GEORGE TOWN: Construction of the Penang LRT Mutiara Line will continue as planned, including during the upcoming Chinese New Year in February and Hari Raya Aidilfitri in March, the state assembly was told.
This is because of the tight implementation schedule and contractual deadlines, state infrastructure and transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said.
Replying on the Chief Minister's behalf to Lim Guan Eng (PH-Air Putih), he said the Federal Government had set a firm completion target for December 2031, leaving little room for work suspensions.
"MRT Corp has informed us that the construction scheduled to begin in January will proceed as planned, even during the festive periods. Any delay will trigger contractual penalty clauses," he added.
Zairil stressed that while works could not be halted, a detailed and phased Traffic Management Plan (TMP) had already been approved to minimise disruptions during peak travel seasons.
"The TMP will be adjusted for the festive period so traffic flow and road safety are not compromised, even with the increase in vehicles," he added.
He said Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRTC) was formally appointed in April last year as the project developer and asset owner.
In December, the Federal Cabinet approved a project cost ceiling of RM16.8bil for the Mutiara Line.
Construction officially began on 15 July 2025, when SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd, the Civil Main Contractor for Package CMC1, received its Notice to Proceed.
CMC1 works are expected to be fully completed by December 2031.
Zairil also revealed that MRTC had identified three major congestion hotspots: Jalan Magazine in the city centre; Sunny Point junction, Batu Uban; and Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, near the Free Industrial Zone (FIZ) in Bayan Lepas
"These locations will face the most significant traffic impact due to their complexity and existing high volume of vehicles," he said.
He added that MRTC had been required by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to prepare TMPs for every station site, from George Town to Permatang Damar Laut, the southern terminus.
The detailed TMP was approved on Oct 14 and is now being rolled out in phases.
According to Zairil, the mitigation framework includes lane diversions, alternative routes, phased closures, clearer road signage and real-time traffic updates.
"The TMP will be reviewed and improved monthly to ensure it responds to on-ground conditions and public feedback," he said, advising road users to refer regularly to Mutiara Line project channels.
"Commuters are encouraged to check MRTC’s LRT Mutiara website, social media updates and navigation apps such as Waze for real-time information to plan their journeys," he said.
The TMP implementation is expected to be fully completed by 2030, ahead of the line’s commissioning in 2031.
Zairil assured that both MRTC and contractors would "take all reasonable measures" to minimise disruptions while keeping the project on track.
"While inconvenience is unavoidable for a project of this scale, the long-term benefits of a modern rail system for Penang far outweigh the temporary discomfort," he said.
