Penang begins major infrastructure push for Silicon Island
GEORGE TOWN: A 380-metre marine viaduct connecting the southern coast of Penang island to the emerging Silicon Island is expected to be opened to the public by December 2028.
It will feature four lanes in each direction. The bridge will serve as a key component of the Pan Island Link 2A (PIL2A) – a strategic infrastructure initiative aimed at improving connectivity between Silicon Island and the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Bridge, while supporting Penang's long-term urban growth.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the contract for the bridge has been awarded to a company.
"Construction is scheduled to begin this month, with the first phase targeted for completion by mid-2027 to support the opening of Silicon Island's first operational factory.
"Final construction and full commissioning are expected to be completed by the end of 2028," he told newsmen after leading a delegation for a site visit via a temporary steel bridge to inspect progress on the Silicon Island, which now spans 160 acres (64.75 ha) here today.
The bridge is built next to the proposed marine viaduct.
Construction for the 378-metre bridge, which began in August 2024 and was completed in March this year, is meant to provide temporary access for construction and infrastructure works on Silicon Island.
"This temporary bridge is an important connection to expedite reclamation works at Silicon Island. With the temporary bridge, it will expedite the mobilisation of machinery and workers compared with using boats before this," he added.
The visit included a preview of the designated areas for the future Mutiara Line light rail transit (LRT) depot and Green Tech Park, both of which are gradually taking shape as part of the state's innovation-driven development plans.
Chow said full swing work for the depot would begin once the Notice to Proceed has been issued to SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd (SRS) in a matter of weeks. Preliminary works, which include soil testing and placement of infrastructure, are being carried out.
Chow said that while the project had faced challenges, they have been addressed systematically.
"Any issues raised will be addressed promptly. It is a model development where many people came to visit to see how we overcome issues like the environment, fishermen's concerns and such," he said.
During a visit to Penang in May 2023, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the federal government would allocate additional funding to help expedite the state's proposed Mutiara Line light rail transit (LRT) project.
At the time, he also requested that the state government scale down the scope of the reclamation project.
The Penang Silicon Island initiative is projected to generate a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) impact of RM1.1 trillion, attract total investments amounting to RM74.7 billion, and create some 220,000 job opportunities.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Inaccurate to compare CAAM-Mavcom merger to SPAD's dissolution, says Loke
PUTRAJAYA: The merger involving the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), which will take over the economic regulatory functions of the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom), should not be compared to the dissolution of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) in 2018. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the consolidation of CAAM and Mavcom is intended to strengthen the regulator's role and establish a single authority to oversee the aviation industry. "CAAM has always been a technical regulator, while Mavcom functions as an economic regulator. "This merger does not replace CAAM's role; it enhances it. CAAM has long handled technical regulation, including aircraft, airlines and pilots. "With the merger, CAAM's responsibilities are now expanded. Our aim is to have a single, unified regulator for the aviation sector," he told reporters here today. Loke said comparing the CAAM-Mavcom merger with SPAD's dissolution and the formation of the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) was inaccurate, as they occurred under entirely different circumstances. Earlier today, Loke announced that CAAM will take over the economic regulatory functions of the Mavcom starting Aug 1. This follows the merger of the two entities, under which CAAM will transition into a Statutory Body with Separated Terms and Freedoms (BBDSB), making it the sole aviation regulatory authority overseeing the technical, safety, and economic aspects of the industry. Loke had said that the merger would save the government about RM1.5bil to RM2bil over the next decade. In 2018, Loke had then announced the establishment of APAD following the decommissioning of SPAD. He had said that Apas would be a full-fledged department under the ministry, headed by a director-general and tasked with planning the development of the country's land public transport system, including mass rail transit (MRT), light rail transit (LRT), rail transportation and bus systems.
New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Positive Q2 earnings seen for listed construction companies
KUALA LUMPUR: Listed construction companies may see earnings rising in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, after posting steady growths in Q1, industry observers said. They, however, said while job fows may steadilly pick up, margins will remain under pressure in some cases. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said most companies delivered Q1 earnings that reflected stable progress on ongoing projects and effective cost management, despite a still-cautious operating environment. One of the key outperformers during the quarter was Sunway Construction Group Bhd (SunCon). The company stood out for its steady order book execution, strong project pipeline, and operational efficiency, Thong said. Looking ahead, he expects job flows to gradually pick up, supported by the rollout of major infrastructure projects such as the estimated RM17 billion Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT). However, he said the tangible impact on company earnings may only be seen further down the line. "We could see progress recognition begin in late 2025 or early 2026. Earnings from these projects will likely come through in early 2026," he told Business Times. Another industry analyst concurred that overall, most listed construction firms had met or slightly exceeded market expectations in Q1. However, he noted that margins remained under pressure in some cases due to elevated material and labour costs. "We saw that SunCon did well with solid execution and steady wins that kept them ahead. Gamuda Bhd also stood out, thanks to their overseas projects in Australia and Taiwan. "The group's geographically diversified operations are paying off, providing a buffer against the slower pace of local job flows," he noted. The analyst said the Penang LRT project provides clear visibility for the sector's medium-term pipeline, although actual disbursement and contract awards may only materialise meaningfully from late 2025. CIMB Securities Sdn Bhd said the construction sector reported another steady set of results during the recently concluded Q1 reporting season. "Among the construction stocks within our coverage, four reported results that met expectations, while IJM Corp Bhd outperformed." The firm highlighted that none of the construction companies incurred any major provisions or impairments for their projects. Overall, CIMB Securities maintained an "Overweight" call on the construction sector, and project calendar year 2025 earnings growth of 10 per cent year-on-year. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the firm expect sector earnings growth to remain on an upward trajectory in Q2, underpinned by higher construction site activities post the festive breaks in Q1.. Likewise, it said order book visibility is improving alongside the gradual rollout of big-ticket public projects and the potential award of up to six large-scale data centre facilities worth about RM2 billion each over the next two to three quarters. The firm expects the pace of job awards in the construction industry to gather momentum ahead of the 13th Malaysia Plan, which is set to be tabled in July. Nevertheless, it said the expanded Sales and Service Tax scope could re-ignite near-term uncertainties concerning the margins of ongoing non-residential construction jobs of lower value. "We reinstate IJM Corp as one of our top large-cap construction picks alongside Gamuda. "IJM Corp is in the final stages of converting RM6 billion-RM8 billion worth of ongoing bids, and recently received the green light to proceed with the RM1.4 billion New Pantai Expressway extension," it noted. Meanwhile, CIMB Securities said Gamuda remains on track to meet its end-2025 order book target of RM40 billion-RM45 billion, supported by around RM24 billion in high-conviction tenders. These include up to six data centre-related bids, each valued at about RM2 billion. For alpha plays, the firm highlighted Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB), which had secured RM5.6 billion worth of new jobs year to date. It added that there is upside risk to MRCB's FY25 new order book target of RM6 billion, citing potential wins from the RM1 billion KL Sentral redevelopment and an active tender book of RM1.7 billion. As for small-cap exposure, the firm pointed to Econpile Holdings Bhd, citing its potential to benefit from a reacceleration in larger-scale piling works.
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Borneo Post
SWB: Sibu water woes traced to leaks at hospital, airport
Abdul Malik, flanked by Sia (left) and Loh, responds to a question posed during the press conference. SIBU (June 21): The ongoing water supply issues affecting Kemuyang, Sibu Jaya, Rascom Camp and the surrounding areas have been primarily attributed to leaks in the pipeline supplying water to the mentioned areas. Speaking at a press conference here today, Sibu Water Board (SWB) general manager Abdul Malik Abdullah revealed that investigations had pinpointed two key premises with suspected major internal pipeline leaks: Sibu Hospital, and Sibu Airport. 'In the case of Sibu Hospital, we have observed a noticeable increase in water consumption, from approximately 0.5 MLD (million litres per day) to 1MLD. 'Additionally, a review of the hospital's water bills also raised concerns. Typically, their monthly bill is around RM15,000. 'However, last month, it spiked to RM30,000. 'As for Sibu Airport, daily water consumption has doubled from 0.3MLD to 0.6MLD,' he said, adding that both locations had been notified of these matters. In view of this, he said the board had slightly reduced the sluice valve opening to regulate water flow to these two locations while awaiting repair works. According to Abdul Malik, many pipelines are ageing, with some already in service for about 30 years. He also highlighted that the water demand in Sibu had reached its peak at 195MLD, matching the combined production capacity of the existing plants: 150MLD from the Salim Water Treatment Plant, and 45MLD from the Bukit Lima treatment facility. 'This means the system is operating at full capacity. Even minor water disruptions or leaks can impact the overall supply,' he added. To address the issue, Abdul Malik said several main projects had been approved, with some currently being implemented. 'The Salim water treatment plant will increase its capacity from 150MLD to 300MLD, with RM300 million allocated by the Sarawak government,' he said, adding that the project commenced in May last year and should reach completion by mid-2027. 'Upon completion, Sibu's total water production capacity will increase to 345MLD, including output from the Bukit Lima water treatment plant, boosting the reserve margin in order to water usage, in which we anticipate until 2036.' Abdul Malik also said the Sarawak government had approved RM170 million for replacement of 360km stretch of ageing pipes in phases, from this year until 2028. 'This year, five packages worth RM51 million are being implemented as part of the overall project. The Sarawak government has allocated RM1.1 billion for the initiative, with RM170 million allocated to SWB,' he said. Furthermore, Abdul Malik pointed at the Sungai Sadit acute plant as among the mitigation measures, pending the completion of the upgrading works on the Salim water treatment plant. 'This acute system, with 4MLD production capacity, will increase our water reserves.' He also said the non-revenue water (NRW) reduction project, expected to be completed by April 2026, should lead to water savings of 15MLD. In addition, the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB)'s project, an acute plant in Nibong Tada, once completed, would eliminate the need for SWB to supply 2MLD of water to JBALB. Among those present at the press conference were SWB senior manager (customer service and distribution) Loh Wei Lun and assistant executive (non-revenue water) Sia Yew Tatt. disruption pipeline leaks Sibu SWB water
