Apart from busy adding more languages on road signs and jockeying to change road names, apparently the Penang state government is attracting foreign investors to invest in a very important project: a golf course.
PENANG, Nov 1 – Penang has welcomed a South Korean conglomerate commitment to build a US$100 million (RM360 million) golf course in Batu Kawan despite the global economic gloom, saying it is a testimony of Korean confidence in the island state’s future under the new government.
The project by DK ENC, which has built golf courses in South Korea and also one in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, will be completed in 2013 and is the most expensive in Penang. DK ENC signed an agreement for the golf course with the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) during Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s visit to Seoul on Thursday.
“This project will not only give an opportunity for Koreans to indulge in their love for golf but also offer employment and business opportunities for Penangites,” Lim said in a press statement issued this afternoon.
He said the golf project also showed that Korean investors believe in the new government’s commitment to transforming Penang into an international city. [Penang gets RM360 million Korean golf course. The Malaysian Insider. November 1 2008.
I like it how the Chief Minister of Penang said “This project will not only give an opportunity for Koreans to indulge in their love for golf but also offer employment and business opportunities for Penangites“.
It sounds so shallow that is almost humorous. What kind of employment is that sir? Caddies?
Does Penang need another golf course anyway?
12 replies on “[1822] Of a golf course is the future of Penang!”
[…] ridiculously touting a golf course as the future of Penang, they want a tiger park in Penang. PENANG, March 15 (Bernama) — The Penang government plans […]
My Dear Hafiz, I would like to differ but i just dont want to prolong this. I rest my case. Keep Writing. :)
Daniel,
It’s sarcasm. Hell, even investment is sewage system is better than a golf course. And that is not sarcasm.
Sure, it’s foreign capital but Penang should not come out and then make a buzz about it, Trust me, if it was announced by Penang under Gerakan, I’m sure the same people that brought in the golf course would be the first to voice their opposition.
Foremost, to say that employment and opportunities in golf course is only about caddies is too shallow for me. Investment is investment be it 1 million or 100 million. Investment is investment be it in sewage system or golf course. All this create opportunities, among others, tourism, construction, services, etc. After all it’s foreign capital, not wang rakyat going down the drain.
Consider this. Selangor brought in RM5 billion investment in solar cell production
Penang brings in RM300 million for a golf course. I think it’s better for Penang not to beat its chest for silly things like this.
What’s wrong with USD100.00 million being pumped into the economy? Something is better than nothing.
Would it be better to spend RM1.60 billion on overinflated helicopters prices or RM5.00 billion to prop up share value? In what manner does this RM6.00 billion helps our economy?
To create a few more jobs than stealing from people is far much better.
Maybe we should develop a sports or leisure-related dependency theory which postulates that countries can only develop if it can pander to the whims of international capitalists.
I really like the exchanges here. They are really so “seriously hilarious”!
After assuming powers, off go the high tech Samsung investment, in come an expensive golf course! What a GREAT achievement!
How about “Bullshit: Hypothesis testing on how similar the new state government is to the old state government”?
Maybe a political sociology paper:
“Golf Courses as Social Capital: A geo-institutional formation of networks of capitalist risk-sharing in the developing world.”
a more interesting study would revolve around diminishing returns considering that Penang already has a couple of golf courses.
Or net effect since trees will be cut and land converted.
Goddamn golf courses. Economists! Study the effect of Availability of Domestic Golf Courses on Foreign Direct Investment: A Comparative Study.