In an effort to ease mounting traffic congestion in the Bayan Lepas and Bayan Baru areas, Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang (MBPP) has announced an extension of the gate opening hours at Free Industrial Zone Phase 3 (FIZ 3) along Jalan Kampung Jawa.

The announcement was made during a press conference organised by MBPP’s Engineering Department yesterday, chaired by MBPP councillor Dr Mohd Suhairi Arumugam Abdullah. Several city councillors were present, along with representatives from the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (Penang).

Jalan Kampung Jawa is a key arterial road linking Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway via the industrial area of FIZ Phase 3. The road is gated and jointly controlled by MBPP and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department as it passes through a free industrial zone.

At present, the gate is opened from Monday to Friday between 5.30am and 8.00pm, primarily for factory workers, while also serving as an alternative route for the general public. The gate, however, remains closed on weekends and public holidays.

With traffic volumes around the Bayan Baru roundabout continuing to rise, MBPP proposed extending the gate’s operating hours to provide an additional route for motorists travelling between Bayan Lepas, Bayan Baru and the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway. The proposed new opening hours are from 5.30am to 11.00pm daily.

The proposal was submitted to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and discussed with the Free Industrial Zone Penang Companies’ Association (FREPENCA). Following these engagements, Customs has agreed to the extension.

Under the new arrangement, the FIZ Phase 3 gate along Jalan Kampung Jawa will open daily from 5.30am until 11.00pm, effective 1 January 2026.

According to MBPP, the extended opening hours are expected to:

• Reduce traffic conflicts around the Bayan Baru roundabout and surrounding roads
• Improve overall traffic flow
• Provide an additional alternative route for road users
• Enhance road capacity and safety in the area

The proposed landed residential development is located in Bukit Mertajam. It is situated on a 6.19-acre site off Jalan Betek Manis 1, adjacent to SRJK(C) Keow Kuang. The surrounding area comprises several gated housing schemes developed by Tah Wah Group, including Orange Park, Orange Villa, and Orange Villa 2.

The development is planned to comprise 83 units of two-storey terrace houses. Detailed project specifications have not been disclosed at this stage; however, the development is expected to consist of non-strata landed homes.

Project Name : (to be confirmed)
Location : Bukit Mertajam
Property Type : Residential
Tenure: (to be confirmed)
Land Area: 6.19 acres
Built-up Size: (to be confirmed)
Total Units : 83
Indicative Price : (to be confirmed)
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.

The Penang state government has announced an increase in the quit rent rebate rate for 2026 to 50%, up from the previously announced 32.5%. The move is intended to ease the financial burden on landowners while allowing the transition to the revised quit rent rates to be implemented in a more gradual and controlled manner.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the revised rebate was an additional measure to balance the interests of landowners with the state’s revenue needs. He explained that the new quit rent rates will remain in force for a minimum period of 10 years, in accordance with provisions under the National Land Code. The rebate is subject to a minimum quit rent rate, and if the payable amount after the rebate is lower than the quit rent paid in the previous year, the existing amount will continue to apply.

Chow made the announcement to reporters at Komtar on December 23, 2025. He said the decision to increase the rebate rate was approved at the State Executive Council meeting on December 10. A subsequent council meeting on December 17 agreed that appeals for reductions in quit rent, outstanding quit rent, and late payment penalties may be considered through the Land Office for specific cases.

Examples include land replanted with rubber, oil palm, coconut, or fruit trees under schemes that ended within the past six years, land used for public purposes, and landowners facing hardship such as poverty, disability, or loss of income due to disasters or other reasonable circumstances. Consideration may also be given to “First Grade” landowners affected by changes in rates based on current land use, as well as those involved in the reclassification of land from rural to urban status. All appeals are subject to established conditions.

In a related move, the state government will grant a 100% exemption on penalties for outstanding quit rent and parcel rent from January 1 to December 31, 2026, involving penalties totalling RM25 million. The initiative aims to encourage land and parcel owners to settle any accumulated arrears.

Quit rent bills reflecting the new rates will be mailed in mid-January 2026, while online checking and payment will be available from January 2, 2026. The revised rates, gazetted on September 11, 2025, will take effect on January 1, 2026, affecting nearly 370,000 land titles across the state.

Pinnacle Bukit Gambier is a freehold residential development located along Jalan Bukit Gambier in Gelugor on Penang Island, offering a balance of urban accessibility, greenery and elevated city views. The site is situated within established neighbourhoods and is just a stone’s throw from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), with an abundance of essential amenities within easy reach

The development comprises a high-rise serviced residence with a total of 982 units across a 45-storey tower, offering built-up areas approximately 1,077 to 1,734 sq.ft. per unit and a range of 3- to 4-bedroom layouts. On-site lifestyle facilities include landscaped and leisure decks, recreational amenities and common spaces, while the overall design emphasises a balance between natural surroundings and city living. Expected completion is scheduled around 2030

Project Name : Pinnacle Bukit Gambier
Location : Bukit Gambier
Property Type : Condominium
Land Tenure: Freehold
Built-up Area: 1,077 sq.ft. – 1,734 sq.ft.
Total Units : 982
Indicative Price: RM588,000 onwards
Developer : Pinnacle Homes Sdn. Bhd.

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.

The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has taken firm steps to address traffic congestion along Jalan Burma by installing road barriers to prevent vehicles from stopping or waiting by the roadside.

According to MBPP, the measures, implemented since June 1, include the installation of “No Stopping” signs, double yellow lines and physical barriers along the stretch from Jalan Cantonment to Jalan Jones. Jalan Burma is one of George Town’s key arterial roads and has long suffered from congestion caused by roadside stopping, which reduces lane capacity and forces vehicles to slow down.

MBPP noted that since enforcement began, traffic flow has improved significantly, particularly during peak hours. The council also highlighted that the issue of dangerous jaywalking has been mitigated as a result of clearer road boundaries and smoother vehicle movement.

To support local businesses, MBPP has provided designated loading and unloading bays at Solok Moulmein, allowing traders to move goods safely without disrupting traffic. The council also pointed out that ample public parking spaces are available in the surrounding areas.

Although a group of traders recently staged a protest claiming the barriers have affected sales, a move that went viral on social media, MBPP said the initiative is necessary to improve overall traffic flow and road safety.

Notably, the majority of comments on social media have voiced support for MBPP’s action, with many road users saying the barriers have genuinely helped to ease congestion and make daily commutes smoother and safer.