PENANG will showcase transparency and accountability when it comes to the multi-billion Mutiara Light Rail Transit (LRT) mammoth project by making the revised alignment line public.
The public inspection exercise will run from tomorrow until May 24, giving people three months to review and comment on the proposed extension of the LRT line to Penang Sentral in Butterworth, its alignment, station locations and other related matters, including the height of the towers.
Designated information booths have been set up at several locations across Penang, including Komtar, Penang Sentral and the Butterworth KTM station as part of the public inspection exercise, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
He welcomed the public inspection for the revised railway scheme, as it was done in accordance with legal requirements following several changes to the original plan.
“The earlier scheme approval was obtained under the state government, providing for a route from Komtar to Silicon Island.
“However, subsequent amendments were made, including provisions related to a provisional depot at Penang Sentral, the redesignation of the Silicon Island depot from a main depot to a provisional depot, as well as arrangements involving the Pesta (Pulau Pinang) site depot.
“These changes affect the original railway scheme approval granted by the Land Public Transport Commission. As such, amendments to the approval are required under the law,” Chow said after visiting Heritage House 25 in Armenian Street today.
The event also marked the celebration of the Lunar New Year.
The project owner is now the Mass Rail Transit (MRT) Corporation Bhd, the main owner of the LRT / MRT system in the Klang Valley, whereas the SRS Consortium is considered a project delivery partner and a major contractor.
MRT, as the project owner, must comply with the relevant legislation, said Chow.
“Therefore, a public display process is necessary to obtain feedback from the public on the revised plans and adjustments. The revisions are intended to enhance the original alignment, including the extension from Macallum (area) to Penang Sentral, while clarifying the functions of the respective depots,” he explained.
MRT Corp said in a statement that the revised scheme will also provide approximately 1,000 additional parking bays at Penang Sentral.
“From there, passengers can travel via the LRT to Komtar, the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone and Penang International Airport. The revised scheme also includes the omission of three stations in line with the scaling down of the Penang South Island reclamation project. There are also additional stations at Penang Sentral and Bagan Luar, as well as a secondary depot in Sungai Dua,” said MRT Corp.
The RM16.8 billion Mutiara Line is expected to span 29.67km in total, featuring 20 stations and two provisional stations, and is ready to roll out by the end of 2031.
The line will link a reclaimed island of Silicon Island near the airport to Komtar and continue via a cross-channel bridge to Butterworth.
It is by far the largest ever infrastructure project implemented in Penang apart from the two cross-channel bridges. - February 23, 2026.
