Altus Residency, a high-rise residential development in Prai by G Land Development Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary of Hua Yang Bhd. Located along Jalan Baru, one of the area’s busiest roads, the project stands next to Meritus Residensi, another development by the same company. Its strategic location places it within a five-minute drive to the Penang Bridge, while surrounding amenities such as malls, colleges, eateries, and banks provide residents with convenient access to daily needs.

Rising 24 storeys, Altus Residency comprises 148 units with a variety of layouts. The smallest units measure 1,295 square feet, offering 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, while the largest duplex option spans 2,820 square feet with 6 bedrooms and 5+1 bathrooms. The development also features a four-level car parking podium, priced from RM846,000 onwards.

Project Name : Altus Residency
Location : Prai
Property Type : Condominium
Tenure: (to be confirmed)
Total Units : 148
Built-up Size: 1,295 sq.ft. – 2,820 sq.ft.
Indicative Price : RM846,000 onwards
Developer : G Land Development Sdn. Bhd. (Hua Yang Bhd)

Location Map:

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.

Penang has taken another bold step in its digitalisation journey with the launch of the Virtual Island of Penang (VIP), a flagship initiative by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) that aims to strengthen public service delivery and push the state closer to its goal of becoming a smart city.

The VIP system integrates 10 smart modules, developed through years of internal expertise and collaborations with external partners. Some of these modules are the first of their kind in Malaysia, including geotechnical slope monitoring, tree inventory and inspection, as well as weather and disaster management.

MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran described the launch as a reflection of the council’s long-term vision to tackle urban challenges through technology.

“Urbanisation in Malaysia has reached nearly 80%, while in Penang, 93% of residents live in urban areas. This creates challenges such as congestion, housing demand, and sustainability issues. In this context, digitalisation is no longer an option but a necessity,” he said.

Penang’s digital journey, he noted, began over 15 years ago with the Geographical Information System (GIS), which laid the foundation for data-driven urban management. Since then, MBPP has progressively adopted digital solutions, investing about RM30 million in smart city initiatives since 2020.

Among the pioneering modules are the Geotechnical Slope Monitoring and Control Module, which detects soil movements for early intervention; the Tree Inventory and Inspection Module, powered by AI and remote sensing with over 80% accuracy; and the Weather Monitoring and Disaster Management Module, which delivers real-time alerts and supports emergency planning.

“We have integrated satellite imagery, LiDAR, and predictive as well as generative AI to make these modules more effective and interactive with real-time information. This allows MBPP to respond swiftly with solutions,” Rajendran said, adding that enhancements to CCTV surveillance with features such as vehicle type analysis and number plate recognition are also underway.

While not all modules are public-facing, selected features, including disaster alerts and the location of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), can be accessed through Pearl Apps.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who officiated the launch, commended MBPP for leading the initiative and called for broader adoption nationwide.

“With 11 use cases already developed, this platform can expand further to serve the people more effectively. If MBPP has invested RM30 million, it is timely for the Federal Government to allocate funds to empower local councils across Malaysia,” he said.

Chow stressed that digitalisation at the council level would improve service delivery, revenue collection, and urban management while making cities more sustainable and resilient.

“The Virtual Island of Penang is not the end, but the beginning of a continuous journey towards smarter governance,” Rajendran concluded.

The Mutiara Light Rail Transit (LRT) project in Bayan Lepas, now entering its construction phase, is poised to become a major catalyst for economic growth and public transport transformation in Penang, said State Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari.

He described the project as a “game-changing investment” that will not only improve mobility but also boost industrial development while supporting Penang’s vision of becoming a smarter and more sustainable state.

Speaking at an InvestPenang town hall session yesterday, attended by over 200 stakeholders from Bayan Lepas, Bayan Baru, Batu Maung, and Sungai Tiram, Zairil explained that early works—such as utility relocation, road widening, and site clearance—will commence this month. Full-scale construction is expected to begin by December.

The LRT line, scheduled to begin operations in 2031, will feature two key stations—FIZ North and FIZ South—strategically located along Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah to serve the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone.

During the session, MRT Corp. Sdn. Bhd., the project developer, provided an overview of the construction plan, while SRS Consortium Sdn. Bhd. outlined traffic management strategies. These include phased lane closures, diversion routes, and enhanced traffic monitoring to mitigate disruptions.

A Q&A session followed, with Penang LRT Project Director Azmi Abdul Rahman and SRS Consortium Project Director Adil Putra Ahmad addressing industry representatives’ questions and concerns.

“The Penang LRT will accelerate connectivity, drive industries forward, and move the state towards a greener, smarter, and more inclusive future,” Zairil concluded.

Source: Invest Penang

For years, Penang Island has been seen as the natural home for million-ringgit residences — from seafront condos to exclusive landed houses. But across the bridge, Penang Mainland (Seberang Perai) is quietly building its own luxury housing market, with guarded communities now fetching prices once thought exclusive to the island.

The following Top 10 Guarded Homes ranking is based on actual resale transactions recorded in Penang Mainland over the past two years. To ensure the numbers reflect genuine market demand, only projects with at least three completed resales were included — no developer launch prices, no speculation, just real transactions.

The data paints a clear picture: bungalows dominate the upper tier, while Bukit Mertajam (especially Alma) emerges as a strong growth hotspot. Below is a closer look at the findings.

Bungalows command the highest premiums

The top five entries are all bungalow-focused projects, with average resale values ranging between RM1.4m and RM2.5m. This segment clearly drives the luxury market in Penang Mainland, where scarcity of large, gated bungalow plots translates into sustained demand.

The Residence stands out, appreciated more than 60% in value from its RM1.5m launch to a RM2.51m average today.

Even projects in less central areas, like Orchard Villa (Simpang Ampat), are pushing above RM1.8m, highlighting buyers’ willingness to pay for exclusivity.

Bukit Mertajam and Alma are growth magnets

Four of the top 10 developments are in Alma/Bukit Mertajam, making it the most represented location on the list. Semi-detached homes here now average around RM1m–RM1.3m, having at least doubled from their launch levels.

This trend is driven by:

• Expanding commercial activity in Alma (retail hubs, schools, healthcare).
• Relative affordability compared to island properties.
• Gated community appeal for upgrading families.

Early entrants have seen the strongest appreciation

Projects launched before 2012 — such as Dedaun Bungalow Village (Batu Kawan, 2008) — have more than doubled in price. Buyers who entered these markets early enjoyed substantial capital gains, reflecting how infrastructure growth (bridges, expressways, Batu Kawan’s development) has re-rated property values over time.

Not all projects outperform launch prices

Interestingly, Sentrino Residence shows an average resale price (RM1.07m) below its 2014 launch (RM1.19m). This indicates that not all gated projects guarantee immediate capital appreciation — performance depends on factors like accessibility, maintenance standards, and buyer perception.

Terraces break into the RM1 million club

While luxury enclaves are often associated with bungalows or semi-detached homes, Orange Garden (Butterworth) proves that terrace houses in well-planned gated communities can cross the RM1m threshold. With launch prices at RM689k, resale values now average RM1.04m. This signals rising acceptance of premium terraces in urbanised parts of the mainland.

What This Means for the Market

The data underscores several broader trends shaping the Penang Mainland housing scene:

• Guarded communities as a premium benchmark: Buyers are increasingly valuing safety, exclusivity, and lifestyle amenities, which explains why these projects outperform typical non-guarded landed homes.
• Shift of luxury demand to the mainland: Once considered a more affordable alternative to the island, mainland projects are now firmly in the high-value bracket, supported by secondary market evidence.
• Long-term investment resilience: Established projects with solid maintenance records and good connectivity have demonstrated sustained value appreciation over more than a decade.

Penang Mainland is no longer just the ‘spillover market’ from the island. Instead, it is carving out a distinct luxury housing segment, anchored by guarded bungalow enclaves and increasingly by high-value semi-detached and terrace homes. With new and modern townships mushrooming in Batu Kawan — including Eco Horizon and Viluxe — adding a fresh wave of gated landed projects, the mainland’s position in the luxury bracket looks set to strengthen further as these schemes enter the resale market in the years ahead.

– Ken Lim
(Founder, PenangPropertyTalk.com)

Penang has taken another step forward in its hospitality sector yesterday with the official opening of The Millen Penang, the state’s first Autograph Collection hotel under Marriott International.

Launched by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, the development is seen as a significant marker of Penang’s appeal to international investors and operators in the premium travel segment.

“This is more than just the launch of another hotel. It reflects how far Penang has transformed into a natural magnet for the global hospitality industry,” Chow said at the event.

He noted that the increasing presence of international brands underscores the robustness of Penang’s tourism ecosystem — from its UNESCO World Heritage city and cultural assets to its acclaimed food scene, festivals, and skilled workforce.

Importantly, Chow emphasised that growth in the hospitality sector must generate tangible benefits for the wider economy. “I hope it translates into meaningful opportunities for our people — from artisans and hawkers to restaurants and young entrepreneurs. This is how tourism can truly become an engine of shared prosperity,” he said.

The Millen, developed by HNG Capital in partnership with Marriott International, was positioned as both a benchmark in luxury hospitality and a reflection of Penang’s heritage. The design draws on the legacy of Millionaire’s Row and Penang’s colonial past while offering contemporary experiences aimed at discerning global travelers.

Chow also highlighted the strategic timing of the launch, coinciding with China’s Golden Week holidays and ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, which is expected to accelerate tourist arrivals and investment flows. He further called on industry players to integrate sustainability, digitalisation, and innovation into their business models to ensure long-term competitiveness.

Marriott International’s Malaysia market vice-president, George Varughese, described the hotel as a milestone for both the company and the destination.

“The Millen is not only the first Autograph Collection hotel in Penang, but it also represents a shared vision to set a new standard of luxury while staying true to Penang’s culture and spirit,” he said, adding that the property was designed to connect travelers with the island’s heritage and identity.