Source: The China Press

Plans for a new bridge linking Penang Island to Pulau Jerejak are taking shape, with the proposed 1km crossing envisioned as a distinctive landmark rather than a conventional road bridge.

Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin said the bridge is planned with four lanes, comprising two lanes towards Pulau Jerejak and two lanes towards Penang Island, together with pedestrian and cycling paths. Road widening works leading to the proposed bridge are expected to begin next month, but the bridge itself has yet to start construction as its final design is still being refined.

Sim said he had proposed that the developer give the bridge its own identity, noting that Penang already has the First and Second Penang Bridges. The developer has accepted the suggestion and plans to engage two international architects and one local architect to work on the design. No final visual rendering is available yet.

The bridge is expected to take about three years to complete, with a target completion date of March 2029. Once completed, it would provide direct road access to Pulau Jerejak, which currently remains accessible only by boat, potentially improving connectivity and attracting more visitors.

The bridge is part of a proposed development covering about 80 acres on Pulau Jerejak. The plans include a financial centre, resort facilities, serviced apartments and hotels, with the aim of creating a business ecosystem capable of attracting banks, venture capital firms, private equity firms and other investment institutions.

Sim said the proposed financial hub could complement Penang’s technology and semiconductor industries by bringing investors closer to the state’s estimated 20,000 IC design engineers. He said many engineers have technical expertise and business ideas but remain employed by companies partly because they lack access to funding to start their own ventures.

By concentrating technology companies and investment institutions in the same area, he said startups could have greater opportunities to engage with potential investors and obtain funding.

Development on Pulau Jerejak will be subject to environmental, heritage and aviation-related constraints. Large portions of the island are forest reserve, while the developer is limited to its approximately 80-acre landholding. Building height restrictions will also apply.

Sim said the developer had been asked to restore selected historical sites, including the Russian Sailors’ Cemetery. Pulau Jerejak previously served as a quarantine location and retains several historical remnants, making heritage conservation an important consideration in the planned development.

Separately, Sim, who is also Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, said Malaysia could potentially achieve high-income nation status within the next few years, possibly within two to three years, as the economy continues shifting towards higher-value industries such as electronics, semiconductors and advanced technology.