BY ARNOLD LOH
Designed for comfort: Chan (second from right) showing a model of the Sierra East apartments project to (from left) Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik, Chow, Jagdeep and Paya Terubong assemblyman Yeoh Soon Hin after the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Chong Company gallery in Penang.
FEW developers in Penang have the right to a “badge of honour” like Chong Company Sdn Bhd does.
The developer built many of the sprawling homes around Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman which was known as Taman Ayer Rajah in the 1970s. Their selling price was from only RM30,000 to RM40,000 then. Now, they are worth at least RM3.5mil each.
The company has built over 5,000 homes on the island since 1963.
Other mature areas on the honour roll include Taman Lalulintas, Taman Jubilee, Taman Gembira and Pangsapuri Delima in Leandros Lane off Jalan Kelawei.
“Most of the homes we have built in the last 52 years were low medium-cost and affordable housing. We believe in building properties for everyday Penangites to call home,” said managing director Chan Fock Seng.
He said Chong Company went a step further by building markets, food courts and small shopping malls within walking distance to their residential projects.
“Such amenities ensured the properties matured into pleasant and respectable neighbourhoods.”
The company, Chan said, had maintained a low profile since its beginning.
“We had only showrooms at our construction sites and we mostly marketed our properties to locals.
“But we are changing our style to suit the market dynamics.”
Sited at the corner of Burmah Road and Arratoon Road now is the Chong Company Gallery.
On arrival, prospective buyers might be taken aback by the abundant parking lots available.
Of the 2,787sq m in land area, the gallery only takes up about 325sq m.
Inside is a show unit of Sierra East apartments in Bukit Jambul.
This four-bedroom show unit measures 130sq m and gives prospective owners an instant feel of the ambience they can expect.
The project is touted as a lifestyle residence.
Of the 430 residences, 30% are affordable housing units that can be bought only through the state government.
The remaining units are priced up to RM700,000.
Also promoted in the gallery are Aster homes in Taman Pantai Indah in the Jalan Pantai Jerejak area.
These three-storey link homes offer about 380sq m each.
They contain six bedrooms, five bathrooms, a car porch to hold three cars, two open terraces, a private garden and an inner courtyard for intermediate units.
From the space alone, it is clear that Chong Company built Aster homes for Penang families to grow into.
Present to grace the gallery’s opening were state Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow and state Housing Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo as well as several MPs, state assemblymen and city councillors.
