A row of eight heritage shophouses along Lebuh Aceh is set to be transformed into a vibrant Cultural Heritage Hub (CH2) under a RM10 million restoration initiative aimed at strengthening heritage conservation while promoting the creative economy within George Town’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Launched in conjunction with the 18th anniversary of George Town’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the project is spearheaded by George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) through a collaboration between the Penang state government and the private sector. State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai described the initiative as a significant milestone in demonstrating how public-private partnerships can successfully preserve heritage assets while creating new opportunities for cultural, social and economic activities.

The project involves eight Category II heritage buildings along Lebuh Aceh, comprising seven Early Penang-style shophouses and one Southern Chinese Eclectic-style building. Owned by Lim Kongsi Toon Pun Tong and leased to GTWHI in 2024, the properties will be restored over the next two years. Upon completion, the development will serve as a centre for heritage appreciation, creative industries and community engagement, reinforcing George Town’s position as a living heritage city.

Designed by architect Johnny Ooi with placemaking as its central concept, the restored buildings will be adapted into spaces that encourage creativity, collaboration and cultural exchange while retaining their historical character. Plans include activating the rear lane into a communal public space, improving connectivity between the buildings and creating gathering spaces for both residents and visitors.

The completed CH2 development will feature three key components: the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site Interpretive Centre, offering exhibitions and interactive displays on the city’s history and architecture; the Creative Economy Incubation Centre, providing mentorship and support for heritage-inspired entrepreneurs and creative practitioners; and the Cultural Practitioner Interactive Space, which will host exhibitions, workshops, seminars and community programmes.

GTWHI general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee said the organisation is seeking RM10 million in funding and welcomed contributions from corporations, organisations and individuals. She noted that the project presents an opportunity for the private sector to support heritage conservation while contributing to the continued vitality of George Town’s World Heritage status. GTWHI has already invested approximately RM1.8 million in preliminary stabilisation and repair works on the previously fire-damaged buildings.

Penang continues to reinforce its reputation as Malaysia’s leading medical tourism destination, accounting for approximately 45% of the country’s total medical tourism revenue in 2025. The achievement comes as Malaysia was ranked the world’s sixth-best medical tourism destination in the latest 2026 Global Top 10 Medical Tourism Destinations ranking by Travel And Tour World.

State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said Malaysia’s strong international standing reflects the country’s internationally accredited hospitals, English-speaking healthcare professionals, modern medical technology, competitive treatment costs and sustained government support for the sector.

The country’s medical tourism industry recorded robust growth in 2025, with revenue increasing 23.2% year-on-year from RM2.72 billion to RM3.35 billion. International patient arrivals also rose 15.6%, reaching 1.85 million compared with 1.6 million in 2024.

Penang continued to outperform other states, with its 16 participating private hospitals treating 527,176 foreign patients in 2025, a 25.9% increase from 418,608 a year earlier. Medical tourism revenue generated by the state climbed 26.6% to RM1.14 billion, up from RM898.07 million in 2024.

According to Wong, Penang’s success is underpinned by its ability to deliver internationally recognised healthcare services at competitive prices, offering substantial cost savings compared to destinations such as Singapore and many Western countries. Beyond healthcare quality, the state’s well-developed medical tourism ecosystem also provides convenient access to accommodation, transportation and tourism attractions, making it an attractive destination for overseas patients.

He also highlighted Penang’s multilingual environment as a key advantage. In addition to Malay and English, healthcare providers and the local community are able to communicate in Mandarin, Tamil and various Chinese dialects including Hokkien, Teochew, Hakka and Cantonese.

This linguistic diversity is particularly beneficial for Indonesian patients, Penang’s largest medical tourism market, as the similarities between Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia, together with the widespread use of Hokkien, help minimise language barriers and enhance the overall patient experience.

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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.

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Penang is strengthening its water supply infrastructure in South Seberang Perai (SPS) through a series of completed and upcoming projects aimed at meeting rising demand and improving long-term reliability.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who also chairs the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP), said two key projects have already been completed under the state’s short- and medium-term strategy. These include the 6.4 million litres per day (MLD) Compact Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at Sungai Kerian and the Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) plant at the Bukit Panchor Water Treatment Plant. Speaking during a site visit to both facilities, Chow said the projects are helping to address water supply challenges in the district while supporting future growth.

Further capacity expansion is already in the pipeline. An 80 MLD Water Treatment Plant at Sungai Kerian is expected to be operational by 2027 under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, while a larger 114 MLD treatment plant is targeted for completion by 2030 as part of the Water Contingency Plan 2030. The RM600 million plan comprises eight water infrastructure projects, with the appointment of the contractor for the 114 MLD facility expected by the end of this year.

Once the new treatment plants are commissioned, treated water for SPS will be sourced directly from Sungai Kerian instead of being transmitted from the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant in North Seberang Perai. This will allow water currently channelled to SPS from Sungai Dua to be redirected to better serve North and Central Seberang Perai, improving the overall efficiency of the state’s water distribution network.

PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan said the 6.4 MLD Compact WTP has been operating since March last year, supplying treated water to about 4,000 consumers in the surrounding area as an interim solution to meet growing demand. He added that the new facilities under the Water Contingency Plan 2030 will play a vital role in strengthening water supply resilience as Penang continues to experience rapid industrial, commercial and population growth.

Residents at three public housing flats in Relau are now benefiting from safer and more reliable lift services following the completion of lift modernization and repair works funded by the Penang State Government under the Penang Maximum 80% Maintenance Fund (TPM80PP).

Paya Terubong assemblyman Wong Hon Wai said a total of RM478,950 was allocated to upgrade and repair nine lifts across Taman Alor Vista, Desa Aman and Taman Desa Relau 2. The projects comprised one lift modernization and three lift repairs at Taman Alor Vista (RM103,600), two lift repairs at Desa Aman (RM168,800), and three lift modernization works at Taman Desa Relau 2 (RM206,550).

The works were carried out following applications submitted in 2025 by the Paya Terubong constituency office together with the respective management bodies to the Penang State Housing Board (LPNPP). All projects have since been completed and are now operational.

According to Wong, the completed upgrades have significantly improved the safety, stability and efficiency of the lift systems, while enhancing the daily convenience and overall living conditions of residents. He said the projects reflect the state government’s continued commitment to maintaining public housing and providing a safer, more comfortable living environment.

During the inspection, Wong also responded to recent claims by Penang Gerakan chairman Oh Tong Keong, who alleged that the state government allocates only RM50,000 annually for low-cost housing assistance. Wong described the statement as misleading, explaining that it confuses two separate funding mechanisms.

He said the TPM80PP is a long-term maintenance programme established to help strata communities repair and upgrade essential facilities such as lifts, water tanks and roofs. Under the scheme, the state government covers up to 80% of maintenance costs for eligible low-cost housing, with the balance shared by the management body. Medium-cost housing units are eligible for up to 60% funding.

The RM50,000 allocation cited by Oh, Wong clarified, refers instead to the Penang Island City Council’s Strata Building Assistance Incentive (MBPP), which serves as a supplementary fund for urgent repairs rather than the state’s primary maintenance programme.

Wong noted that between 2008 and 10 May 2026, the Penang State Government had allocated RM99.42 million under TPM80PP, supporting 1,049 maintenance projects. These included 556 lift upgrading or replacement projects and 347 water tank repair or replacement projects, underscoring the state’s long-term commitment to improving the safety and quality of life for residents in stratified housing developments.