BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Transport Ministry will upgrade the Butterworth Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) station with an allocation of RM30mil to transform Penang Sentral into the main transport hub in Seberang Perai.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that this project falls under the Fifth Rolling Plan (RP5) of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
He added that the ministry has completed assessments and will appoint contractors next month, with construction starting soon after.
He emphasised that the Butterworth KTM station will play a key role by integrating KTM, Electric Train Service (ETS), and commuter services with Penang ferry services and the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) at Penang Sentral, Butterworth.
"These three modes of transportation will be integrated, making Penang Sentral a public transportation hub in Seberang Perai. This Integrated Public Transport Terminal concept connects various modes at one location.
"Development is balanced between the island and Seberang Perai, turning it into a focal area. We are confident it will become the pulse of development for the surrounding region," he told reporters after officiating the Penang DAP Annual Convention 2025.
Meanwhile, Loke announced that Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), in collaboration with the state government, will expand the air cargo terminal at Penang International Airport (LTAPP) in Bayan Lepas.
He added that MAHB and the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) will develop a larger logistical site in Batu Maung for international logistics players to expand operations.
"This will double the air cargo capacity from three aircraft parking bays to six," he said.
Regarding the Mutiara Line LRT project, Loke mentioned that the large-scale project will cost about RM16bil, as its alignment extends to Seberang Perai, as proposed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, becoming a catalyst for Penang's transportation development.
Loke, also the DAP secretary-general, stated that the Federal Government is committed to the project's implementation, recognising the previous financial constraints faced by the state government.
He added that the Mutiara Line LRT, alongside the expansion of the LTAPP and air cargo terminal and the upgrading of the Butterworth KTM station, will drive Penang's development, ensuring that the Pearl of the Orient remains a hub for the industrial sector and the development of the electrical, electronics, and semiconductor industries in Malaysia and across the Asia-Pacific.
Spanning 29.5km, the Mutiara Line LRT will be the first outside the Klang Valley, featuring 21 stations. – Bernama
