Penang rolls out PSR plan contest

Published by The Star•07/11/2019

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government is looking for outstanding Malaysians and world-leading architects and planners to take part in the Masterplan Design Competition (MDC) for its Penang South Reclamation (PSR) near Teluk Kumbar.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the development plan would have to stress on the economic and social aspects and the surroundings in line with the Penang 2030 vision.

He said participants would have to form multi-disciplinary consortiums comprising diverse specialities and expertise in smart city, economics, engineering, technology and innovation, mobility and transportation, landscape, sustainability and environmental design.

He added that during the competition, PSR would be temporarily known as Penang South Islands (PSI).

“We want to get the best idea, the best development concept.

“It is a competition of international standards where the state government is inviting participants to assemble a world-class consortium team in diverse fields for the competition.

“Five finalists will be shortlisted, with each finalist set to receive an equal honorarium of US$125,000 (RM517,400).

“The proposal submitted by the finalist deemed most suitable by the Master Jury panel for implementation at the new PSI will be appointed by the Penang government as the Lead Master Plan Designer, subject to terms and conditions, ” he said during a press conference on the sidelines of the Penang state assembly yesterday.

Under the PSI project, the state government is proposing to reclaim 1,821ha of the sea on three man-made islands south of Penang International Airport towards the east around Permatang Damar Laut, to create a land bank to fund the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

PSI will provide a transformation of Penang’s growth engines and prepare the state for Industry Revolution 4.0. It will incorporate smart city and smart park features while remaining as an international destination for investment, industrial manufacturing and tourism.

As an integrated development, PSI will be a sustainable development that emphasises the economic, environmental and social aspects, aligned with the Penang 2030 vision as a “people-focused and inclusive” project.

Chow said the competition is a Penang government’s initiative organised in collaboration with the Malaysian Institute of Architects Northern Chapter under the auspices of the Board of Architects Malaysia.

He said the registration of interest is now open, and the form can be downloaded via www.PG-MDC.com before 5pm (Malaysian time) on Nov 25.

Chow said they had allocated RM5mil for honorarium, promotional and publicity purposes.

SRS Consortium project director Szeto Wai Loong said the participants would have to come up with a smart industrial park at Island A to complement the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone.

“The ecosystem is all there. We need to go to the next level of technology such as Internet of Things, Industrial 4.0, and Artificial Intelligence.

“We need to attract some of this category of investors for this island.

“They will also have to come up with certain components, such as affordable housing, green areas and parks. These are the things that are very vital for sustainability.

“There are a lot of guidelines which they have to follow. The finalists will be brought to a site visit, ” he said.

SRS Consortium is the project delivery partner of Penang Transport Master Plan.

Competition adviser Ang Chee Cheong said the design of city had been changing rapidly, adding that “Penang deserves the best idea to move forward”.

The Master Jury presentations will be held on April 20, with the competition results expected to be announced on May 8.