Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has announced a RM3 million allocation for the development of 6 Taman Rekreasi Madani projects in Penang, aimed at enhancing community recreational facilities across the state.

According to Nga, three of the parks will be located on Penang Island, while the remaining three will be built on the mainland, with two in Permatang Pauh and one in Jawi, Nibong Tebal. Each project carries an allocation of RM500,000 and must be completed by Christmas this year.

“There shouldn’t be any delay. These projects must be completed within this year,” Nga said during the presentation ceremony of environment, social and governance (ESG) certifications to the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) at a hotel in George Town yesterday.

MBPP made history by becoming the first city council in Malaysia to receive two ESG certifications from Sirim QAS International Sdn Bhd, covering ESG systems and social accountability management systems.

Nga congratulated MBPP on the achievement and expressed hope that it would serve as a benchmark for the country’s 155 local councils. He also revealed plans to nominate MBPP to represent Malaysia at the Dubai International Best Practices for Sustainable Development Award 2026.

SkyGate Solutions Bhd has entered into an agreement to acquire a Penang-based property investment company as part of its strategy to expand its portfolio of income-generating industrial assets. The acquisition will see the group add an established industrial property located within the Perai Industrial Park, one of the state’s key manufacturing and logistics hubs.

The transaction involves SkyGate’s property arm acquiring the entire equity interest in Dahlia Cemerlang Sdn Bhd, whose principal asset is an 8.15-acre industrial property in Perai. More than half of the property is currently tenanted, generating approximately RM5.3 million in annual rental income. This provides SkyGate with an immediate recurring income stream upon completion of the acquisition.

SkyGate said the proposed purchase is consistent with its long-term strategy to grow and strengthen its investment property portfolio with stable, income-producing assets in established growth regions. Perai Industrial Park continues to benefit from strong industrial demand due to its proximity to major highways, ports, and Penang’s manufacturing ecosystem.

The acquisition price of RM75.9 million is based on the adjusted net asset value of Dahlia Cemerlang, which includes a revaluation surplus following an independent assessment by CBRE WTW Valuation & Advisory Sdn Bhd. The valuer placed a fair market value of RM82 million on the Perai industrial property, reflecting its strategic location and investment potential.

As the deal involves parties linked to SkyGate’s major shareholder, it is classified as a related-party transaction. The company will therefore seek approval from non-interested shareholders at an extraordinary general meeting to be convened. An independent adviser has been appointed to assess the transaction and advise non-interested directors and shareholders.

Subject to shareholder approval and regulatory requirements, SkyGate expects to complete the acquisition in the second half of 2026. Upon completion, the deal is expected to enhance the group’s recurring income base and strengthen its presence in Penang’s industrial property market.

Source: Google Street View

A traffic rerouting plan is expected to be implemented this year along Persiaran Bayan Indah, the main road fronting Queensbay Mall, as part of broader traffic reorganisation efforts in the Queensbay area. According to a news report by the Chinese daily Kwong Wah Yit Poh, the existing two-way road will be converted into a one-way system, while the roundabout in front of Summerton will be reconfigured from a four-arm junction into a three-arm junction.

Under the proposed arrangement, motorists travelling from Jalan Aziz Ibrahim towards Queensbay Mall will no longer be able to enter directly. Instead, they will be required to detour through the small roundabout at Persiaran Bayan Indah 2, proceed to Jalan Bayan Indah, and then pass the roundabout near the Queens Residences Q1 before reaching Queensbay Mall. Conversely, drivers heading from Queensbay Mall towards Summerton will need to use Jalan Aziz Ibrahim and make a U-turn at the traffic lights to reach their destination.

MBPP infrastructure and traffic committee alternate chairman, Chan Soon Aun, confirmed to Kwong Wah Yit Poh that the rerouting plan will be rolled out within the year. He said the developer is currently finalising the detailed road diversion and traffic restructuring plans. The move comes amid increasing congestion in the Queensbay area, where multiple development projects have contributed to frequent traffic bottlenecks during peak hours.

According to Chan, the proposed traffic plan is now at its final stage. Once formally submitted by the developer and approved, it will be gazetted and implemented on a three-month trial basis. Preliminary plans indicate that one direction at the existing four-way roundabout in front of Summerton will be closed, effectively converting it into a three-way roundabout.

He explained that movements which were previously straightforward will require additional manoeuvres after the change. For example, motorists travelling from Queensbay towards Batu Uban, who previously exited the roundabout directly, will instead need to turn left and make a U-turn further ahead. Similarly, vehicles coming from Bayan Mutiara towards Queensbay will no longer be able to use the same direct approach and must instead route through Queens Waterfront via Jalan Bayan Indah, which will remain a two-way road, with only the stretch in front of Queensbay Mall becoming one-way.

Tan added that the city council had convened a coordination meeting on October 23 last year involving management representatives from 14 nearby stakeholders and relevant public agencies to discuss the proposed changes and traffic management along Persiaran Bayan Indah. While acknowledging that the plan has drawn objections from one high-rise residential management body, he said most stakeholders understood that the proposal is aimed at easing congestion in the area and that its overall benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

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Transport infrastructure must be viewed not merely as a supporting service, but as a strategic economic enabler that directly shapes investment patterns, real estate demand and urban development outcomes, said Minister of Transport YB Loke Siew Fook at the CEO Series 2026.

Delivering the morning keynote address, the minister said 2026 will be a pivotal year for Malaysia as it coincides with Visit Malaysia Year 2026, where national targets include welcoming up to 43 million international visitors. He noted that tourism, trade and business growth depend fundamentally on the quality, reliability and integration of transport systems across the country.

From the Ministry of Transport’s perspective, initiatives to enhance air connectivity, modernise ports and improve land transport networks are not simply about moving people and goods, but about unlocking economic potential, supporting industries and creating more efficient urban environments.

Lessons from the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone

The minister pointed to the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) as a clear illustration of how transport infrastructure underpins real estate performance and investor confidence. While the zone has attracted tens of billions of ringgit in approved and committed investments, its long-term success hinges on transport systems that can convert geographic proximity into economic productivity.

He highlighted the pressure on existing cross-border road infrastructure, with an estimated 300,000 commuters and 100,000 vehicles crossing daily, underscoring the need to diversify transport modes and relieve congestion.

Central to this transformation is the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, which he described as a structural economic enabler rather than a conventional rail project. With a capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction, the RTS Link is expected to reduce travel uncertainty and enable the JS-SEZ to function as an integrated labour and business ecosystem.

Implications for Penang’s growth corridors

While the keynote focused heavily on Johor, the principles outlined carry direct relevance for Penang, where transport capacity and urban density are increasingly shaping property demand and development feasibility.

Penang’s industrial ecosystem — spanning Bayan Lepas, Batu Kawan and the Northern Corridor — depends heavily on reliable road, port and airport connectivity. As Visit Malaysia Year 2026 approaches, air links through Penang International Airport, improved last-mile connectivity and public transport integration will play a critical role in supporting tourism, services and business travel.

The minister’s emphasis on transport as a productivity enabler rather than a reactive response also resonates with Penang’s ongoing discussions around LRT, congestion management and transit-oriented development (TOD). As urban land becomes more constrained, the alignment between transport nodes, housing supply and employment centres will increasingly determine project viability and long-term value.

Transport shaping real estate outcomes

According to the minister, transport infrastructure does not merely respond to development, but actively shapes development patterns. Major investments in rail, bus corridors and intercity connectivity create new nodes of accessibility, influencing residential demand, commercial activity, industrial location and urban density.

He highlighted TOD as a critical planning tool that aligns transport capacity with housing and employment, helping to reduce congestion, improve affordability and enhance liveability. For policymakers and developers alike, transport planning therefore becomes a proactive instrument to guide sustainable real estate growth rather than a corrective measure after congestion and imbalance emerge.

Beyond capacity, towards quality and integration

Concluding his address, the minister stressed that future competitiveness will be defined not only by transport capacity, but by the quality, integration and resilience of infrastructure systems. Digitally enabled border processes, environmentally sustainable transport and seamless multimodal integration are key to transforming connectivity into competitiveness.

For Penang, as with Johor, this signals that future property and urban growth will be closely tied to how effectively transport investments are planned, coordinated and integrated into broader economic and spatial strategies, particularly as Malaysia positions itself for a more connected and competitive regional role in ASEAN