Federal government allocates RM25m for National ATE Campus in Batu Kawan

The federal government has set aside RM25 million under the 13th Malaysia Plan for a national automation, testing and equipment (ATE) campus in Batu Kawan, following Penang's earlier commitment of 10 acres of industrial land valued at RM40 million. The Economy Ministry announced the allocation on Se

PETALING JAYA (Sept 24): The federal government has allocated RM25 million for an automation, testing and equipment (ATE) campus in Batu Kawan under the 13th Malaysia Plan, the Economy Ministry announced on Thursday (Sept 24). The allocation follows Penang’s earlier commitment of 10 acres of industrial land valued at about RM40 million for its ATE campus initiative.

The ministry said the Penang government would provide the land for what it called the National ATE Campus. InvestPenang said in March that the land had been allocated through the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) within a PDC industrial park. Penang state reporting subsequently identified the site as being in Batu Kawan Industrial Park, though neither disclosure gave a lot number or site plan.

The state launched the Penang ATE Campus initiative in April. At the time, InvestPenang said its first phase would focus on industry collaboration, including field labs and training platforms, while a second phase would explore development of a dedicated physical campus.

The announcements do not disclose the physical campus’s total development cost, construction timetable or how the RM25 million federal allocation will be spent. The state’s RM40 million figure is its valuation of the land contribution, not a construction budget.