Is Batu Kawan a good area for investment? Why?
Rich in colonial history, Batu Kawan is a place situated approximately 20 kilometres south from Seberang Perai, Penang. The village had been known for its plantations which supplied plenty of rubber, coconut and sugar for economic purposes. In the recent years, plans have been made to develop the land that has been majorly covered in oil palm plantations, causing it to be bereft of housing properties. Neighbouring districts did not identify a proper interest to visit the area.
Lately, interest is peaking. Batu Kawan is becoming a location where people are contemplating to invest due to several reasons.
Firstly, it has become highly accessible. The completion of The Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge, also dubbed as the Second Penang Bridge, had played a part in increased connectivity as it extended its reach from Batu Kawan (mainland Peninsular Malaysia) with Batu Maung (Penang Island). This bridge is not only one of the longest bridges to date in the world, but it has also been awarded the 2015 Brunel Medal by the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) to recognise its excellent structure and design. Penang is likely to be decentralised as development is bound to be balanced between the island and the mainland, thus eliminating the sense of inferiority which stemmed from historical roots.
The building of the bridge is connected to the government’s decision to make it the third satellite city of Penang. Developments and infrastructure have been implemented in various sectors to transform this village area into a place of interest. Many companies are acquiring land, turning Batu Kawan into a thriving industrial park. Examples of these would be SanDisk, United Engineers Malaysia (UEM) Berhad, Boon Siew Honda, Aviatron and IBIDEN Electronics Malaysia.
In the education sector, schools and universities are being built. Last year, the GEMS International School of Pearl City have opened with an enrolment of 200 students. The school has been expected to take in 3000 students in the future at its maximum capacity. At tertiary level, the University of Hull, UK is expected to establish its institution and administer its courses by 2017. Representatives of PKT Logistics Sdn. Bhd. have expressed their hope that the courses offered would be able to create an upward change by transforming the middle-income generation into a high-income economy. The Columbia Hospital from US is also expected to be a part of Batu Kawan.
In order to cater for the residents’ or tourists’ shopping needs, malls have been planned. For instance, confirmed development plans would be the IKANO Mega Mall with anchor IKEA and Penang Premium Outlets. The latter is believed to be officially launched during Christmas 2016.
Penang is known as a place with valuable historical value, thus being listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. There are various attractions in Batu Kawan which complement this status. Among the notable landmarks are Tangga Seribu (a thousand steps), Batu Musang Jetty, Club Beach (also referred as Batu Musang beach) and Batu Kawan Stadium (once held the 8th Sukma Games). Additionally, Batu Kawan is scheduled to get a theme park and a golf course near the Second Penang Bridge. These projects will be awarded to two firms with big names in the property development sector. One of these firms is predicted to be Eco World Development Group Bhd.
Batu Kawan, in brief, can be considered as a good area of investment. However, it is not seen as a quick buy and sell profit. This area is more suitable for those who are willing to wait for at least 10 years or so for the area to develop into Penang’s third satellite city. For a short-term investment, sub-sale would be more appropriate.
Written By : Katherine Khaw Ze Yun
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