As the core of Malaysia's second largest conurbation, Penang has a relatively developed transport infrastructure. The state is well-connected by land, air and sea. The Penang International Airport is Malaysia's third busiest by passenger traffic and the busiest by export volume, while the Port of Penang is the main transshipment hub of northern Malaysia. The island city of George Town is physically connected to mainland Seberang Perai by two road bridges and the oldest ferry service in the country. The North–South Expressway and Keretapi Tanah Melayu's west coast line – two major arteries along western Peninsular Malaysia – run through the state.
Within the state, Rapid Penang forms the backbone of urban public transport, operating public bus services throughout the conurbation. Penang Sentral serves as the main intermodal transport hub of northwestern Malaysia. The Penang Hill Railway is also the only operational funicular railway system in the country. As part of additional investments in transport, a proposed light rapid transit system, the Mutiara LRT, is expected to be completed by 2030.
The first roads of George Town – Light, Beach, Chulia and Pitt streets – were created in a grid-like configuration soon after Francis Light founded the settlement in 1786. [1] [2] This urban planning method allowed for efficient division, transaction and assessment of land, as well as military deployment. Under the British, a network of roads was gradually extended across Penang Island. [1]
In 1985, the 13.5 km (8.4 mi) Penang Bridge was completed, establishing the first physical connection between George Town and mainland Seberang Perai. In 2014, the 24 km (15 mi) Second Penang Bridge was opened to the south, becoming the longest bridge in Southeast Asia at that time. [3]
Seberang Perai is accessible through the North-South Expressway, a 966 km (600 mi) expressway that stretches along the western part of Peninsular Malaysia. [4] Major toll routes within Seberang Perai include the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR) and the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway. [5]
Within George Town, the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway is a coastal highway that runs along the city's eastern seaboard, connecting the city centre with the two bridges. [6] Federal Route 6 is a pan-island trunk road that circles the city, while the George Town Inner Ring Road is the main thoroughfare within the city centre. [7] [8]
Trolleybuses were introduced in George Town in 1925, eventually replacing the existing tramlines by 1936. [1] [9] Following World War II, diesel-powered buses were also adopted. After the independence of Malaya, the George Town City Council (predecessor to the Penang Island City Council) initiated the replacement of trolleybuses with diesel-powered buses. The final trolleybus was retired in 1961, after which transit buses dominated Penang's public transport system. [9]
Over time, Penang's public buses deteriorated due to financial mismanagement of the several competing private operators. [10] In 2004, the Yellow Bus Company, one of the major public bus operators in the state, abruptly ceased operations. [11] [12] In 2006, the Penang state government, under Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon, attempted to revive the public bus system by reassigning routes to designated operators. [13] This initiative was unsuccessful, prompting Koh to request intervention from the Malaysian federal government. [10] [13] [14]
In response, Prasarana Malaysia, a government-owned company, launched Rapid Penang in 2007. [10] [14] The service began with a fleet of 150 buses and has since expanded to become the sole public bus operator in Penang. [15] As of 2024 [update] , Rapid Penang operates approximately 350 buses across 46 routes within the George Town Conurbation. [16] [17]
Interstate bus services operate from Penang Sentral, the main intermodal transport hub of northwestern Malaysia. [18] Opened in 2018, the hub integrates Rapid Penang and interstate bus services, linking to the adjacent Butterworth railway station and the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal. [19] [20] Nevertheless, some interstate bus services continue to function from the Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal in George Town. [21]
The trishaw was formerly one of the primary modes of transport within downtown George Town. Trishaws still ply the city's streets, albeit catering primarily to tourists. [22]
To promote urban mobility, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure throughout Penang are being upgraded. [23] [24] In 2010, the Penang state government, under Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, proposed the construction of 200 km (120 mi) of cycling paths throughout George Town. [25] In 2016, George Town became the first city in Malaysia to operate a public bicycle-sharing service with the launch of LinkBike. [26] As of 2021 [update] , LinkBike operated a fleet of 250 bicycles across 29 stations in the city. [25]
Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) operates the West Coast line, which traverses the length of western Peninsular Malaysia. The Butterworth railway station is the primary terminal for northwestern Malaysia. [27] Apart from regular KTM services, Butterworth is one of the main stops of the Eastern and Oriental Express service between Bangkok and Singapore. [28] Other KTM stations within Seberang Perai include Tasek Gelugor, Bukit Tengah, Bukit Mertajam, Simpang Ampat and Nibong Tebal. [29]
The Penang Hill Railway is a funicular railway that ascends to the peak of Penang Hill in George Town. Completed in 1923, it is the only operational funicular system in Malaysia. [19] [30] The railway operates on some of the world's steepest gradients, with a slope angle of 27.9°. [31] In 2022, the Penang Hill Railway recorded a ridership of 1.48 million passengers. [30]
The Penang International Airport (PIA) is situated 16 km (9.9 mi) south of downtown George Town. It is the main airport for northwestern Malaysia, with services to major regional cities including Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong, Xiamen, Shanghai, Doha and Dubai. [32] [33] PIA is the third busiest airport in Malaysia for passenger traffic after Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Kota Kinabalu International Airport, recording nearly 6.8 million passengers in 2023. [34] It is also Malaysia's second busiest in terms of cargo tonnage, handling close to 120,000 t (120,000 long tons; 130,000 short tons) within the same year. [34] Additionally, it managed the highest export value of all entry points nationwide, totaling RM365 billion. [35]
Penang was once a crucial British entrepôt, but its maritime trade saw a decline after George Town lost its free port status in 1969, coupled with the rise of Port Klang near Kuala Lumpur. [37] Nevertheless, the Port of Penang remains the main harbour for northwestern Malaysia and southern Thailand. [38] In 2023, it processed over 1.4 million TEUs of cargo, ranking it as the third busiest seaport in Malaysia. [39] The port includes the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT), the Perai Bulk Cargo Terminal (PBCT) and several smaller berthing facilities along the coast of Seberang Perai. [40]
Swettenham Pier, located within downtown George Town, accommodates cruise ships and serves as a key entry point into the city. In 2017, it recorded 125 port calls, surpassing Port Klang as the busiest cruise shipping terminal in Malaysia. [41] The pier is capable of accommodating some of the world's largest cruise liners, such as the Queen Mary 2 , and also hosts occasional visits from warships. [42] [43]
The cross-strait Penang ferry service is the oldest in Malaysia, originating from privately-run services established in 1894. [44] It connects George Town and Seberang Perai, and was formerly the only transportation link between the island city and the mainland until the completion of the Penang Bridge in 1985. [45] At present, four ferries ply the Penang Strait between both cities daily. [44]
In 1981, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) carried out a study focused on improving transportation infrastructure in Penang. [46] Among others, the study recommended converting major roads into exclusive bus lanes, particularly along economically dense corridors connecting downtown George Town to Bayan Lepas and Butterworth to Bukit Mertajam. It also proposed the development of a new rail-based system linking downtown George Town with Bayan Lepas and Ayer Itam. [47]
Subsequent studies were conducted by Universiti Sains Malaysia and Halcrow Group between 1996 and 1997 to further assess infrastructure development strategies. [46] In 2002, the Penang state government, then led by Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon, proposed a RM2 billion monorail project for George Town. The proposed monorail project garnered support from successive Malaysian prime ministers Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. [48] [49] However, it was ultimately scrapped in 2008 after Pakatan Rakyat (predecessor to Pakatan Harapan) wrested control of Penang in the state election that year. [48] [49] [50]
Newly elected Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng subsequently sought to address the underinvestment in transportation across Penang. [51] [52] The situation was exacerbated by a high rate of car ownership and worsening traffic congestion in the state. As of 2020 [update] , Penang had 2,772,378 private vehicles for a population of 1,740,405, resulting in a ratio of 1.59 vehicles per person. [53] [54] Traffic congestion was particularly severe along the downtown George Town–Bayan Lepas corridor, where average daily traffic reached 64,144 vehicles in 2019. [19]
In 2009, the state government activated a committee to develop a new transportation masterplan for the entire state. Two years later, AJC Planning Consultants, in partnership with Halcrow Group and Singapore Cruise Centre, were tasked with conducting new studies for this masterplan. [51] Halcrow presented its findings the following year, which included strategies for public transport, highway development, an accessibility report and recommendations for institutional reforms. These findings laid the groundwork for the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), which proposed a RM10 billion light rapid transit (LRT) system and trams, as well as three new highways and an undersea tunnel to connect George Town and Seberang Perai. [51] [55]
In 2015, the Bayan Lepas LRT was announced, alongside the appointment of SRS Consortium as the Project Delivery Partner (PDP) for the PTMP. [56] [57] Since public transportation comes under the purview of the Malaysian federal government, the state government submitted the proposed system to the federal Ministry of Transport for approval in 2016. [58] [59] However, due to political tensions between the federal and state governments, the proposed LRT line only received support from the federal level in 2023, under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration. [60] The Bayan Lepas LRT was subsequently renamed the Mutiara LRT after the federal government decided to take over the project from the state. [61] [62] Construction of the line is anticipated to start in 2025, with completion expected by 2030. [63] [64]
In 2019, then federal Minister of Finance Lim Guan Eng announced a cable car system to complement the existing Penang Hill Railway, which had seen a ridership of 1.74 million in 2018. [65] This proposal aimed to reduce reliance on the railway. [66] [67] However, a political crisis in 2020 led to the cancellation of federal funds for the project. [68] Despite this, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow pushed ahead with formulating a public–private partnership framework for the proposed system. [69] [70] The cable car project eventually gained approval from federal environmental regulators in 2024. [67] Construction of the Penang Hill cable car system has commenced and is anticipated to be complete by 2026. [71]
Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. These two halves are physically connected by the Penang Bridge and the Second Penang Bridge. The state shares borders with Kedah to the north and east, and Perak to the south.
George Town is the capital of the Malaysian state of Penang. It is the core city of the George Town Conurbation, Malaysia's second largest metropolitan area with a population of 2.84 million and the second highest contributor to the country's GDP. The city proper spans an area of 306 km2 (118 sq mi) encompassing Penang Island and surrounding islets, and had a population of 794,313 as of 2020.
Butterworth is the city centre of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It lies about 3 km (1.9 mi) east of George Town, the capital city of Penang, across the Penang Strait. As of 2020, Butterworth had a total population of 80,378 residents.
Penang International Airport (PIA) is an international airport in George Town, the capital city of the Malaysian state of Penang. The airport is located at the southeastern tip of Penang Island, 16 km (9.9 mi) south of the city centre, and serves the country's second largest conurbation.
Seberang Perai is a city in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located on the Malay Peninsula and separated from Penang Island by the Penang Strait, it shares borders with Kedah to the north and east and Perak to the south. The city spans an area of 748 km2 (289 sq mi) and had a population of 946,092 as of 2020, making it the third largest city in Malaysia.
Bukit Mertajam is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It also serves as the seat of the Central Seberang Perai District. As of 2020, Bukit Mertajam had a population of 12,079.
Perai is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It lies at the southern bank of the Perai River and borders Butterworth to the north.
Seberang Jaya is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located at the southern bank of the Perai River and east of Perai proper, the area was developed in the 1970s. Since then, Seberang Jaya has evolved into a booming area, with various commercial and retail developments.
Rail transport in Malaysia has evolved significantly since its inception in the late 19th century, reflecting the country's economic growth and modernization.
The Seberang Perai City Council is the local government that administers the city of Seberang Perai, which encompasses the mainland half of the Malaysian state of Penang. The city council, which has jurisdiction over an area of 748 km2 (289 sq mi), falls under the purview of the Penang state government.
The Greater Penang Conurbation, also known as the George Town Conurbation, is the urban area within and surrounding the Malaysian state of Penang, including parts of neighbouring Kedah and Perak. It was home to over 2.84 million people as of 2020, the second largest metropolitan area in Malaysia after the Klang Valley. The conurbation is also the second largest economy in the country after the Klang Valley, with an estimated gross domestic product (GDP) of US$30.2 billion in 2020.
The Penang Undersea Tunnel is a tunnel under planning between Butterworth on the mainland and George Town on the island of Penang in northern Malaysia. The 7.2 km tunnel will connect Butterworth, Seberang Perai in the east to George Town, Penang Island in the west. When completed in 2025, it will become the first undersea tunnel in Malaysia and the second in Southeast Asia after the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) in Singapore. The undersea tunnel is part of the Penang Roads and Tunnels project.
The Mutiara LRT line is a proposed light rapid transit system in Penang. The 28 kilometres (17 mi) line is planned to connect George Town's city centre with its southern suburbs of Jelutong, Gelugor and Bayan Lepas, with a link towards Seberang Perai across the Penang Strait. Once completed, it is owned by the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC). The line, a component of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), is projected to contain 21 stations. Construction of the line is expected to begin in 2025 and will be completed by 2030.
The Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal is a ferry slip within the city of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. Situated at Weld Quay in the city centre, this docking facility is used for the state's ferry service between George Town and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. The ferry terminal was completed in the 1960s.
The Port of Penang is a deepwater seaport within the Malaysian state of Penang. It consists of terminals along the Penang Strait, including five in Seberang Perai and one in George Town. The Port of Penang was the third busiest harbour in Malaysia in terms of cargo as of 2017, handling 1.52 million TEUs of cargo, as well as the busiest port-of-call within the country for cruise shipping.
The Penang Transport Master Plan was drawn up to address the deteriorating traffic conditions in Penang and is projected to cost RM46 billion.
The economy of Penang is classified as a high-income economy and is the fifth largest in Malaysia by gross domestic product (GDP). In 2023, Penang contributed 7.6% of Malaysia’s GDP. The state had a GDP per capita of RM72,586 (US$15,918), the third highest in the country after Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, surpassing the World Bank’s threshold for high-income economies.
The Komtar station is a proposed railway terminal located in Komtar, at the intersection of Magazine Road, Carnavon Street, and Tek Soon Street in George Town, Penang. The station is projected to become a major terminal and interchange station of the Mutiara line, the Tanjong Tokong line, and the Ayer Itam line. It has connections towards the terminal of a proposed tram system in George Town, and the Komtar Bus Terminal, which serves as the primary public bus terminal serving Penang Island.
The Penang Hill cable car is a gondola lift under construction in George Town, the capital city of the Malaysian state of Penang. The 2.73 km (1.70 mi) line will connect the Penang Botanic Gardens to the peak of Penang Hill and is intended to complement the existing Penang Hill Railway. The cable car line is projected to serve a capacity of 1,000 passengers per hour per direction. Construction of the line commenced in 2024 and will be completed by 2026.
Penang is a diverse multiethnic and multicultural society. Residents of the state are colloquially known as Penangites or "Penang-lang". Traditionally regarded as a Chinese-majority state, the Bumiputera population, which includes ethnic Malays, has reached parity with that of the Chinese in recent years.