Popular Pesta Pulau Pinang site acquired for Mutiara LRT project

The project owner - Mass Rail Transit (MRT) Corporation Sdn Bhd, would begin surveying the site in Sungai Nibong by next June

THE site of the popular Pesta Pulau Pinang in Sungai Nibong has become the first landmark to be acquired for the mammoth Mutiara Light Rail TRansit (LRT) project which begins its rollout now.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow confirmed that the project owner - Mass Rail Transit (MRT) Corporation Sdn Bhd, would begin surveying the site in Sungai Nibong by next June, as part of preparations to establish a depot for the 29km - long LRT.

The Sungai Nibong site will come under the jurisdiction of the MRT Corp around June, said Chow, who added that this may affect the organisation of events there, including the annual Pesta Pulau Pinang festivities.

The state is considering relocating the site to the mainland of Prai as a possibility.

“After June, this whole stretch will come under MRT Corp, so we may not be able to organise events here in the same way anymore,” Chow said after opening a state - level fun walkathon event at Sungai Nibong recently.

Some 1,500 participants took part in the fun walk accompanied by their families and friends.

Present were state Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi and volunteers from the Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC).

Chow also mentioned that the Pesta event taking place next week is likely to be the last to be held under the current set-up before the site is officially handed over.

Although the festival has mellowed over the years in terms of importance to the tourism calendar, it is still a crowd-pulling event because it attracts visitors from neighbouring Kedah, Perlis and Perak.

“We are unsure if similar activities can continue once work begins, as the area will undergo significant changes,” Chow said to a question if the Pesta event can continue at the same site.

Besides a depot for the LRT, Sungai Nibong is also a strategic station stop, as it is located near the Queensbay Mall commercial area, while also links up to the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) sprawling campus in Sungai Dua.

 “This project involves the depot and a future LRT station, so MRT Corp needs full access to proceed. That is why these may be the last events we host here,” he added. - November 30, 2025.