The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is working on extending its regulations for tourist accommodation premises (TIP) to cover the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, as the state looks to better manage the growing short-term rental industry. State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said the move was agreed upon during a meeting involving MBPP, PLANMalaysia and George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) on Sept 28.

The council is now drawing up specific guidelines, including the proportion of buildings or premises that can be used for tourist accommodation within the heritage area. The guidelines will consider existing land use, zoning, planning policies and heritage conservation needs, while ensuring that George Town retains its character as a living heritage site.

The move comes alongside revisions to Penang’s Private Short-term Accommodation (Local Authorities of Penang) By-laws 2026, which will take effect on Jan 1, 2027. Under the revised fee structure, the annual licence fee will be reduced from RM1,000 to RM500 per unit. The tourist accommodation premises fee will also be adjusted according to the number of rooms, ranging from RM400 for units with one room to RM1,800 for premises with five to 10 rooms. The maximum permitted room count has also been increased from five to 10, subject to local authority requirements.

The changes have been welcomed by the Penang Malaysia Homestay/Short-Stay Operators Association, although the group is hoping for further flexibility. Its chairman, Lydia Tan, said the association would like to see a single licence covering up to 10 units, rather than requiring operators to apply for separate licences for each property. She said this would help simplify the application process and reduce administrative costs for operators. The association has also proposed setting up a working committee with the state government to discuss industry-related matters.

The latest developments reflect the state’s efforts to strike a balance between supporting the short-term accommodation industry, addressing concerns from local residents and preserving George Town’s heritage character.

Proposed landed residential development on a 19.46-acre site near Taman Seri Putera in Nibong Tebal. The location is just a stone’s throw from Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Engineering Campus, approximately a five-minute drive from Nibong Tebal town centre and about 1km from the Penang–Perak border.

The development will comprise 81 double-storey terrace houses. A single-storey community hall is also included in the development plan, providing a shared space for residents and community activities.

The project is still in its planning stage and more details will be available upon official launch.

Project Name : (to be confirmed)
Location : Nibong Tebal
Property Type : Residential
Tenure: (to be confirmed)
Land Area: 19.46 acres
Built-up Size: (to be confirmed)
Total Units : 81
Indicative Price : (to be confirmed)
Developer : (Follow us to find out more)

DISCLAIMER: This article is solely based on research done using publicly available data. This is not an advertisement. Any claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a project or service should be verified with the developer, provider, or party in question.

The Penang government is reviewing the feasibility of the proposed Penang Third Link, with a bridge design now being considered as an alternative to the previously proposed undersea tunnel.

Penang Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the state government had approved a realignment study based on a bridge concept, following the findings of an earlier feasibility study.

The proposed realignment would shift the route northwards to accommodate the planned expansion of Penang Port, while avoiding interference with port operations and vessel navigation routes. It is also intended to help ease traffic congestion around Gurney Bay and its surrounding areas.

Zairil said a conceptual design study is currently underway, with its findings to be presented to the Penang Port Commission (PPC) for feedback and further consideration. The assessment will examine various aspects, including technical feasibility, financial implications, traffic needs, maritime safety and the project’s long-term economic benefits.

He added that the proposed Third Link would serve a different purpose from the Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT) bridge connecting Penang Island to Penang Sentral. While the LRT bridge would provide a direct rail connection between the island and mainland, it would be exclusively for train services and would not accommodate road vehicles.

The state government has also requested that the proposed Third Link bridge include pedestrian walkways and dedicated cycling lanes, which will be considered during the design stage once the project contract is awarded. The contract is expected to be awarded in the coming months.

Zairil stressed that the LRT bridge alone would not be sufficient to address the growing traffic congestion on Penang’s existing First Bridge.

He said an additional road connection remained necessary, particularly to cater to increasing traffic demand in North Seberang Perai, where rapid development is expected to put further pressure on existing road infrastructure.

A historic building along Jalan Macalister has reopened as a branch of the Penang State Museum, marking another milestone in the state’s ongoing efforts to preserve its heritage and promote the arts.

The reopening was officiated by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who also launched the Penang Art Open 2025 exhibition themed “Future Ecologies”, featuring works by the competition’s winning artists.

The building, which had been closed for about six years, underwent repair and upgrading works, including roof repairs, electrical wiring improvements and a fresh coat of paint. A new automotive gallery within the compound has also expanded the exhibition space.

Originally known as the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, the building was officially opened as a maternity hospital on Sept 13, 1915. Its reopening gives the historic premises a new role in showcasing Penang’s cultural and artistic heritage.

Source: The Star

The museum branch houses a diverse collection of exhibits, ranging from historical artefacts and traditional handicrafts to costumes, paintings and works by pioneering and contemporary artists. It also features contributions from the late comics artist Mohd Azmi Mohd Hussin, highlighting the state’s popular culture and artistic legacy.

The State Art Gallery is also temporarily operating from the premises while upgrading works are being carried out at its permanent home in Dewan Sri Pinang.

Meanwhile, the Penang Art Open 2025 exhibition explores how art can encourage greater awareness of environmental sustainability and sustainable development.

Chow said the reopening reflects the state government’s commitment to making Penang’s heritage more accessible while supporting the growth of its arts scene. He also encouraged visitors to look beyond the exhibits and appreciate the stories behind them.

The reopening follows the return of the Penang State Museum in Farquhar Street on July 23 and the opening of its automotive gallery on Feb 3.

Admission to the Jalan Macalister museum branch is free until Nov 30.

The federal government is drafting a set of uniform planning guidelines for short-term rental accommodation (STRA), which could require all premises operating as short-term rentals in Malaysia to be registered and fully comply with local authority licensing requirements before they can legally operate.

Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said the guidelines are being prepared by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) through PLANMalaysia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac), state governments and local authorities. The document is currently undergoing final review with Motac before being presented to the Cabinet and subsequently the National Council for Local Government (MNKT).

Under the proposed framework, several regulatory requirements are being outlined:

Mandatory local authority licensing: STRA operators must register their premises and comply with the relevant local authority’s licensing conditions before operating legally.

Strata management rules remain applicable: Short-term rentals in strata properties must continue to comply with the respective Joint Management Body (JMB) or Management Corporation (MC) by-laws under the Strata Management Act 2013.

Automatic licence verification: The government is encouraging cooperation with digital accommodation platforms to introduce automatic licence status checks before a property can be listed.

Removal of unlicensed listings: Digital platforms are expected to take responsibility for removing listings that do not have valid licences or breach local authority requirements and existing laws.

Stronger enforcement: Local authorities and enforcement agencies may take legal action against non-compliant operators under existing legislation, including the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 and the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974.

The proposed framework also addresses the possibility of limiting short-term rental operations to 180 nights annually. However, Aiman Athirah said a regulatory impact assessment had been conducted, and any cap would need to balance property owners’ income opportunities, tourism industry requirements, public safety and residents’ wellbeing.

Penang has already introduced its own measures, with the Guidelines for the Operation of Private Accommodation in Strata Property Schemes taking effect on April 1, 2023, followed by the gazetting of the Private Accommodation (Local Authority) By-Laws on August 1, 2026.

The nationwide guidelines are expected to provide a common regulatory framework for states and local authorities, although their implementation will depend on the subsequent approval and adoption process.