PRESS CONFERENCE (PROCLAMATION CEREMONY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST HOLIDAY INN & SUITES HOTEL AT SEBERANG PERAI, PENANG)
SPEECH BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE FOR PROCLAMATION CEREMONY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF THE FIRST HOLIDAY INN & SUITES HOTEL AT SEBERANG PERAI, PENANG
6 March 2019
YB Chong Eng
State Executive Councillor for Women and Family Development, Gender Inclusiveness and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs
YB Soon Lip Chee
State Executive Councillor for Youth & Sports
YB Heng Lee
ADUN Berapit
YB Gooi Hsiao-Leung
ADUN Bukit Tengah
Ybhg. Dato’ Sr. Haji Rozali Bin Haji Mohamud
Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) President
Jonathan Freddy Bagang
Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) Penang Director
Ng Kock Leong
Exopuri Managing Director
Amy Tan
Exopuri Director
Serena Lim
InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) Vice President (Development) for Southeast Asia and Korea
Douglas Oh Aik Kim
Penal Solicitors
Baharudin Majid
Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd (BPMB) Business Banking Head
Ir. Shahabuddin Bin Mohd Muhayidin
State JKR Director
Members of the Media, Ladies & Gentlemen
Firstly, I would like to congratulate Exopuri Group of Companies for the successful cooperation which have been formed with InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) that will result in the first International brand name hotel Holiday Inn & Suites in Seberang Perai, which is Holiday Inn Juru Sentral.
I applaud the foresightedness and business acumen of Mr Ng Kock Leong, Amy Tan and your Exopuri team and business partners but more so for your drive to make a difference and it is indeed a difference with far-reaching economic ripples to spur the growth of Juru and the southern part of Seberang Perai.
With a Gross Development Value (GDV) of RM280 million, the 35-storey four-star business class hotel with 288 rooms will not only stand out but will also be an outstanding structural indicator of how the future is like for booming Seberang Perai.
I have on many occasions stressed that the future of Penang lies in Seberang Perai, the mainland of the state. If we were to aim high enough and to see far enough, the fact remains that the vast opportunities for economic growth and income generator for Penang are in tourism and in the Meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE)-related industry.
The Penang state government through PDC has always placed focus on the economic integration between the island and mainland. This is clearly shown by the strategic steps taken by PDC since 1970 in selecting the location of township developments on the island in Bandar Bayan Baru and on the mainland in Bandar Seberang Jaya and the most recent Bandar Cassia in Batu Kawan.
The development of these townships which also includes industrial development areas have proven to be a major success for Penang and its people. The economic activities and its spillover effects has increased the employment level and also property values. Seberang Perai is now the new area of growth with residential and commercial projects.
PDC is also setting aside 1,500 acres of industrial development land known as Batu Kawan Industrial Park. To date, this industrial Park has successfully attracted some MNC-rated investors such as HP, Honda, Western Digital, Boston Scientific, Broadcom, Haemonetics, MAL, PKT, Vitrox, VAT, UWC, QDOS, Hotayi, Jabil, Inari, Micron and others.
What better way to further boost this economic generator with vast potential than to have a hotel with a brand name of international stature and a proven record of reliability with world class facilities to meet the needs of local and foreign tourists as well as the key players of the different industries when it comes to MICE. Holiday Inn Juru Sentral officially opens its doors for business in the fourth quarter of 2021 and I believe the anticipation for its opening ceremony is keenly felt by residents of Seberang Perai and the 500 employees who were offered jobs in your establishment.
I once again congratulate Exopuri Group of Companies and InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) for your joint effort in creating a difference here on the mainland of Penang. Your business endeavor compliments the state government’s intention of growing the MICE-related industry as well as setting a new benchmark for tourism products offered by Penang.
Thank you.