Over 480 acres reclaimed for Penang's Silicon Island; RM1.9b invested
More than 480 acres have been reclaimed for the planned 2,300-acre Silicon Island off Penang, with RM1.9 billion invested to date. The figures, released by Pulau Tikus assemblyman Joshua Woo Sze Zeng, mark three years since reclamation began in September 2023.
More than 480 acres have been reclaimed for the planned 2,300-acre Silicon Island off Penang, with RM1.9 billion invested to date, according to Pulau Tikus assemblyman Joshua Woo Sze Zeng. The project, helmed by Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd (SID), a joint venture between the Penang government and Gamuda Bhd, has involved over 4,400 local contractors and employed more than 900 Malaysians, Woo said in a Facebook post on Sept 14.
The reclaimed area includes land for the planned Mutiara Line light rail transit (LRT) depot, Woo said. The project has expanded rapidly from the 60.7 acres recorded as reclaimed as of April 30, 2025, according to a May 2025 report by Scoop citing state infrastructure, transport and digital committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari. The reclaimed area had reached 160 acres by June 2025, the New Straits Times reported.
Citing SID's website, the reclaimed land includes designated areas for the Mutiara Line depot and the planned Green Tech Park. Preliminary depot works, including soil testing and infrastructure placement, were under way at the time. The planned depot site is expected to cover about 70 acres and accommodate train stabling, cleaning, maintenance and repair facilities.
A study commissioned by SID and prepared by Deloitte Southeast Asia said Silicon Island's master plan had provided for four Mutiara Line stations, subject to review before implementation. The planned rail line is intended to connect Silicon Island with Penang International Airport and George Town. Silicon Island is being developed off the southern coast of Penang island to expand the industrial ecosystem around Bayan Lepas.
The Deloitte study identified industrial land constraints as a potential impediment to Penang securing further high-technology and electronics investments. It identified a planned 720-acre Green Tech Park as the development's principal industrial component, supported by commercial, residential, institutional and public infrastructure. Malay Mail reported in June 2025 that a RM390 million marine viaduct would be built to connect Silicon Island to the southern coast of Penang island. The 380m link is expected to open to the public by December 2028, the report said, quoting chief minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Reclamation is expected to take between 10 and 15 years, according to Penang Infrastructure Corporation. Woo said that as Silicon Island entered its fourth year, attention should extend beyond reclamation progress and investment value to whether the development created higher-value employment, opportunities for local businesses and career prospects for Penang residents. Bernama previously reported that Silicon Island was projected to attract RM74.7 billion in investment, contribute RM1.1 trillion to gross domestic product (GDP) and create about 220,000 employment opportunities. These are long-term projections rather than investments secured, economic output generated or jobs created to date.
