Land for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) depot on Silicon Island is expected to be handed over to MRT Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRTC) as early as May, marking the first topside construction milestone on Penang’s reclaimed island project.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the 27.7-hectare (68.5-acre) depot site will be transferred once reclamation and ground preparation are completed, allowing construction to start without waiting for the full 930-hectare masterplan area to be formed.
“We will not wait for the entire reclamation to be finished before starting topside development. Once the land is ready, construction can begin, starting with the LRT depot site,” he said at the official launch of the Penang Silicon Island Local Plan 2050 (RTPSI) public display at Amari SPICE Penang.
Chow said 133.5 hectares of the 517.6-hectare first phase target have been reclaimed so far. The depot handover marks a key milestone that signals physical development on Silicon Island is moving forward.
The project aims to position Penang as a global gateway while addressing the state’s industrial land shortage. The proposed Green Tech Park will offer a plug-and-play ecosystem designed to meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements of global corporations.
Chow said the initiative is projected to contribute up to RM1.1 trillion to Malaysia’s gross domestic product by 2050 and create 220,000 high-quality jobs across high-tech engineering, creative industries and the services economy.
The RTPSI 2050 plan incorporates GeoBIM, integrating Geographic Information Systems and Building Information Modelling, to provide investors with fast and transparent digital planning data. It targets a 45 per cent reduction in carbon emissions, full renewable energy use in the Green Tech Park, and a 70:30 modal shift towards public transport, cycling and pedestrian networks.
On the proposal to relocate the state legislative assembly to Silicon Island, Chow said the land is expected to be ready by 2028, with physical development to begin only after that.
The public display period for the plan runs until 8 May. Chow called on stakeholders, including the private sector, NGOs, academics and the public, to contribute feedback.
Source: Malay Mail
