Penang state has no specific plans for Pulau Jerejak land despite private proposals
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow told the state assembly that the state has no specific plans to develop state-owned land on Pulau Jerejak, though private developers have submitted proposals for mixed-use development. A separate RM500 million bridge linking Queensbay to an 80-acre private redevel
PETALING JAYA (Nov 4): Penang has no specific plans to develop state-owned land on Pulau Jerejak, although private developers have submitted proposals for mixed-use development, infrastructure and recreational facilities, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow told the state assembly on Wednesday (Nov 4). The proposals remain subject to planning approval, land matters and technical and legal requirements, Chow said.
Separately, a bridge estimated to cost RM500 million would link Queensbay on Penang island to an 80-acre (32.37ha) private redevelopment on Pulau Jerejak. Replying to Pulau Tikus assemblyman Joshua Woo Sze Zeng, Chow said the state approved a temporary occupation licence in 2023 for a 0.82ha (about two-acre) bridge construction site at Persiaran Bayan Indah near Queensbay. The licence was renewed annually through 2026 at RM12,300 a year, Bernama reported.
Buletin Mutiara reported in July that Chow said the bridge would provide access to a private redevelopment on about 80 acres previously held jointly by UDA Holdings Bhd and the Penang Development Corporation. The Star subsequently identified Tropical Island Resort Sdn Bhd as the bridge developer and master developer of the island project. The proposed 1km crossing would give Pulau Jerejak its first permanent road connection, with two lanes in each direction and dedicated pedestrian and cycle paths. Penang infrastructure committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari told the newspaper the project also included about 4km of connecting roads.
Access is planned from the roundabout near Queensbay and Jambatan Harapan, with a connection to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, Bernama reported on Aug 14, citing Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin. The Star reported on Aug 1 that preliminary site works were under way near Queensbay Mall and quoted Zairil as targeting completion in the third quarter of 2029. Sim gave a March 2029 target and said preliminary road widening was scheduled for September, Bernama reported. Chow’s latest assembly reply gave no update on progress or the completion timetable.
In May 2018, then Penang Island City Council mayor Yew Tung Seang confirmed that Tropical Island Resort had received conditional planning permission. The scheme reported at the time included a 350-room hotel, serviced residences, condominiums, villas and shop offices. In August, Sim said a briefing by Ideal Property had outlined an integrated development with a financial centre, a resort, serviced apartments and a hotel. He said the financial centre could bring banks, venture capital firms and private equity investors closer to Bayan Lepas’ semiconductor and technology companies. The reports do not establish whether the financial-centre component forms part of the approved scheme.
Ideal Property’s website separately lists Queens Island Condo & Villa on Pulau Jerejak among its upcoming projects. Sim said about 85% of Pulau Jerejak had been gazetted as forest reserve. Development on the private site is subject to building height restrictions because it lies within flight paths.
