Business Times has learnt that SP Setia Bhd and Ivory Properties Group Bhd are the companies that have responded to Penang state government's tender to develop the Bayan Mutiara land. The tender is part of the state government's efforts to raise funds.

Sources said of the two companies, Ivory Properties had submitted the higher bid, for which the reserve price was reportedly set at RM200 per sq foot.

The state government had asked for a request for proposal (RFP) via the Penang Development Corp to develop an initial 24.8ha, which is located south of the Penang Bridge and overlooking Pulau Jerejak.

The RFP comes with the potential to develop an additional 14ha via a future reclamation after the development of the initial 24.8 ha.

Although the deadline for the RFP of the project was set for December 31 2010, it is learnt that the RFP had been recalled and interested parties were asked to re-submit their bids.

SP Setia is currently the only developer without any development projects along Penang's southern corridor where its rivals are present.

This includes Mah Sing Group Bhd, which is planning a mixed-development property project at Batu Maung. Ivory Properties is present via "The View Twin Towers" development in Batu Uban, while IJM Land Bhd had already embarked on its landmark waterfront development of "The Light" close to the Penang Bridge.

In January this year, the Penang state government announced that SP Setia – via subsidiary Eco Meridean Sdn Bhd – had won a RM300 million project to build and operate the Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Relau on the island.

The project was reportedly meant to create a "Penang People's Park" that includes the country's first subterranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre (sPICE), a 2.8ha public park on the rooftop, a refurbished and upgraded Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa), a refurbished and upgraded aquatic centre and a four-star hotel with retail outlets and a spacious parking lot.

It is not known if SP Setia and the state authorities have inked any agreement to firm up this deal.

SOURCE: Business Times