CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow today officiated the early launch of the Silicon Island Experience Centre, marking a significant step in showcasing Penang’s ambitious 2,300-acre development and its potential to attract high-value investments to the state.
The launch comes as reclamation works on Silicon Island reach a major milestone, with 500 acres reclaimed as of October 2026, since work began in September 2023.
Chow said Silicon Island was not merely a land reclamation project but a strategic catalyst for Penang’s economic growth over the next 50 years, complementing the state’s established electrical and electronics (E&E) and semiconductor industries in Bayan Lepas.
“Fifty years ago, Penang took a bold leap into semiconductors. Today, Silicon Island marks our next chapter of ambition, creating new room for high-value technology, advanced packaging, research and development (R&D), and AI-driven innovation,” he said.
He said the development would feature an integrated ecosystem comprising high-tech industrial areas, residential and commercial developments, and green spaces, including a 700-acre Green Tech Park, in line with the state’s Penang2030 vision.
Chow added that sustainability remained a key priority, with Silicon Island holding five-diamond accreditation under the Low Carbon Cities framework and targeting a 45% reduction in carbon emissions compared with conventional urban development.
The state government would also continue supporting affected local communities, particularly fishermen, through livelihood assistance, skills training, financial aid and educational opportunities, alongside coastal and marine conservation efforts.
Chow also said Silicon Island was projected to contribute significantly to the national gross domestic product (GDP) and generate more than 220,000 jobs across high-tech industries, the creative economy and modern services.
Reflecting on the project’s journey, Chow described the latest milestone as a proud moment for everyone involved in the reclamation works, recalling the environmental, social and legal challenges encountered along the way.
He said the state remained committed to the project because of its potential benefits not only for Penang but also for the country.
Chow also shared that this was his first time travelling to Silicon Island in a car, having previously visited the site several times by boat.
“With the opening of the Silicon Island Experience Centre, our doors are now open. Come, see it, and build Penang’s future with us,” he said, inviting international partners and investors to explore the development’s potential.
Meanwhile, State Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the experience centre would bridge the gap between the project’s master plan and its physical development, providing investors, industry leaders, local stakeholders and the public with clear and transparent information.
He said the facility brought together the project’s long-term vision, infrastructure plans and public mobility framework, allowing visitors to better understand how its industrial, residential, commercial and recreational components would be integrated.
Zairil also highlighted the importance of the Pan Island Link 2A (PIL2A) project, particularly the bridge connecting Permatang Damar Laut directly to Silicon Island, as a key component of the development’s connectivity and logistics network.
Following a recent working visit to the PIL2A construction site, he said the project was progressing well, with the foundations of Silicon Island’s transport network taking shape.
He added that the development was being planned with sustainable transport networks, intelligent traffic management systems, integrated pedestrian and cycling paths, and resilient digital infrastructure.
Zairil stressed that the state government would continue working with Penang Infrastructure Corporation Sdn Bhd (PICSB), Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd and project partners to uphold high standards of safety, environmental monitoring and construction-site management, while maintaining dialogue with local communities.
In his address, PICSB chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said the 2,500-square-foot, single-storey Silicon Island Experience Centre had been completed within four months for RM2.5 million.
He said the facility was designed to transform complex technical blueprints into an interactive presentation of the master plan, featuring an advanced LED scale model controlled through an iPad.
The model allows visitors to explore the development’s various components, including the 700-acre Green Tech Park, commercial and residential areas, more than 110km of planned dedicated cycling and pedestrian paths, and 402 acres of designated green spaces, coastal parks and marine conservation zones.
Farizan said the centre would serve as an authoritative and regularly updated source of information for government agencies, investors, local communities and the media as construction progresses.
He also reported that the RM420 million first phase of PIL2A was progressing, with the first section of the bridge targeted to open in December 2028 and the full project expected to be completed in June 2029.
On community support, Farizan said more than RM30 million had been channelled towards assistance for local fishermen, including ex-gratia payments, boats and engines, and improvements to modern fishing facilities. Ecological mitigation measures were also underway, including artificial reef placement, the release of fish and prawns, and a phased planting programme targeting 200,000 mangrove and other suitable trees by 2030.
Also present earlier were state Trade, Entrepreneurial Development and Rural Development Committee chairman Rashidi Zinol, state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai, state Trade and National Unity Committee chairman Goh Choon Aik, Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd (SIDSB) chief executive officer Datuk Szeto Wai Loong, and others.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi