Global interest in Penang Bay

(From right) Jagdeep explaining the state’s vision for Penang Bay. With him are Deputy State Secretary Datuk Azhar Arshad, Chief Minister Incorporated deputy general manager S. Bharathi and Think City executive director Hamdan Abdul Majeed.

THIRTY-SIX finalists have been shortlisted for the final round of the Penang Bay International Ideas Competition.

Penang local government committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the contest concerning the state’s vision for the waterfronts of Butterworth and George Town received 79 entries from 20 countries.

“Half of the entries were from overseas. This shows the global interest in Penang,” he said in a press conference at UAB Building in China Street Ghaut on Monday.

“There were 5,000 downloads of the competition brief by website visitors from 79 countries.

“The competition was also featured in an international architecture magazine.”

It was earlier reported that the project was a partnership between the Penang government and

Think City, and developed by the George Town Conservation and Development Corporation to create a city core between Butterworth on the mainland and George Town on the island.

The Penang Bay project will incorporate Gurney Wharf, light rail connectivity, Jelutong landfill, the George Town north and east seafront projects plus waterfront development in Butterworth.

The project will deliver significant new opportunities for Penangites via publicly accessible waterfront promenades plus retail, education, lifestyle and transport amenities.

Jagdeep said the top three winners and five consolation winners would be chosen by a seven-member jury comprising state officials, representatives from Aga Khan Trust for Culture, UN Habitat, Global Development Incubator, Malaysian Institute of Planners and an independent landscape architect.

He said the ultimate vision for Penang Bay was to transform the George Town and Butterworth waterfronts into an Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Cities Compliant Zone powered by the green, digital and creative industries.

Jagdeep pointed out Penang Bay would be the first in Malaysia and an opportunity to carry out Penang’s urbanisation process in a more sustainable manner.

He said a new award called ‘People’s Favourite’ was also introduced to select the submission with the highest number of votes.

He said the public could vote for up to a maximum of three finalists from the 36 top finalists.

“The finalist with most votes will receive the ‘People’s Favourite’ award and the submission will be displayed among the winners.”

Jagdeep said the winners would be announced in January.

The top three winners will be awarded cash prizes of US$20,000 (RM81,440), US$8,000 (RM32,576) and US$4,000 (RM16,288).

The five consolation winners will each get US$1,000 (RM4,072).

A virtual exhibition will be made available to the public soon for them to view and vote for their favourite submissions on the competition website.

For further details, go to www.penangbaycompetition.com