The long-awaited Notice to Commence Work for Penang’s Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project has finally been issued by Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (MRT Corp) in May, paving the way for construction to begin.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook confirmed that all outstanding issues between the Federal and State Governments regarding the LRT project were resolved in a meeting with Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow in Putrajaya in May 2025.

Speaking at the launch of 50 Rapid Penang On-Demand vans on 10 June 2025, Loke announced, “All matters, including the long-pending Notice to Proceed, have been settled. Media reports have also confirmed that the main contractor has appointed subcontractors, so groundwork is expected to start within one to two months.”

Loke, who is also Member of Parliament for Seremban, added that the Ministry hopes the State authorities and project implementers will ensure proper traffic management and diversion plans are in place during the piling phase.

Earlier, Chow Kon Yeow, who is also the State Executive Councillor for Finance, Economic Development, Land, and Communications, had stated that construction could not proceed without the formal notice from MRT Corp. As a fully federally owned entity, MRT Corp’s approval was crucial for the SRS Consortium to begin work on the state’s first modern rail transit system.

Chow made the remarks during a media event in April 2025 after officiating the launch of a new e-waste recycling station in Batu Kawan.

The LRT Mutiara Line is a major infrastructure project expected to transform public transport in Penang, offering enhanced urban mobility and supporting future economic growth.