Only part of Sungai Nibong Festival Site to be used for Penang Mutiara LRT depot, says Loke

GEORGE TOWN (April 13): Only part of the Sungai Nibong Festival Site will be used for the Penang Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project depot, with the remaining area being maintained for community use.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook (pictured) said this decision was made after taking considering the sentimental value of the site, which has been the venue for the Penang Festival since 1966.

He said that the approach is also in line with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's emphasis at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Mutiara Line project in January 2025 that development in Penang must take into account the state's heritage and unique identity.

"The federal government deeply understands the sentimental value of the Sungai Nibong Festival Site to the people of Penang. Therefore, MRT Corp (Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd) has re-examined the depot design to reduce the land requirement to approximately 11.5 acres (4.6 hectares), ensuring that only part of the site is used for operations.

"The remaining area will be utilised for community purposes, including upgrading the festival site and transit-oriented development that will support community activities, local businesses and daily needs of the society," he said at the Sungai Nibong Festival Site handover ceremony between the Penang government and MRT Corp here on Friday. Also present at the event were Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and MRT Corp chief executive officer Datuk Zarif Hashim.

Elaborating further, Loke said that the approach allows for more optimal space usage, especially in areas with land size constraints.

He said the decision to extend the route to Penang Sentral was made to strengthen the transportation network between the island and Seberang Perai, while also supporting more balanced development between the two areas and helping to reduce the traffic congestion often faced by the people.

In relation to this, he said the need to provide additional depots was identified as important to ensure the LRT system operates efficiently and consistently.

"The Sungai Nibong Festival Site was chosen as the most suitable location for depot development after a thorough evaluation by MRT Corp, taking into account various factors including system operational needs, land availability, existing land use, as well as future development planning in the area and stakeholders," he said.

Loke said the depot would also support the operations of the main depot on the South Reclamation Island and function as a train storage area to ensure the readiness of the LRT system's daily operations.

Meanwhile, Chow said the handover of the Sungai Nibong Festival Site to MRT Corp is fully effective today and described it as a manifestation of cooperation, diligence, and high commitment from all parties involved.

He said that although the Sungai Nibong Festival Site has long been etched as the location of the Penang Festival and is nostalgic, the change should be seen as a progressive step towards a more sustainable and competitive future.

"The Sungai Nibong Festival Site area will be developed as part of an integrated transportation hub that includes the construction of an LRT station and depot to support the comprehensive operation of the Mutiara Line," he said.

He also said the site handover was carried out in stages, and the area involved for the LRT development at the Sungai Nibong Festival Site covers a total area of 9.9 acres out of the 20.1 acres of the site.

Earlier, Loke and Chow witnessed the symbolic handover of the replica key by Penang state financial officer Datuk Zairi Mat Ali to Zarif.

The Penang Mutiara LRT, which began construction in 2025 and is expected to be operational by December 2031, will span approximately 29.67km, with 20 stations and two temporary stations.

It also includes a cross-sea link between Penang Island and the mainland, which is expected to take only about eight minutes, compared to 82 minutes of driving during peak hours.

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