80% vaccination target met ahead of target date
Malaysia has fully vaccinated 80% of the adult population in the country, ahead of its October target. “Congratulations! Malaysia has achieved 80% full vaccination of the adult population,” Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob declared on Twitter yesterday. The Prime Minister also reminded the people to continue in their efforts in fighting Covid-19. According to the CovidNow website, 79.6% or 18,646,795 of the country’s adult population has been fully vaccinated as at noon, Sept 21. It also said that 93.1% of the adult population or 22,097,565 individuals have received at least their first dose. Under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, the original target for Malaysia to reach the 80% fully vaccinated adult population was October. Meanwhile, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the country’s next mission is to track the remaining 20% who have not been inoculated. (The Star)
Tourism minister: Genting, Melaka, Tioman Island next on travel bubble list, to reopen on Oct 1
Genting Highlands, Melaka and Tioman Island will join Malaysia’s travel bubble and may reopen to visitors beginning October 1, said Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri. She also said more locations would be added soon to the domestic tourism bubble that already included Langkawi in Kedah. “These are not exclusive. God willing, we will list more destinations after further discussions,” Nancy said, adding that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) would also be refined and more destinations, including both island and “mainland” destinations would be included. She said the refined SOPs would look into several things, such as the need for swab tests, adding that the matter is “rather complicated’ as it involves a larger area. Nancy had yesterday said that Langkawi island in Kedah, which is the pilot project for the country’s travel bubble, has proved to be a success story since it opened on Thursday, after recording 9,500 tourist arrivals. (Malay Mail)
MBAM calls for mega projects to be expedited in Budget 2022 wishlist
The construction industry hopes that that mega infrastructure projects and construction projects that can help the people such as the construction of roads, affordable housing, bridges, schools and hospitals for year 2022 will be distributed immediately to contractors. In its wishlist for 2021 Budget, the Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) called for projects to be kick-started soon and tender process to be expedited. It wished for more open tenders to encourage fair and competitive bidding. MBAM also suggested the extension of moratorium and its benefits extended to cover limited companies as well as leasing companies. It called for reduction of financing cost for construction projects and urged government departments to abolish time-consuming administrative procedures and increase business costs. Also on its wishlist are subsidies and tax incentives for new construction machinery. (The Sun Daily)
BDB-MBI Kedah JV to develop Langkawi Premium Outlets
Bina Darulaman Bhd’s (BDB) JV company with Menteri Besar Kedah Incorporated (MBI Kedah), BDBMBI Langkawi Ventures Sdn Bhd, will be developing an integrated commercial development consisting of premium and business outlets, food and beverage shops as well as recreational facilities in Langkawi. BDB president and group CEO Faris Najhan Hashim said the project, in collaboration with the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), would be developed on 16.58 hectares of land in Padang Matsirat, next to Langkawi International Airport. “The project is divided into several phases and BDBMBI will be focusing on the development of Phase 1 and 2 first, involving a gross development value of RM817 million, while the rest of the phases are for future development. The Phase 1 development is known as ‘Malaysia Designer Outlet’ where local fashion outlets, fusion restaurants with exclusive concepts or fine-dining and coffee houses will be developed beginning from October 2021 and fully completed in July 2022,” he said. Phase 2 would involve the development of 11.74 hectares of land to build “premium outlets” beginning from January 2022 and is expected to be fully completed in March 2024. (The Star)
Mah Sing lines up 10 more property launches for 2021
Mah Sing Group will be launching ten more property launches for the year focusing on affordable products as more economic sectors open up. Its CEO Datuk Ho Hon Sang said that the group has closed property sales of approximately RM1.06 billion for the first 8 months of 2021 and is on track to achieve its sales target of RM1.6 billion for the year. “We can see the economy picking up momentum as more people are being vaccinated… The rolling out of the National Recovery Plan is key to directing Malaysia towards normalcy and sustainable economic development,” noted Ho. He said the company’s sales galleries and all project sites have resumed operation, with strict compliance of all SOPs. The new launches including eight new phases in various projects including Tower E of M Vertica, Cheras, remaining phases of M Arisa, Sentul, Phase 2 of Cerrado Suites and Tower B Sensory Residences at Southville City in Bangi, Phase 3 of M Aruna and M Panora in Rawang, service apartments in Southbay City, Penang and Erica in Meridin East, Johor Bahru. It also plans to launch two brand new projects on its newly acquired land earlier this year, namely M Astra in Setapak and M Senyum in Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, Sepang. (The Edge)
No application submitted for development of theme park in Cameron Highlands, says Pahang MB
The Pahang government has never received any formal application or negotiated with any party to build a theme park in Cameron Highlands, said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail. He said the claims to build the theme park were untrue and urged all parties to refer to the state government for the truth behind the issue. He was commenting on claims that a RM100 million theme park spanning over a 24-hectare site would be built in Cameron Highlands and NGOs as well as local residents have objected the move. (Malay Mail)
