Penang Island Local Plan to be gazetted by 2026, says mayor

THE delayed Penang Island (Local Plan) is expected to be gazetted by next year after numerous public engagement exercises and incorporation of key inputs from relevant stakeholders, said Lord Mayor Datuk Anthony Rajendran.

The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) president said that the Local Plan will detail policies and strategic planning for Penang Island as well as a town planning and land use map for both the authorities and private sectors to reference.

The Local Plan has been delayed for some two decades despite George Town being one of the earliest cities in Malaysia to undergo rapid development.

Civil society here has been championing for an effective Local Plan for decades.

According to Rajendran, the city council has held 12 engagement sessions with interest groups to gather feedback and suggestions for improvements.

"The process was ongoing and would be finalised by this year," said Rajendran at a briefing of the plan's development with the state government and elected representatives here.

"We will take these views and recommendations into account when finalising the local plan."

After the public sessions, focus groups will be organised to further enhance the plan, Rajendran said.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow acknowledged the delay, saying that this was the third attempt by MBPP and the state to draft a local plan since 2008.

"Although we have yet to implement a local plan, development here has continued to be guided by the Penang Structure Plan, which we are now updating to the Penang Structure Plan 2040," he said.

Chow said all development in Penang remained subject to strict regulatory oversight and must comply with guidelines set out in the structure plan.

"These guidelines are updated regularly, ensuring that development is controlled and sustainable, even without a gazetted local plan," he assured.

One of the delays cited in the past, was the constant thirst for development in both the industrial, residential and commercial sectors of Penang.

It has reached a haphazard point with far reaching consequences of environment degradation, severe traffic congestion and unoccupied residential and commercial units, which is a sore sight, said civil society members here. - August 16, 2025.