Three major development projects currently underway at Penang General Hospital (HPP), with a total allocation of RM758 million, are expected to significantly strengthen the state’s public healthcare system.

According to State Executive Councillor for Youth, Sports and Health, Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, the projects involve the construction of a Women and Children’s Block, a new Stem Cell Services Centre, and a Specialist Clinic and Ward Block.

“These projects are important milestones for Penang’s healthcare network, and we deeply appreciate the funding approved by the Federal Government under the 11th Malaysia Plan, Rolling Plan 1,” he said during a site visit to the Women and Children’s Block project.

The RM307 million Women and Children’s Block is currently 34.35% complete and is expected to be ready by January 2026. Constructed under a design-and-build model via open tender, it will include an eight-storey hospital block with 329 beds, a 12-storey car park, a cafeteria, a playground, and a surau.

Meanwhile, the new Stem Cell Services Centre, with a cost of RM23 million, is 10.19% complete and targeted for completion by March 2027. Built through conventional open tender, it will enhance bone marrow transplant services, including Apheresis and Stem Cell Lab facilities.

The third project—the Specialist Clinic and Ward Block—will cost RM428 million and is scheduled for completion in May 2029. It will include a 14-storey building with 216 beds, specialist clinics, inpatient wards, and a multi-level car park.

Gooi emphasized that all projects are being overseen by the Public Works Department (JKR) to ensure transparency and professionalism. He also stated that the comprehensive development of these healthcare facilities is part of ongoing efforts to improve healthcare quality for Penang residents.

Proposed landed residential development located in the northern part of Balik Pulau, along Jalan Pantai Acheh. The site is approximately 3 km from SJKC Yu Chai and less than a 10-minute drive to both Botanica.CT and the Balik Pulau town centre. The surrounding area includes several durian farms within a few kilometres’ radius.

The development is planned in two phases and will involve the construction of over 100 residential units:

Phase 1

• 49 units of 3-storey affordable terrace houses
• 33 units of 3-storey terrace houses

Phase 2

• 52 units of 3-storey terrace houses
• 4 units of 3-storey semi-detached houses

The project is still pending for approval. More details will be available upon official launch.

Property Name: (to be confirmed)
Location : Balik Pulau
Property Type : Residential
Total Units : 49 (affordable), 85 (terrace), 4 (semi-d)
Land Tenure : (to be confirmed)
Indicative Price : RM300,000 (affordable housing price guide)
Developer : (Follow us to find out more)

DISCLAIMER: This article is solely based on research done using publicly available data. This is not an advertisement. Any claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a project or service should be verified with the developer, provider, or party in question.

About Queens Residences 3

The third phase of the Queens Waterfront development by Ideal Property Group (also known as Q3), situated near Queensbay in Penang. Positioned strategically on reclaimed seafront land directly opposite Queensbay Mall, it’s an expansion of the successful Q1 and Q2. The new phase of development will introduce another 532 residential units, offering a choice of five different layouts ranging from 950 sq.ft. to 1,400 sq.ft.

Find out more about Queens Residences 3

Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBAPP) is investing RM250 million to build a new water treatment plant (WTP) near Mengkuang Dam to strengthen water supply in Penang.

Chief Minister Y.A.B. Chow Kon Yeow said the new Mengkuang Taman WTP, located about 550 meters from the dam, is designed with a maximum treatment capacity of 114 million litres per day (MLD). The project is expected to take 18 months to complete, with targeted completion by November 2026.

“Once completed, the status of Mengkuang Dam will shift from the current Enlarged Mengkuang Dam (EMD) classification to a dual-purpose dam,” Chow said during the groundbreaking ceremony on May 24, 2025.

This transition, he added, will help reduce the state’s reliance on the Sungai Dua WTP, currently the main source of treated water in Penang.

PBAPP Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Ir. K. Pathmanathan, shared that since January 2021, the dam’s capacity has consistently remained above 85%, reflecting its reliability as a raw water source.

The EMD has an effective capacity of 86,400 million litres – equivalent to 4.7 times the Teluk Bahang Dam and 40 times the Air Itam Dam.

“The primary goal of the Mengkuang Taman WTP is to produce up to 114 MLD of additional treated water for the Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) district,” Pathmanathan explained.

The project is a strategic move to support growing water demand in the region, especially in the face of climate change and urban expansion.

Penang’s architectural heritage has suffered a significant loss with the demolition of the iconic Boon Siew Villa in Batu Ferringhi. Once a majestic seafront home, the villa stood as a testament to the legacy of Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew, the self-made tycoon who brought Honda motorcycles to Malaysia. Its removal marks yet another chapter in the island’s struggle to balance progress with preservation.

The villa, located at Shamrock Beach, has been torn down to make way for the upcoming 43-storey Ascott Residences Batu Ferringhi, a luxury condominium project set to be completed by January 2028. Hoardings now surround the site, and construction is underway, signalling the end of an era for a building that once commanded sweeping views of the Tanjung Bungah coastline.

For residents and heritage advocates, the demolition is deeply felt. “The Boon Siew Villa was not just a house; it was a living part of Penang’s history,” said Clement Liang, president of the Penang Heritage Trust (PHT). “It is deeply regrettable that the developer chose to demolish it rather than incorporate it into their plans.”

Liang highlighted a growing concern: the lack of legal protection for historical buildings outside the George Town World Heritage Site. Many of these structures, though rich in character and cultural value, remain vulnerable to the pressures of rapid urban development.

Last October, Singapore-based The Ascott Ltd partnered with VST Property Group’s Instant Icon Sdn Bhd to launch the Ascott Residences Batu Ferringhi. The upscale development is marketed as a new standard in luxury living on the island’s northern coast. However, heritage groups argue that the cost of such progress is too high.

“The loss of such landmarks is like erasing part of the city’s memory,” Liang warned. “Each time a historical building is replaced, we lose a part of what makes Penang unique.”

He added that more buildings, including the Art Deco structures along Chow Thye Road, could soon meet a similar fate if stronger preservation laws are not enforced. Without legal safeguards, private owners are free to redevelop heritage properties, often at the expense of cultural identity.

As Penang continues to evolve, the challenge remains: can development and heritage preservation coexist, or will progress continue to come at the cost of the past?