How did you find that? This is amazing.

Venycal

October 1st, 2008, 11:41 AM

^^:banana:

forever consern

October 1st, 2008, 05:54 PM

1st Avenue (KOMTAR Phase 3) construction work, view from Magazine Road

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/DSC00103.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/DSC00104.jpg

TWK90

October 1st, 2008, 06:08 PM

The urban park masterplan for the KOMTAR is awesome! I mean, it is better than building a PGCC, as KOMTAR fits almost the same role as PGCC...

skye.soo

October 1st, 2008, 06:21 PM

This is really amazing! I cant tell how much i expect Komtar area can 'revive' again...

Magician

October 3rd, 2008, 02:32 AM

http://www.veritas.com.my/newsletter/Website%20Newsletter/September%202008/03.jpg

The plan is very interesting and impressive...

Just one simple question: When is the construction starting??? I guess this is more practical than the endless planning and discussion

TYW

October 3rd, 2008, 10:29 AM

^^ cool!! is that the prangin canal??

hope life is brought back to the KOMTAR area

khensthoth

October 3rd, 2008, 01:25 PM

Um, more like longkang. Last I remember, it was black in colour, with all kinds of rubbish thrown in by the traders in the "Sia Boay" market.

SEED

October 3rd, 2008, 02:46 PM

^^ excactly why i hav mixed feelin with the PGCC thinggy->> just upgrade that poor old bugger instead->> Old Skool is Nu Cool->> Just give her some plastic surgery->> :lol:

Pablo

October 6th, 2008, 01:21 PM

i still prefer they cover the canal...i dont believe it wil b clean...

SEED

October 6th, 2008, 01:38 PM

^^ hah! true! :lol:

nazrey

October 8th, 2008, 04:35 AM

New department store in Komtar
Tuesday October 7, 2008
By ANDREA FILMER
TheStar

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/10/7/north/store.jpg

Pacific Hypermarket & Department Store Sdn Bhd executive director Charlie
Tan (right) exchanging tenancy agreements with Rosli (left) while Lim
(middle), Tang (second right) and Abdul Rahim (second left)looked on.

PENANG shoppers will have an additional choice this year-end as the new Pacific Departmental Store (Komtar) is set to open on the island by Christmas.

The new department store and supermarket will be an anchor tenant of Komtar, occupying 42,277 sq m for a tenancy period of 18 years.

"The store will have a lifestyle concept and cater to the needs of the mid to upper class market," said Pacific Hypermarket & Department Store Sdn Bhd executive director Charlie Tan during the signing tenancy ceremony recently.

He said a total of RM20mil would be invested within the first six months to develop and renovate the new outlet.

"We are very optimistic about the project and believe it can be one of the main shopping attractions on the island as it is located in the town area with an established traffic flow.

"If all goes well, we hope to garner RM80mil in revenue during our first year of operations," Tan said.

He added that the store, which would take up four floors previously occupied by the Yaohan Departmental Store, would be hiring a work force of 400 to manage day-to-day operations.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was present to witness the tenancy agreement between the Komtar owner Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and Pacific Hypermarket & Department Store Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary company of The Store Corporation Berhad, said the deal was a first step in regaining Komtar's shine.

"The space Pacific is occupying has been vacant for about five years. Now, we see the light at the end of the tunnel in reinstalling Komtar as the heart of George Town and Penang," Lim said.

He added that the state was committed in reviving Komtar.

"After March 8, we have saved millions of ringgit by freezing plans to move Komtar's administration centre to a site in Bayan Mutiara.

"This government will not run away from problems and we will not run away from Komtar," Lim said.

Also present at the signing ceremony were PDC general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar, state executive councillors and elected representatives.

Rosli said that PDC was looking at two more investors as potential anchor tenants to occupy another vacant lot in Komtar.

SEED

October 8th, 2008, 02:29 PM

^^ hopefully it wont dissapoint us hey.. i start to hav some confidence in it now->> :cool:

TWK90

October 8th, 2008, 02:36 PM

At least the state government can brag that their office is in a skyscraper compared to other states :lol:

sasaumau

October 14th, 2008, 05:10 AM

:cheer: good news, and i hope this is for real.

rizalhakim

October 28th, 2008, 05:58 AM

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nazrey

October 28th, 2008, 07:09 AM

by sonicbar82

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2887593802_5b1e4998e6_o.jpg

nazrey

October 28th, 2008, 07:09 AM

RM8.6mil to upgrade 16 lifts at Komtar
Tuesday October 28, 2008

VISITORS to Komtar can expect faster lifts come September next year.

The state will spend RM8.6mil to upgrade 16 out of the 22 lifts after complaints from the public on its inefficiency, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

“We are aware that many people coming to the government offices have been inconvenienced by this and we are doing the necessary,” he told a press conference in George Town recently.

Penang Development Corporation (PDC) general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar, who was also present, said the lifts kept malfunctioning in the last two years.

“These lifts have been operating for more than 25 years but despite carrying out maintenance works, the lifts are not operating optimally €“ that’s why we are upgrading eight lifts in the lower zone and eight in the upper zone,” he said, adding that to minimise disruptions, only two lifts would be upgraded at a time.

“We have to replace several components, including the cables, due to wear and tear over the years. This will result in a shorter waiting time for users by at least 20% and save energy by about 40%.

“It will also be more reliable and safer to use,” he explained.

Early this month, Pengkalan Kota MCA service task force chairman Lee Hack Teik urged the state to expedite the lift repairs.

Lee, who has been receiving such complaints for the past year from visitors to Komtar, said the wait was up to 30 minutes to get to offices located on the higher floors.

localboy

October 29th, 2008, 04:41 AM

The state government can transform the area from Penang Times Square to Prangin Mall into Penang's Bukit Bintang. With the Trader hotel, Grand Con, Sunway hotel and the future hotel at PTS, I believe that area can be just like Bukit Bintang. It will attract more tourists to Penang. The area behind Gama and PTS should be developed into shopping and food court just like New Great World Park.

kubundu

October 29th, 2008, 10:33 AM

I wish they bleach and repaint the bus terminal too. so dirty, and the garbage disposal area for Pragin Mall made it worse.

rizalhakim

October 30th, 2008, 11:31 AM

Kakitangan di Komtar nikmati lif lebih selesa

GEORGETOWN: Kakitangan awam dan swasta yang berpejabat di Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (Komtar) serta mereka yang berurusan di bangunan tertinggi di Pulau Pinang itu, akan menikmati kemudahan lif lebih selesa, selamat dan cekap menjelang September tahun depan.

Ini berikutan keputusan Perbadanan Kemajuan Pulau Pinang (PDC) menaik taraf 16 daripada 22 lif di bangunan itu, membabitkan kos RM8.6 juta.

Pengurus Besar PDC, Datuk Rosli Jaafar, berkata kerja menaik taraf itu antara lain membabitkan penukaran pelbagai komponen, termasuk kabel yang sudah digunakan bertahun-tahun lamanya.

Pada satu-satu masa, hanya dua lif di bangunan itu akan dinaik taraf bagi mengurangkan gangguan ke atas pengguna.

"Lif berkenaan yang sudah berusia kira-kira 25 tahun perlu dinaik taraf bagi memastikan keselesaan kepada pekerja di bangunan itu dan orang awam," katanya di sini, baru-baru ini.

Sepanjang tempoh itu, PDC membelanjakan RM15.2 juta untuk menyelenggara 16 lif berkenaan tetapi perkhidmatannya masih menimbulkan rasa tidak puas hati di kalangan pengguna.

Selain menempatkan pejabat Ketua Menteri dan Exco, bangunan setinggi 65 tingkat yang siap sepenuhnya pada 1988 dengan kos RM207 juta, menempatkan jabatan kerajaan negeri dan persekutuan.

Rosli berkata, dengan kerja menaik taraf itu, perkhidmatan lif bukan saja lebih cepat kira-kira 20 peratus dan selamat tetapi juga menjimatkan kos elektrik sehingga 40 peratus.

Mengulas kerja menaik taraf bangunan itu, Ketua Menteri, Lim Guan Eng, berkata kerajaan negeri prihatin dengan keselesaan pekerja dan orang ramai yang berurusan di bangunan berkenaan.

proud_penangite

October 30th, 2008, 02:05 PM

^^ yeah my father works there hehe..

forever consern

October 30th, 2008, 03:35 PM

First Avenue construction work progress

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/forever_consern/DSC00197-1.jpg

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nazrey

November 2nd, 2008, 01:20 PM

by Rescue Dog

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/39/116840731_4842dce4cb_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/201/504330866_63cfe704df_o.jpg

nazrey

November 2nd, 2008, 01:25 PM

by Rescue Dog

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1189/1267126464_5e667fc0e2_o.jpg

nazrey

November 2nd, 2008, 01:25 PM

by Rescue Dog

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1385/1287542734_4a4cfe5f6e_o.jpg

nazrey

November 3rd, 2008, 11:16 AM

Complex a boost to Komtar
Monday November 3, 2008
By TAN SIN CHOW and ANN TAN. Photos by K.E. OOI

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/11/3/north/trade1.jpg

Traders' hope: Traders are looking forward to the completion
of an 11-storey upmarket shopping complex next year.

AN 11-storey upmarket shopping complex, being built on the plot of land next to Traders Hotel, will definitely add vigour and variety to the ‘ailing’ Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (Komtar) upon completion.

Penang Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the ongoing project was scheduled for completion by October next year.

The project, which comes under Phase 3 of the Komtar masterplan, is a joint venture between Belleview Group and some partners including the Lion group and a US-based investment fund company.

Chow, who is also Tanjong MP, said piling works that commenced in October last year had been completed.

Construction on the basement car park is still ongoing while several floors of the building had already taken shape at the site.

“Once it is ready, the complex will definitely revitalise the inner city of George Town.

“After all, this project is long overdue and has been shelved for decades.

“The massive investment amounting to millions of ringgit shows that the investors still have confidence in the area,” he said, when contacted by StarMetro.

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/11/3/north/trade2.jpg

In the heart of town: construction on the 11-storey
upmarket shopping complex in progress.

Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik said the new mall would be linked to the existing one in Komtar and Prangin Mall and would complement each other.

“We are positive that the new mall would attract new businessmen to Komtar.

“The state is currently looking into a new concept to turn George Town as a shopping zone where shoppers would shop at the three malls, and two others, namely the Penang Times Square and at the Gama Supermarket and Departmental Store,” he said.

The shopping mall, with a land area of 10,126sq m, would have a built-up space of more than 40,000 sq m.

It is learnt that the complex, to be named 1st Avenue Penang, will comprise a shopping centre, a cineplex, an amusement centre and retail outlets.

A soft launch for the project will be held at the road show in One World Hotel besides the One Utama shopping complex in Petaling Jaya today at 11am.

1st Avenue

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/3061/mutiaraparade13hh3.gif

rizalhakim

November 18th, 2008, 08:58 AM

Free parking at Komtar for civil servants proposed
Bernama

State Assemblyman for Datuk Keramat Jagdeep Singh Deo today proposed free vehicle parking at the Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (Komtar) for civil servants working in the government offices at the building.

He said parking charges should not be imposed on civil servants working at the offices there.

“I was surprised that civil servants were charged parking fees at Komtar when they are working for this state government. They should be well taken care of,” he said during the debate on the 2009 Supply Bill and 2009 Penang Development Estimates Bill in the State Legislative Assembly, here.

Jagdeep Singh said exempting the civil servants from the parking charges would help to reduce the financial burden of these moderate wage earners.

“I hope the state government would be able to consider this request for the good of the civil servants who work well for Penang and the people,” he said.

SEED

November 18th, 2008, 01:32 PM

^^ yeah.. it certainly have the "up-market" feel... .. NOT! :lol:

nazrey

November 26th, 2008, 06:43 AM

New life for Penang Road
Wednesday November 26, 2008
By K. KASTURI DEWI

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/11/26/north/komta1.jpg

Fresh look:Workers putting up a new ceiling and lighting at Komtar.

THE state will formulate a master plan for the development of Penang Road including Komtar in a move to revitalise the whole area.

Komtar assemblyman and Komtar Revitalisation Committee chairman Ng Wei Aik said on Tuesday the state already had an initial concept for the master- plan.

“It is still very general and we have to put it down in paper first before any fina-lisation can be made,’’ he told reporters after a press conference on Phase One of the Komtar Revitalisation project.

Ng said the development of Penang Road including Komtar would take between five and 10 years.

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/11/26/north/komta.jpg

Komtar makeover:A master plan to develop Penang Road including Komtar is
in the pipeline. Meanwhile, workers are busy upgrading the aging mall under
Phase One of a revitalising project.

He declined to elaborate further.

Ng also said the state was expected to finalise its decision on the first phase of the Komtar revitalisation project by next April.

The first phase includes calling of tender for the multi-storey car park after the existing operator hands it over to the state next month.

Ng said the state also welcomed propo-sals from interested parties who are keen in developing and leasing the commercial area at level four ( the site of the former Aktif Lifestyle department store), Levels 59 and 60 of the Komtar Tower where the Tower Restaurant is located, the squash centre and the food court which are both located on Level 5.

“We also invite those interested to develop and operate the open area on Level 5 which can be turned into a extreme game park and youth performing centre,” he added.

Ng said ongoing renovation and upgra-ding works from Level 1 to Level 4 which includes changing of floor tiles, installing lighting and ceilings were expected to be completed by Dec 15.

He said due to lack of state funds, it had to rely on private initiatives and funding to revive Komtar.

“We cannot always rely on the Penang Development Corporation and the state’s coffers,” he said.

Ng added that Metrojaya Bhd which submitted its building plans about 10 years ago to develop plots of land under Phases 2B and 3 of the Komtar project was keen to amend the plan.

“The state is waiting for their proposal and we are willing to study whether their idea is feasible,’’ he said.

SEED

November 26th, 2008, 11:31 AM

^^ wow! they r doing something!! WooHoo!! :banana:

rizalhakim

December 15th, 2008, 05:40 AM

From shady trees to mutilated stumps
By K. KASTURI DEWI

GEORGE TOWN: What used to be 10 healthy trees, believed to be angsana and mahogany adorning the street alongside the Komtar building, are now just trunks with a few branches sticking out.

The trees at the pedestrian mall area, believed to be about 30 years old, have all been mutilated.

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/12/15/nation/n_22trees.jpg
Bare facts: Some of the trimmed trees at the Komtar pedestrian mall area in Penang.

Also seen at the place were two bulldozers, a couple of lorries and workers.

Blogger and social activist Anil Netto who posted pictures and comments of the “mutilated’’ trees on his website (http://www.anilnetto.com) said a friend told him about the trees on Friday evening.

“I went over the next day to take some pictures. To my horror, I saw how badly the trees had been hacked and pruned,’’ he said yesterday.

Netto said he felt sad because he remembered the trees were healthy and provided good shade for those who used to pass their time under them at the pedestrian mall.

“As it is, there is already a shortage of greenery in George Town.

“We hear of other countries going green but in Malaysia, we have this attitude and mentality that any open green space should be filled with concrete and structures,’’ he said.

He added that local authorities should make it compulsory to approve plans only if a structure is put up around trees and greenery instead of removing them.

“There should also be more transparency by the Penang Municipal Council,” he said.

Penang Municipal Council president Datuk Zainal Rahim Seman said the work was carried out by the Pacific Hypermarket & Department Store Sdn Bhd, which was planning to open its outlet in Komtar by Christmas.

He said the mall area, which belonged to the state, would be upgraded into a tiled open space after it was approved by the planning development committee.

“Some of the trees have to be pruned and the council is aware of this,’’ he said.

A Pacific Hypermarket & Department Store spokesman said the company had the council’s approval for the trees to be pruned.

“We will also be replanting more trees and landscaping the area before the whole project is completed just after Chinese New Year,’’ he said.

nazrey

December 16th, 2008, 05:51 PM

by Melvin Chia

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/3113331308_737965fd0d_b.jpg

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nazrey

December 16th, 2008, 05:59 PM

by Melvin Chia
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/3112594787_e6e9876cee_b.jpg

proud_penangite

December 19th, 2008, 08:53 PM

New Pacific @ Komtar

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/3121235924_a0cd6d1304_o.jpg

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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/3120406887_7571702e22_o.jpg

proud_penangite

December 19th, 2008, 08:55 PM

Pacific@Komtar 2

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/3121234748_7d39423803_o.jpg

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skye.soo

December 20th, 2008, 03:37 AM

wow...! Nice...! GeorgeTown White Coffee! I must go n try later~!

achkeen10

December 20th, 2008, 03:57 AM

really transform alot....could it sustain?? so many shopping malls nearby. PTS comin soon....prangin mall...

btw....what tenant is in KOMTAR?? (besides Pacific)

proud_penangite

December 21st, 2008, 05:33 PM

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/3123252048_7fc4c8520d_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/3124448706_dd40edb8be_o.jpg

kubundu

December 22nd, 2008, 01:37 AM

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll23/kubundu/komtar1.jpg

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll23/kubundu/komtar2.jpg

Magician

December 22nd, 2008, 04:25 AM

Glad to see Komtar is back in business

SEED

December 22nd, 2008, 10:31 AM

not bad at all! :cool:

TYW

December 28th, 2008, 06:40 PM

wow...! Nice...! GeorgeTown White Coffee! I must go n try later~!

I prefer OldTown... he he...

there are only a few stuff on their menu... the food is not bad though... taste more homemade rather than the commercialized taste... coffee is ok too...

jieloe

January 13th, 2009, 05:26 AM

by gpenang
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/3169373045_31c49a769a_b.jpg

by tsh.alan
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by JoeyChong
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Adam Tan

January 13th, 2009, 07:42 AM

Komtar Walk
http://www.kwongwah.com.my/news/2009/01/02/76_2.jpg

khensthoth

January 13th, 2009, 12:32 PM

I prefer OldTown... he he...

there are only a few stuff on their menu... the food is not bad though... taste more homemade rather than the commercialized taste... coffee is ok too...

Actually, I very much prefer Georgetown - the coffee is SOOOOO much better. Don't ever eat the cakes though. it's a rip off.

When I was there (Pacific & Georgetown White Coffee) a few days ago, it was absolutely quiet at night. The number of staffs far outnumbered the customers on both premises.

khensthoth

January 13th, 2009, 01:59 PM

The following photographs are taken at the EXACT spot, only in different direction:
http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture052.jpg
Refurbished

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture053.jpg
Non-refurbished

khensthoth

January 13th, 2009, 02:02 PM

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture032.jpg

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture033.jpg

khensthoth

January 13th, 2009, 02:11 PM

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture024.jpg
Geodesic Dome - Richard Buckminster Fuller was the consultant for one of the groups involved in the design of KOMTAR.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture025.jpg
Quiet, deserted and destitute.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture026.jpg
View from the podium

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture027.jpg
Massive cracks

khensthoth

January 13th, 2009, 02:17 PM

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture028.jpg
Incomplete and empty.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture029.jpg
Empty stalls - 80% of the stalls there are like that.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture030.jpg
The only stalls operating, and the only customers. In fact some of the people sitting there are the stall-keepers themselves.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture031.jpg
Dirty, incomplete and grossly mismanaged.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture036.jpg
Rubbish in one of the empty stalls.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture037.jpg
Another view.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture038.jpg
F-king dangerously sharp support hooks for the shading.

khensthoth

January 13th, 2009, 02:25 PM

Pedestrian Bridge connecting KOMTAR and Prangin Mall:
http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture039.jpg
Leading away from the KOMTAR Hawker Centre (See above)

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture040.jpg
Another view.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture041.jpg
The level below, looking towards Pacific Department Store.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture042.jpg
Exact same spot, looking towards Prangin Mall.

khensthoth

January 13th, 2009, 02:31 PM

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture047.jpg
Completely empty shops, just a few steps away from the refurbished side.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture048.jpg
Flee market lookalike near the entrance to MPPP KOMTAR branch.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture049.jpg
Flee market, and Dalit Cinema. Heard it's going to be refurbished into a restaurant by the operator of the restaurant at level 59 and viewing deck at level 60, who incidentally owes the state government RM1.3 million in rent and management fees.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture050.jpg
Note the ceiling and the closed shops.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture051.jpg
Again, the ceiling.

khensthoth

January 13th, 2009, 02:35 PM

Enough doom and gloom.
http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture044.jpg
Ground floor, looking outwards.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture045.jpg
Georgetown White Coffee.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture046.jpg
Ground Floor, looking inwards.

http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t327/khensthoth/Komtar%202008/Picture054.jpg
Ground floor, viewed from outside.

didan

January 15th, 2009, 07:06 AM

Thursday January 15, 2009
PDC urged to maintain inner city communities

THE Penang Development Corporation (PDC) should maintain inner city communities instead of opting to displace them.

Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) president Dr Choong Sim Poey (pic) said yesterday PDC should initiate the move as part of the Unesco management plan to maintain communities in the inner city.

He said it was not a “right solution” for both the state government and PDC to relocate tenants of pre-war buildings located between Lebuh Tek Soon and Jalan Maxwell to somewhere else so that the buildings could be demolished to make way for the Komtar development project’s Phase Five.

“The long term solution to this issue is to rehabilitate and upgrade these buildings and not demolish them,” he said.

Dr Choong was commenting on Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik’s statement published on Jan 13 that the 40 remaining tenants of the pre-war houses had been given until March 1 by the Penang Government to relocate.

There are currently 26 commercial tenants and 14 residential tenants occupying the pre-war buildings around the disused Sia Boey market area.

Ng had said three eviction notices had been issued so far to the tenants since 2002.

Dr Choong said the policy of demolishing all “old” houses because they don’t meet present-day safety standards would result in the loss of thousands of shophouses in the inner city.

“By choosing to rehabilitate and upgrade these buildings, the state government can show its support and commitment for the Unesco conservation philosophy with action rather than mere words,” he added.

The Star