“Penang’s waterfront redevelopment will involve multiple stakeholders due to heritage buildings and port assets, with the project set to create public spaces, revive historical sites and support cruise tourism, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.”
Penang, 23th January 2026, 01.30pm – The redevelopment of Penang’s waterfront will require strong coordination among multiple stakeholders due to its involvement with strategic assets, heritage buildings and port operations, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said.
Loke said the project falls under the purview of several agencies at the federal level, including the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC), which owns Wisma Kastam — also known as the Malayan Railway Building — a heritage structure that has stood since 1909.
He added that the waterfront and marina areas are overseen by the Penang Port Commission, making close cooperation between federal and state authorities essential to ensure the project is carried out in a structured and holistic manner.
According to Loke, the Penang state government has made encouraging progress in developing public spaces along the waterfront, in line with people-centric urban planning objectives.
Agencies under the Ministry of Transport will continue working together to expand public access areas and revitalise surrounding heritage buildings so they can be enjoyed by both residents and visitors, he said.
“The bell of Wisma Kastam will ring again,” Loke said in a Facebook post on Thursday after receiving a briefing on the redevelopment plan at the RAC Sentral Tower in Kuala Lumpur.
He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preserving historical and heritage elements as part of the national development agenda.
During a visit to Penang on Jan 12, Loke said the waterfront redevelopment is planned as a public-friendly project to be implemented through private financing. The initiative aims to create a pedestrian promenade stretching more than one kilometre, offering sea views, cafés and tourism facilities, while strengthening Penang’s position as a cruise tourism hub.
