Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announced that as of 31 October 2025, the state has completed 170,706 housing units under the “Rumah MutiaraKu” programme, achieving 77.59% of its overall affordable housing target.

He said the state aims to deliver 220,000 affordable housing units by 2030, a goal supported by 17 development projects planned under the 2021–2030 Development Blueprint through the Penang Housing Board (LPNPP).

Chow made the announcement while tabling the Penang Budget 2026 at the State Legislative Assembly.

He added that qualification requirements for low-cost and low-medium-cost homes have been refined, with the state now offering flexible ownership pathways such as Rent-to-Own (RTO) models to better serve eligible households.

For open market applications under the PN4 category, particularly involving the high-income T20 group, Chow said the state has set a household income cap of RM20,000 per month. This aligns with Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) data, which classifies households earning around RM18,000 monthly as T20 — a category not eligible for state affordable housing.

Shared Rental and Co-living Models for Vulnerable Groups

Chow also welcomed the Federal Government’s support under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12), which includes:

• RM55 million under Rolling Plan 3 (RP3) for the Kota Giam People’s Housing Project (PPR), and
• RM30 million under Rolling Plan 5 (RP5) for the north Seberang Perai PPR project.

He emphasised that the state is committed to supporting single individuals and senior citizens, especially those living alone and in urgent need of housing. To address these needs, Penang is introducing a shared rental model for state rental housing (RSKN) and PPR units, including potential co-living arrangements to ensure equitable access to housing.

Chow reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to ensuring that Penangites continue to benefit from affordable and suitable housing options through Rumah MutiaraKu programme, supported by diversified policies and collaborative development approaches.

“Penang will continue working to ensure residents have access to affordable and appropriate housing while supporting the state’s long-term development goals,” he said.

The state’s cultural, educational and tourism sectors received a significant boost with the launch of the Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery at The Light Waterfront, an initiative Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow described as a milestone for Penang’s creative development.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on Saturday, Chow said the gallery enhances Penang’s standing as a regional centre for arts and culture. “This gallery is not just another cultural facility. It reflects Penang’s spirit of creativity, progress and inclusion,” he said, congratulating founder Prof Lin Xiang Xiong and the partners behind the project.

Chow noted that Penang has long been celebrated for its vibrant artistic landscape—from street art and mural culture to its rich architectural heritage. He emphasised that the gallery aligns closely with the goals of Penang2030, particularly in areas concerning human capital development, the creative economy and community wellbeing.

“It will become a meeting point for art, education and tourism, helping strengthen Penang as a world-class cultural and heritage destination,” he added.

Chow also highlighted the unifying role of the arts in fostering understanding among diverse communities, a value echoed in the Malaysia Madani framework. The 2026 Federal Budget’s focus on creative industries and tourism incentives, he said, further positions Penang to benefit from renewed national support.

“Even though Penang is small, our talent and ideas reach far. This gallery shows Penang can serve as a cultural bridge to the world and create opportunities for knowledge exchange and global cooperation,” he said, welcoming Prof Lin’s message of “art for peace”.

The event was graced by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Datuk Seri Utama Ramli Ngah Talib, who attended as guest of honour. Also present were Penang State Speaker Datuk Seri Law Choo Kiang, former Chief Ministers Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Lim Guan Eng, Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo, state executive councillors, MPs, assemblymen, MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran and consuls general. Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang and his wife Neo Yok Tee were also among the distinguished guests.

Prof Lin, in his remarks, said the gallery was not merely an artistic endeavour but a reflection of Malaysia’s values at a time of global division. “Malaysia has chosen to respond with creativity and compassion. This gallery is a commitment to dialogue, and a reminder that peace is built through understanding,” he said.

Positioned as one of the region’s most ambitious privately founded cultural projects, the gallery will host international symposiums, artist residencies and educational programmes. Beyond serving as an exhibition space, it aims to function as a cultural think tank, fostering collaboration with global art institutions, universities and peace organisations.

The launch, attended by leaders from business, government, arts and academia, further underscored Penang’s growing prominence as an international cultural destination.

Image source: Penang CM’s Facebook

The Penang Master Builders (PMB) Association has appealed to the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to implement a flexible transitional mechanism for lorry load regulations, balancing enforcement objectives with practical industry needs.

PMB President Dato’ Goh Teng Whoo stated that while the Association fully supports the government’s road safety initiatives, the current strict enforcement of load limits threatens to disrupt construction timelines and increase costs across the supply chain.

He highlighted that lorry operators face numerous technical and management challenges in their daily operations, including issues such as weighing discrepancies, varying lorry specifications, rising transportation costs, and driver training requirements.

Therefore, he appealed to the government to consider these practical difficulties when implementing enforcement measures, requesting an adjustment period for operators to make necessary changes and improve their overall business operations.

“The authorities should adjust load capacity limits reasonably, based on lorry models and actual operational conditions,” Dato’ Goh suggested.

He explained that strict regulations would not only drive up construction costs and delay project timelines but could also necessitate doubling the existing number of lorries to meet market demand.

“Many lorry operators are small to medium enterprises with limited cash flow, making immediate fleet upgrades or expansion to comply with strict load limits unaffordable,” he added.

He emphasized that without reasonable adjustments to load limits, the entire construction ecosystem, from material suppliers and contractors to property developers, would suffer with end-consumers ultimately bearing the increased costs.

Additionally, he mentioned that the construction sector is already grappling with a separate challenge, a sudden 25% price increase for concrete, which Dato’ Goh described as “unreasonable.”

“A 10–15% increase might be manageable, but 25% creates tremendous pressure on project viability,” he noted.

The Penang undersea tunnel project is not abandoned, and remains an active initiative with ongoing study work, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow clarified at the state assembly on Friday.

Responding to a supplementary question from Azmi Alang (PN–Telok Ayer Tawar), Chow said the state government recently received a detailed presentation from the companies involved during a State Executive Council meeting, where key issues and the steps needed to move forward were reviewed.

He explained that several technical considerations are still being refined, including the proposed alignment’s impact on Penang Port’s planned expansion. Chow added that if the project were to shift from an undersea tunnel to a bridge, the design would require careful evaluation, particularly in relation to the nearby Royal Malaysian Air Force Butterworth Air Base.

“These are technical matters still being addressed. Under the master agreement, the study work has not been completed, and we cannot proceed until all parties are satisfied with the alignment design and financial arrangements,” he said.

On May 21, the state government announced that it was reviewing a proposal to replace the tunnel with a bridge across the Penang Straits. According to State Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, the feasibility study—finalised in 2023—examined the viability of the bridge design as well as other alternatives.

The 6.5km undersea tunnel, meant to connect Gurney Drive on the island to Bagan Ajam on the mainland, forms a key component of the Penang Transport Master Plan.

Malaysia’s property sector is entering a new era of transparency and digital integration as the government accelerates the rollout of trusted digital infrastructure to strengthen compliance, governance and investor confidence.

Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying said the Ministry of Finance is leading digital reforms to connect the entire property ecosystem — from valuation to financing — through verified data and secure transaction systems.

“By introducing digital infrastructure that records, reconciles and reports transactions in real time, we are embedding trust within the system where records are consistent, data is verified and audit trails are secured,” she said during the launch of PaymentXchange.

Developed and operated by Infomina Geolytik Sdn Bhd, PaymentXchange is an industry-endorsed transparent property payment platform designed to promote deposit protection, accountability and compliance across Malaysia’s real estate market. The system works alongside ValuationXchange, linking buyers, banks and valuers to enable a connected and streamlined loan and valuation process.

Lim noted that traditional, fragmented property transactions have long led to inefficiencies, delays and potential risks of fraud. The digital initiative, she said, supports the government’s fiscal priorities ahead of Budget 2026, which emphasise tightening governance, reducing leakages and promoting private-sector innovation aligned with national development goals.

She also highlighted that the initiative complements Malaysia’s regulatory frameworks, including the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA) and Risk Management in Technology (RMiT) guidelines, to ensure financial integrity and traceability.

“A digitally verifiable property market will enhance Malaysia’s global reputation as a transparent and credible investment destination, especially as investors increasingly value regulatory confidence and market integrity,” she added.

In a statement, Infomina Geolytik said PaymentXchange connects property buyers with registered real estate agencies, ensuring deposits are channelled into verified accounts powered by Chip Asia, a Bank Negara Malaysia-approved payment gateway. The platform provides audit-ready visibility for stakeholders while supporting anti-money laundering best practices and consumer protection.