Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
GEORGE TOWN: The 2025/2026 edition of Pesta Pulau Pinang will be the last to be held at Tapak Pesta Pulau Pinang here before the festival goes on a six-year hiatus.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (pic) said this was to make way for the construction of the Mutiara Light Rail Transit (LRT) line and a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) by MRT Corp at the site.
"Last year, I announced that the 58th edition could be the final one before the event was postponed to allow for the construction of the Mutiara LRT line and TOD by MRT Corp.
"However, based on the latest developments, MRT Corp will only take over the site in April 2026, allowing the festival to proceed with its 59th edition," he said at the opening ceremony of the Pesta Pulau Pinang 2025/2026 at Tapak Pesta Pulau Pinang on Thursday (Dec 11) night.
The event was officiated by Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Ramli Ngah Talib. Also present at the event was his wife, Toh Puan Raja Noora Ashikin Raja Abdullah.
As the 59th edition marks the final one before a six-year hiatus, Chow said the first Pesta Fun Walk was held on Nov 29 to symbolise the community's support for the festival over the years.
He recalled that the festival, which began in 1966 as a sales carnival at Padang Kota Lama and Lebuh Macallum, had since evolved into a celebrated annual event, held regularly at Tapak Pesta Sungai Nibong since 1974.
"The nostalgia of this 59-year journey is immortalised through our collaboration with the State Public Library Corporation in the Tradisi Merentasi Generasi exhibition at Galeri Legasi Mutiara, which showcases historical materials, including ticket collections dating back to 1978," he said.
Chow said the 8.14-hectare festival ground was equipped with a range of facilities, including stalls, parking spaces, a surau, toilets, mini-parks, automated teller machines, while also serving as a symbol of diplomatic ties through the North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Aceh and Thailand pavilions.
He said this edition would run for 36 days, from Dec 6, 2025, to Jan 10, 2026, featuring a variety of products from small and medium enterprise entrepreneurs and state agencies, as well as participation from the Penang Prime Minister's Department Implementation Coordination Unit, the Penang Regional Development Authority and the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation.
"In view of the growing number of foreign tourists, non-citizens will be charged RM10 for entry this year, while tickets for Malaysians remain at RM5, with free admission for children under 12 and persons with disabilities," he said. – Bernama
