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General Information
What is the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (PML) Project?
- First integrated metro system in the northern Peninsular Malaysia.
- An integral component of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) which consists of multiple metro system lines.
- First line to be constructed as the backbone of the overall Penang Transport Master Plan.
- The MTL corridor includes a base alignment that starts at Penang South Reclamation Island A (PSR-A) andterminates at Penang Sentral as well as from PSR-A terminating at George Town (Komtar Station).
Both alignments use the same line from PSR-A to Macallum Station with trains scheduled alternately.
Combining these services using the same line between PSR-A and Macallum Station shall provide a
shorter headway between the two. - The extension of the alignment to Penang Sentral will position Penang Sentral as a main multimodal transit hub comprising metro train, bus service, ferry terminal, ETS service, KTM Komuter service and other transport modes.
General Information
Why is the PML important?
- The alignment will link up all the important places on the island, freshen up the older areas, and make the most out of the new parts that have been built. Covering vital residential, industrial, commercial, and tourist areas.
- PML will link up important destinations, such as Penang International Airport (PIA), Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone (FIZ), George Town City Centre, Penang Sentral, and other highly populated neighbourhoods.
- The PML Project aims to create more jobs, help local businesses, and boost industries, especially those into Industrialised Building System (IBS), maintenance, and operations. This will strengthen the local economy and improve people’s lives.
- With the launch of the PML, business and tourism sectors are expected to improve.
- Mutiara Line aims to drive the economy and improve the standard of living for the people.
General Information
What are the potential benefits of PML project for the local community?
- Provide efficient, safe, cost-effective, and greener public transport system
- Better commuting experience & shorter commuting time
- Less traffic congestion & reduce carbon emission
- Improve productivity and personal time
- A cleaner and greener Penang with a reduced carbon footprint
- Offer multiple job opportunities for the people of Penang from construction up to operations
General Information
What are the parties involved in the PML project?
- The PML project was initially developed by the Penang State Government under the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP). It was previously known as the Bayan Lepas LRT.
- The Federal Government had taken over the PML project in early 2024, with MRT Corp appointed as the developer and asset owner. MRT Corp is fully owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated.
General Information
What is the role of MRT Corp in the PML Project?
- Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) has been appointed by the Government as the project developer and asset owner of the Penang PML Project.
General Information
Which Government Ministry or agency is supervising the PML Project?
- The Ministry of Transport will supervise the project together with Agensi Pengangkutan Awam Darat (APAD).
- APAD is the regulatory agency monitoring the public transport sector in Malaysia, including Mutiara Line PML Project.
General Information
How many tender packages for PML Project?
3 Packages:
- Civil Main Contract 1 (CMC 1): Penang South Reclamation (PSR) Island to KOMTAR
- Civil Main Contract 2 (CMC 2): Macallum to Penang Sentral
- Civil Main Contract 3(CMC 3): Transit Oriented Development
- Systems Turnkey Contractor (STC)
General Information
When will the tender exercise begin? Why is there no information or advertisement on this?
- The tender process is being carried out progressively.
- Any updates on the tender exercise will be provided through MRT Corp’s official website at www.mymrt.com.my and MRT Corp's social media platforms.
- The tender for CMC 1 has been awarded on January 2025, whilst the NTP has been awarded on July 2025.
- The tender for CMC 2 will be expected in October 2025
- The tender for CMC 3 is TBD.
- The tender for STC will be expected in October 2025
General Information
What is the current status of PML Project?
- MRT Corp is currently conducting the EIA and SIA study for Macallum to Penang Sentral.
- The detailed design is being finalised. (for CMC1)
- The physical works has already commenced in 2025.
- Updates on the current status of PML Project, can be accessed on the MRT Mutiara Line official website.
General Information
Is the PML alignment different from the Bayan Lepas LRT (BLLRT) proposed in 2019?
The 2 alignments are essentially similar, linking Komtar and PSR-A. However, the main differences are:
- The BLLRT alignment was 29.9km long with 27 stations, including provisional stations on Island A.
- The total length of the PML viaduct is 29.67km with 22 stations, including the station on Silicon Island (Island A) as well as the connection from Macallum to Penang Sentral
General Information
What is the cost of the PML Project?
The overall cost of the project can only be finalised once all the tender exercises have been completed. For Segment 1 of the Mutiara Line LRT project, connecting PSR-A to KOMTAR, the contract is valued at RM7.9 billion.
General Information
With the extension from island to mainland, what would the project costs be?
The costs of the extension can only be finalised once all the tender exercises have been completed.
Project/Technical Information
How long is the alignment? How many stations?
- The Mutiara Line’s total viaduct length is 29.67km with 22 stations, as well as 2 provisional stations (PSR-A & Jalan Bagan Luar)
- The size of each station is determined based on its type and location.
- There will be an elevated viaduct across the sea connecting Macallum to Penang Sentral.
- The distance between PSR-A (Silicon Island) and Komtar is approximately 23.67 km.
- The distance between PSR-A (Silicon Island) and Penang Sentral is approximately 29.67 km.
- The distance between Macallum and Penang Sentral is 6 km, while the length of the marine viaduct (from coast to coast) is 3.05km.
- The distance between Macallum and KOMTAR is 0.79 km.
Project/Technical Information
Will the alignment be underground or above ground?
The alignment will be entirely elevated (for segment 1) and over the sea (for segment 2). (Approximately over 60 meters above the Highest Astronomical Tide, HAT)
Project/Technical Information
How long does it take to complete the journey from end to end?
- A single journey from PSR-A (Silicon Island) to Komtar will take approx. 45 minutes.
- A single journey from PSR-A (Silicon Island) to Penang Sentral will take approx. 49 minutes.
- A journey from Komtar to Penang Sentral or vice versa, which requires an interchange route at Macallum station, will take approx. 8 to 13 minutes, depending on the frequency (headway) of the train during operation.
- From Macallum, it will take approx. 1 minute to reach KOMTAR, and approx. 7 minutes to reach Penang Sentral.
Project/Technical Information
What is the estimated number of passengers when it starts operating in the future?
The estimated number of passengers is 45,600 passengers per day for the first year of operations.
Project/Technical Information
What are the criteria for the selection of station location?
When choosing where to put metro stations, we consider a few important things:
- How the land is used: We look at things like where people live and work, if there are places like malls or stadiums nearby, and if there’s space to build. We also think about any problems, like if there’s a highway next to it or if we need to buy land.
- How the lines connect: We think about where people might want to switch from one line to another, and how far apart the stations should be along the route.
- The engineering design: We have to make sure the tracks and stations can be built safely and efficiently. This means looking at things like how flat the land is, what’s underground, and how much it will cost.
- How it affects people: We consider things like noise and how easy it is for people nearby to get to the station. We also think about what benefits the station will add to the neighbourhood.
Project/Technical Information
Will there be any Park & Ride provided for the public?
- Yes. Over 1000 car parking bays and over 1000 motorcycle parking bays will be provided at selected stations along the alignment.
Project/Technical Information
How will the line be connected to other rail systems?
- The Penang Sentral station will be connected to the ETS & KTM Komuter network.
- Komtar station is planned to be the future extensions to Tanjung Bungah and Ayer Itam.
Project/Technical Information
Will PML stations be easily accessible by the public?
- Yes, we picked the location and station based on how easy it is for people to get there and looked at things like how close it is to places where people walk, catch buses, taxis, or drive their own cars
Project/Technical Information
Where is the location of the depot?
- The entire network will be served by one stabling yard which is planned at Tapak Pesta and one depot to be built at Pulau Silikon.
Project/Technical Information
Are the PML stations disabled-friendly?
The Mutiara Line LRT stations are designed to be accessible and user-friendly for everyone, especially people with disabilities. Key features include:
- Special tactile tiles to guide visually impaired passengers safely around the stations.
- Toilets designed to cater to the needs of disabled users.
- Ramps for easy movement between different areas of the station.
- Ticket counters positioned at a comfortable height for wheelchair users.
- Dedicated parking spaces for disabled drivers and passengers.
- Elevators equipped with accessibility features.
- Wide gates to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility aids.
Project/Technical Information
What is the height of the elevated alignment?
- The height of the elevated alignment will range from 10 to 20 metres high depending on the location.
Project/Technical Information
There are many historical buildings/structures along the alignment. How do you ensure that these structures are not affected?
- No historical buildings / structures will be affected along the alignment.
- The Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) report has been approved by Jabatan Warisan Negara (JWN) in 2020.
- Expert heritage advice will be sought to ensure we comply with the recommendations in the report to minimise any impact.
- The HIA Report for Macallum to Penang Sentral will be submitted to JWN Pulau Pinang in Q1 2025.
Project/Technical Information
What is the status of the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Report?
- The SIA Report for the PML Project from PSR-A to KOMTAR has been approved by PLANMalaysia in 2020. The SIA Report for Macallum to Penang Sentral will be submitted to PLANMalaysia Pulau Pinang in Q1 2025.
Construction
When will PML construction start and end?
- The land acquisition process is ongoing (as of August 2025) and will be expected to continue until early 2026.
- The construction works (for Segment 1) will commence in October 2025, which will include site clearing, utility relocation, and road widening.
- The PML is expected to be completed by December 2031.
Construction
What are the construction hours? Will there be construction activities at night?
Construction hours will be normal working hours starting at 7am to 7pm with possible night work for critical activities upon approval by local authorities.
Construction
If my property is located next to the construction site, what will you do if there are cracks, or any damages caused by the construction works?
- Before the start of construction works, a pre-construction condition survey will be carried out by an independent surveyor for buildings that are within the zone of the construction works.
- The pre-construction survey (subject to the approval of the building owner) comprises internal and external inspections of the existing conditions of the building.
- The pre-construction survey serves as a basis for analysis should there be future requests for repairs for damages to the buildings purportedly caused by the construction works.
Construction
Will I be given a copy of the pre-construction condition survey report?
- Yes, MRT Corp values transparency and will issue a copy of the report to the stakeholder concerned once the request is made officially in writing.
Construction
What are the mitigation measures to ensure minimum disruptions to public amenities such as water and power supply during construction?
- Utilities mapping and piloting will be carried out before the start of the actual construction works.
- The contractor will be basing on the latest utilities mapping to plan their construction activities and utilities relocation if required.
- Public will also be informed in advance of possible or planned utility disruption if any (for their forward preparation).
- The public will be notified at least five (5) days prior to any construction work that potentially disrupts the utility systems.
Environmental and Public Safety
What is the status of the EIA Report?
- The EIA Report for the PML Project from PSR-A to KOMTAR has been approved by DOE in 2020 (another approval in July 2024-PSR only).
- EIA Report for Macallum to Penang Sentral will be submitted to DOE HQ in Q1 2025.
- The EIA Report for Macallum to Penang Sentral is expected to be approved (Full approval) in January 2026..
Environmental and Public Safety
What are the PML construction working hours? Will there be construction activities at night?
- Construction hours will be subject to the local authorities’ approval.
- There are instances where works are carried out beyond 7 p.m., and dependent on the type of construction works that will emit less sound.
- Some works are needed to be done at night in the best interest of public safety.
- For example, high-risk construction activities such as lifting of Segmental Box Girders are done after non-peak traffic hours for safety reasons
Environmental and Public Safety
PML construction will cause traffic congestion due to lane / road closures, and the road will be damaged due to heavy construction vehicles and also causing difficulties to motorists. How will MRT Corp and contractors handle this problem?
- Road closures are necessary to ensure public safety.
- Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) will be conducted by a traffic consultant before implementation of closure.
- Detour routes or alternative routes will be identified, and these are submitted to the relevant authorities for approval.
- A dedicated and trained traffic management team will be put on duty for the duration of the project, and overseen by a traffic management officer.
- Announcement of road closures will also be made in advance.
Environmental and Public Safety
How do you safeguard public safety in PML especially when there are works carried out alongside and underneath roads and commercial properties?
- We have strict safety measures for work near the public, like building bridges, heavy lifting near roads, temporary structures, and delivering large items.
- These measures include traffic plans, safety training, daily briefings, extra checks by consultants, and barriers.
- Contractors are responsible for safety at their sites, and we’ll work closely with them to ensure all safety procedures are followed during construction.
- Hoarding will be installed to demarcate and cordon off the work areas to ensure public safety.
- Safety supervisors and emergency response teams will also monitor and be standby at the construction sites.
- A 24/7 complaint management system (MRTCareline) will be activated to receive public feedback and complaints on safety matters.reline) will be activated to receive public feedback and complaints on safety matters.
Environmental and Public Safety
How will I get notified about on-going construction works along the alignment?
- The on-going construction activities are regularly updated through the official website of MRT Corp at mymrt.com.my and MRT Corp’s social media platforms.
- Members of the public are therefore advised to follow MRT Corp’s official platforms for further information in future.
- Besides, a Communications and Stakeholder Relations team will also be established by the Contractor. This team will manage communications with members of the public that are related to the project.
Operations
When will the operation commence?
The train operation is expected to commence in the year 2031
Operations
What are the operating hours of PML?
Tentatively, the operating hours are from 6:00 am to 12:00 am.
Operations
What is the train frequency?
- The PML trains will run at regular intervals, with peak hours seeing more frequent services to accommodate higher passenger volumes.
- The exact frequency will be determined based on passenger demand and operational considerations, but the aim is to provide a reliable and convenient service with minimal waiting times for passengers.
- During the initial years, the average frequency is estimated to be every 5 minutes.
Operations
How much will the ticket fare be?
The fare will be decided by the government. The PML fare structure will be designed to be affordable and competitive with other modes of transport. The exact fare rates will be determined closer to the launch date and effort will be made to ensure the fares are reasonable and accessible to a wide range of passengers.
Land Acquisition
What are the procedures involved for elevated (above ground) / normal land acquisition? What is the timeline for the land acquisition to take place?
a) The procedure for land acquisition will be carried out in accordance with the Land Acquisition Act (LAA) 1960.
b) The main stages of the process are as follows:
i. Identification of Land: Public will be notified of the possibility of the railway alignment passing through their area.
This will be carried out under Section 4 of the LAA 1960. Section 4 gazettement: PSR-A to KOMTAR – gazetted 19.9.2024
and Macallum to Penang Sentral – Q1 2025
Purpose of this notification is to grant permission for MRT Corp to undertake further land survey & soil investigation studies.
ii. Public Inspection: The details of the areas involved in the project will be presented for public feedback under the Public Inspection
programme. Information regarding the Public Inspection will be published in the main newspapers and MRT
Corp’s Website and Social Media Platforms.
The public will be able to provide their feedback via physical and online forms. The feedback will be noted and reviewed by
the government before finalisation of the land lots to be acquired.
The Public Inspection will be carried out over three months and is targeted to start in Q1, 2025. (This is for Macallum to Penang
Sentral, as PI for PSR-A to KOMTAR has been conducted by SRS in 2019).
iii. Finalisation of Land to be Acquired: Following review of the public’s feedback, the government will finalise the affected land
lots that will be acquired. This will take place from; PSR-A to KOMTAR – Q1 2025, Macallum to Penang Sentral – Q2 2025
iv. Declaration of Intention to Acquire: The official notice of the intention to acquire will be issued to landowners in accordance
with Section 8 of the LAA 1960. This notice is confirmation that your land will be acquired. This process is targeted to start
from; PSR-A to KOMTAR – Q1 2025, Macallum to Penang Sentral – Q2 2025
Accompanying the notice is an invitation to affected landowners to a land hearing where the compensation amount will be discussed
and finalised. The hearing will take place within 4 weeks of the notice being issued.
v. Notification of Award: The next step in the process is notifying landowners of the compensation amount that has been determined
by the Land Administrator based on the valuation by the Property Assessment & Management Department (Jabatan Penilaian &
Pengurusan Hartanah). The compensation amount will be in accordance to what was finalised at the land hearing. This
will start from; PSR-A to KOMTAR – Q2 2025, Macallum to Penang Sentral – Q4 2025
vi. Payment of Compensation: The next step of the process is the payment of compensation to the landowners. This will take place
within 2 weeks – 1 month period from the notification of award with the condition that complete documentation has been provided
by the landowner. Payment of compensation will start from; PSR-A to KOMTAR – Q2 2025, Macallum to Penang Sentral – Q4 2025
vii. Notice to Vacate: Landowners are given a timeframe of up to 6 months from the issuance of notice to vacate their land. The
issuance of notice to vacate the land will start from; PSR-A to KOMTAR – Q3 2025, Macallum to Penang Sentral – Q1 2026
Our intention is to carry out this exercise in a fair and compassionate manner and consideration will be given on the notice period
on a case-to-case basis.
c) A flowchart of the process and indicative timeline is detailed below for easy reference:
PSR-A to KOMTAR -Q4 2024, Macallum to Penang Sentral-Q1 2025
↓
Q1 2025
↓
PSR-A to KOMTAR -Q1,2025, Macallum to Penang Sentral -Q2 2025
↓
PSR-A to KOMTAR -Q1 2025, Macallum to Penang Sentral -Q2 2025
↓
PSR-A to KOMTAR -Q2 2025, Macallum to Penang Sentral -Q4 2025
↓
PSR-A to KOMTAR -Q2 2025, Macallum to Penang Sentral -Q4 2025
↓
PSR-A to KOMTAR -Q3 2025, Macallum to Penang Sentral -Q1 2026
Land Acquisition
How will I know whether my land / property will be acquired?
- During the Public Inspection (Macallum to Penang Sentral), which will be carried out for 3 months starting from Q1, 2025, the details of the areas involved and the list of potential land lots to be acquired will be informed.
- The list will be finalised within one month after the Public Inspection followed by the Section 8 gazettement of the land acquisition whereby the affected landowners will receive the official notice of the intention to acquire by Pejabat Tanah.
Land Acquisition
If my property is to be acquired, will there be compensation? How much would I be compensated? Can I object to the compensation amount?
- The compensation award for the acquired land will be determined by the Land Administrator (LA) based on the valuation by the Property Assessment & Management Department (Jabatan Penilaian & Pengurusan Hartanah).
- Affected landowners will be invited to a land hearing to discuss the compensation amount.
- Landowner(s) are also entitled to appoint their own valuer to undertake valuation of their land, to be presented at the land hearing.
- Any objection / discussion to the compensation amount will be discussed at the land hearing.
Land Acquisition
What is the buffer zone for those not affected by the land acquisition but are located near the planned LRT route?
In the case of railway projects, the buffer zone is known as Railway Protection Zone (RPZ). The first reserve of the RPZ is within a 6-meter distance from the outermost rail structures and only restricted activities are allowed within to ensure safety of the rail assets and operations.
Land Acquisition
How much notice will be given to the affected landowners before they have to move out?
- Landowners are given a timeframe of up to 6 months from the issuance of notice to vacate their land.
- However, our intention is to carry out this exercise in a fair and compassionate manner, and consideration will be given on the notice period on a case-to-case basis.
Land Acquisition
Can I object to the acquisition?
- The PML Project is a national interest public project for the benefit of the people and for the future growth of the country.
- Under section 3 (1) (a), LAA 1960 states that the government may acquire any land which is needed for public purpose. The government will compensate affected landowners fairly.
- However, the landowners are protected under the LAA 1960 where they can contest to the compensation amount by submitting “Form N” to JKPTG.
Land Acquisition
When will I be notified about the construction activities, as my house is located near the alignment but not affected by land acquisition?
Our appointed contractor will conduct briefings / engagement sessions with the stakeholders impacted prior to commencement of construction work to mitigate any issue during construction.
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