Latest news with #PenangIsland
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Penang's LRT Mutiara Line to begin construction in Aug — 21 stations across island & mainland
Penang's public transport scene is currently dominated by Rapid Penang buses, which cover a wide network across both the island and the mainland. You'll also find convenient alternatives like Grab for e-hailing, trishaws for short trips, and a free city bus called CAT that loops around George Town. But change is on the horizon. Come Aug 2025, Penang will begin building its first-ever metro system — the LRT Mutiara Line. Previously referred to as the Bayan Lepas LRT Project, this upgraded version gets its name from Penang's nickname, 'Pearl of the Orient,' and is all about easing traffic while better connecting the island and beyond. Spanning 29.5km with 21 planned stations, the LRT Mutiara Line will link key destinations across the island and mainland. It'll run between the new Penang South Reclamation Island A (also called Silicon Island) and major spots like KOMTAR and Penang Sentral. Trains will alternate routes, making it easier to get around without adding to road congestion. This LRT will feature Park & Ride options, transit-oriented development (TOD) zones, and smooth last-mile connections to support Penang's growth in a greener, more structured way. It'll even connect to important points like the Penang International Airport and Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal. Two main depots will support operations once construction of LRT Mutiara Line kicks off. With a maximum capacity of 10.9K passengers per hour in each direction, each train will carry at least 405 people — and select stations will include more than 1K parking spots for both cars and motorcycles. Expect about a 45-minute ride from Silicon Island to KOMTAR, and 49 minutes to Penang Sentral — a small price for skipping traffic and enjoying a more connected, sustainable Penang. While progress might appear slow in the early stages, it's worth noting that the project is scheduled for completion only by 31 Dec 2031 to give it a long but carefully planned timeline while ensuring everything runs smoothly. KL to JB ETS launches Aug 2025 — a new era for Singapore-Malaysia travel The post Penang's LRT Mutiara Line to begin construction in Aug — 21 stations across island & mainland appeared first on
Malay Mail
11-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Penang ferry terminal to get seaview deck, commercial spaces in revitalisation effort
GEORGE TOWN, June 11 — The Pengkalan Raja Tun Uda (PRTU) ferry terminal on Penang island will undergo an upgrade to include a seaview observatory deck, commercial spaces, and open car parks, the Penang Port Commission (PPC) announced today. PPC chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin said the revitalisation aims to modernise the terminal with an attractive design to improve visitor comfort and satisfaction. 'This will boost operational productivity,' Yeoh said in a statement. He added that the commercial spaces will feature a food and beverage hub and a garden bridge, alongside other attractions to draw more tourists. The PRTU upgrade is part of broader efforts to improve ferry operations, Yeoh noted. In addition, he said the extension of the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) now enables Oasis-class cruise ships to dock simultaneously, accommodating up to 12,000 passengers at a time. 'SPCT has been developed as a regional cruise ship hub, and projects around the terminal are being prioritised to complement these upgrades and attract more cruise ships to Penang,' he said. Yeoh also announced plans to collaborate with Printhero to establish a ferry museum showcasing Penang's iconic ferries, which once served as a crucial transportation link between Seberang Perai and the island. 'The conservation project aims to preserve the state's maritime heritage while offering visitors a chance to explore the history of water transportation in Malaysia. The old ferry, which carries countless memories, will be revived as a historical tourism attraction,' he said. Yesterday, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook visited the PPC and reviewed key projects, including the North Butterworth Container Terminal Expansion Master Plan. According to Yeoh, the expansion involves reclamation work over 322.83 hectares and includes plans for a major petroleum hub in the northern region called the Northern Petroleum Terminal (NPT). 'The NPT will be a bulk petroleum storage facility designed to accommodate Medium Range (MR) class tankers,' he said.
Malay Mail
22-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
CM: With no other natural resources, Penang has always relied on land transactions for revenue
GEORGE TOWN, May 22 — Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state has always depended on land transactions — through leases, alienation, and other methods under the National Land Code — to generate revenue. He said Penang lacks natural resources such as mines or a logging industry, and without these revenue streams, the state must rely on its land and land reclamation to create more land. 'What is there to be ashamed about the state disposing of its lands for revenue for the sake of development?' he said in his winding-up speech at the state legislative assembly today. Chow said Penang has depended on this model for the past five decades, and there is nothing shameful about it. He added that if Penang had not followed this approach to establish the Free Industrial Zone in the past, it would not be where it is today. 'What would Penang be like today if we had not disposed of land through leases and alienation to attract investors here?' he asked. He said the state cannot always rely on federal handouts, especially when the federal government is facing its own financial challenges. 'We have to depend on ourselves, so this is what we can do,' he said. Chow was responding to Penaga assemblyman Yusni Mat Piah (PAS), who had raised concerns about the state 'selling off' government land to fund its finances. 'The business of land transactions in Penang was not solely to get revenue but at the same time, it was aimed at driving development, creating job opportunities and improving economic prospects of the area,' he said. He clarified that technically, the state is not 'selling land' but disposing of it through leases, alienation, or other mechanisms. 'So the term 'selling lands' cannot be used in the context of the state's land administration,' he said. When disposing of land, he said the state government considers valuations provided by the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH). 'If the land involved a strategic project, including the construction of housing, the state would call for a Request for Proposal to dispose of the land,' he said. He added that this allows the state to obtain a higher premium than the pre-development land value. Chow stressed that this method of land disposal not only raises revenue but also serves a greater purpose. 'This is because the land is used for development and to improve the socio-economy of the area,' he said. He noted that if the state did not take the initiative to develop land, it would face the burden of maintenance costs, while the public would miss out on benefits such as roads and playgrounds. Earlier, clarifying the state's financial situation, he said Penang had recorded RM374,435,482.53 in revenue as of May 20. This comprised tax revenue of RM98,716,994.29, non-tax revenue of RM250,830,784.60, and non-revenue receipts of RM24,887,703.64. The state's expenditure as of May 20 stood at RM296,196,363.99. The breakdown was as follows: RM71,375,762.36 (emoluments), RM48,776,352.48 (services and supplies), RM3,754,878.50 (assets), RM170,268,758.36 (grants and fixed charges), and RM2,020,612.29 (other expenses). 'The revenue collected exceeded expenditure so the state recorded a revenue surplus of RM78,239,118.54,' he said. He said the balance of the consolidated revenue account as of May 21 was RM235,550,779.63. 'This clearly indicated that non-tax revenue is the primary contribution to the state's income, accounting for over 67 per cent of the total revenue,' he said. He said this revenue includes income from land premiums, service fees, and investment returns. Chow also pledged to restore the consolidated account balance to RM1 billion before the end of his term, so that the state government can use it for the welfare of Penangites in the future.
Malay Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Penang Opposition leader wants fiscal recovery plan to address revenue shortfall
GEORGE TOWN, May 21 — Penang Opposition Leader Muhammad Fauzi Yusof today pressed the state government for a five-year financial recovery plan to address what he described as a fiscal crisis currently facing the state. The Sungai Dua assemblyman said that the state government must review and balance its critical and non-critical spending while improving its administrative structure and procedures. 'The state government must not use oppressive policies, such as raising quit rent rates that burden the people of Penang, in order to increase state revenue,' Fauzi said at a press conference held outside the state legislative assembly today. He was referring to a reply by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow in the assembly, which mentioned plans to raise state revenue streams through the collection of quit rent arrears amounting to RM6 million, selling state lands, and reviewing various fees and charges. Fauzi cited the Auditor-General's Report from October 2024, which he said indicated a drastic decline in the state's financial performance, in which the revenue account fell 52 per cent in 2023 from the year before while the consolidated trust account showed a 2.9 per cent decrease. 'This comparison is highly unbalanced, especially when the state government's expenditure increased by 13.9 per cent while state revenue decreased by 0.4 per cent (in the same period),' he added, highlighting the disparity. Fauzi warned that if this situation continues, Penang would face a critical cash flow risk. 'This will jeopardise the state's ability to manage its funds and administrative expenses, including the salaries of civil servants in the state,' he said. Yesterday, another opposition assemblyman, Yusni Mat Piah (PAS-Penaga), also questioned the state's decision to purchase new cars for state executive councillors and officials while allegedly facing a fiscal crisis. Chow is expected to address these concerns regarding the state's financial situation during his winding-up speech at the state legislative assembly tomorrow.
Free Malaysia Today
19-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Request for proposal for Penang water taxi service cancelled
In 2021, MBPP identified four suitable jetties that could be used as pick-up and drop-off points for the water taxi service after a preliminary study. (Bernama pic) GEORGE TOWN : The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has agreed to cancel its request for proposal for the proposed water taxi service as the company involved has failed to secure approvals from the transport ministry. State infrastructure, transport and digital committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said MBPP's procurement board issued the cancellation letter on April 17 following the firm's failure to comply with the letter of intent for the project. 'At present, the state government is in discussions with the ministry to review the terms and feasibility of this project in greater detail. 'If the RFP is reopened in the future, the state government hopes that interested companies will be truly prepared and capable of fulfilling all the required conditions,' he said in a written reply to Teh Lai Heng (PH-Komtar) regarding the proposed water taxi service. Zairil said two companies had submitted proposals and several presentations were held before the RFP technical evaluation committee. MBPP then issued the letter of intent to the selected company. However, the company needed to obtain further approvals from various agencies like the marine department, Penang Port Commission, and district and land office, among others, before a letter of acceptance could be issued. In 2021, MBPP had conducted a preliminary study and identified suitable jetty locations that could be used as pick-up and drop-off points, with four locations proposed for the water taxi service.
