Latest news with #LRTMutiaraLine
The Star
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
13MP to enhance first and last-mile mobility
KUALA LUMPUR: First- and last-mile connectivity across major cities nationwide is set for a boost under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister said this will involve the addition of 300 demand-responsive transit vans and 1,200 buses to enhance public transportation links within urban areas. 'There will also be an additional 217 passenger train sets to improve the frequency of train services,' he said when tabling the 13MP in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. Anwar said that the construction and upgrading of 2,800km of rural roads is anticipated to enhance connectivity. This includes the main road from Nanga Serau to Nanga Seranau in Kapit, Sarawak; the road from the Sungai Air Tawar bridge to Hutan Melintang in Bagan Datuk, Perak; and the Pos Sinderut road in Lipis, Pahang. Large-scale infrastructure development will continue as part of efforts to enhance connectivity and stimulate economic growth. These projects include the East Coast Rail Link, which connects Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the west coast of the peninsula; the Gemas-Johor Baru double track; the elevated autonomous rapid transit system in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor; and the LRT Mutiara Line project in Penang. 'These initiatives also speed up the transit-oriented development, combining transport elements with housing, commerce and public service counters,' he said. Anwar also said there will be upgrades to existing routes. This includes the Senai Utara-Machap route in Johor and the Juru-Sungai Dua route in Penang, both of which are located along the PLUS Malaysia Berhad Highway. Also in focus is the construction of the Lingkaran Tengah Utama Expressway, the Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah and the Trans Borneo Highway in Sarawak. The Prime Minister said the road-to-rail initiative, aiming to shift a large portion of cargo off roads, will increase rail usage from 6% to 13%. 'This will reduce the risk of road accidents,' he said.
The Sun
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
13MP outlines four strategies to boost public transport efficiency in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has unveiled four core strategies under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to enhance public transport efficiency and infrastructure. These measures aim to increase ridership, reduce operational costs, and improve connectivity nationwide. The strategies focus on financial mechanisms for operators, transit-oriented development (TOD), infrastructure investment, and restructuring rail administration. A key target is raising the public transport modal share to 40% by 2030, up from the current 25.9%. 'Special tariffs for the public transport sector will help lower operational costs, particularly for rail services,' stated the 13MP document released by the Economic Affairs Ministry. The plan also prioritizes TOD projects in high-potential areas like Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Penang, and Negeri Sembilan. Major infrastructure projects include the Penang LRT Mutiara Line, East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), and the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS Link). The 37km LRT 3 project is set for completion during the 13MP period, further expanding transport coverage. Efforts will also improve first-mile, last-mile connectivity with more frequent bus services and pedestrian-friendly facilities. Rail capacity will be optimized through additional leased passenger trains, while feasibility studies for the Transborneo Railways in Sabah and Sarawak are underway. Rail governance reforms include separating asset ownership and operations between Rail Assets Corporation (RAC) and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB). The government will explore track-sharing mechanisms to boost passenger and freight services. The document highlighted progress under the 12MP, including an 18.6% annual growth in Klang Valley public transport ridership (2021-2024) and the sale of 2.7 million MY50 travel passes. Demand-Responsive Transit (DRT) expanded to 33 zones with 300 vans, while bus frequency rose by 35%. - Bernama
The Star
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
First and last-mile connectivity to improve under 13th Malaysia Plan
KUALA LUMPUR: First and last-mile connectivity across major cities nationwide is set to improve under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister said this would involve adding 300 demand-responsive transit (DRT) vans and 1,200 buses to strengthen public transport links within urban areas. 'There will also be an additional 217 passenger train sets to improve the frequency of train services,' he said when tabling the 13MP in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (July 31). Anwar added that connectivity across rural roads will not be neglected, with around 2,800km set to be built and upgraded. This includes the main road from Nanga Serau to Nanga Seranau in Kapit, Sarawak; the road from the Sungai Air Tawar bridge to Hutan Melintang in Bagan Datuk, Perak; and the Pos Sinderut road in Lipis, Pahang. Large-scale infrastructure development will continue as part of efforts to enhance connectivity and spur growth. Projects include the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), connecting Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and the west coast of the peninsula; the Gemas-Johor Bahru double track; the elevated autonomous rapid transit system (E-ART) in Iskandar, Johor; and the LRT Mutiara Line project in Penang. 'These initiatives also speed up transit-oriented development, combining transport elements with housing, commerce, and public service counters,' he said. Anwar also announced upgrades to existing routes. This includes the Senai Utara-Machap route in Johor and the Juru-Sungai Dua route in Penang, both located along the PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) Highway. Also of focus is the construction of the Lingkaran Tengah Utama Expressway; the Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah and the Trans Borneo Highway in Sarawak. The Prime Minister added that the road-to-rail initiative aims to shift a large portion of cargo off roads, increasing rail usage from 6% to 13%. 'This will reduce the risk of road accidents,' he said.
The Star
30-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Tender for bridge portion of Penang LRT line in October
MRT Corp chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim. GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) is targeting to launch the open tender for the proposed bridge portion of Penang's Light Rail Transit or LRT Mutiara Line project this October. Chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim said the design stage has been completed and the company is awaiting approval from the relevant authorities. 'The bridge design has been carefully developed to provide maximum flexibility for the port industry in Penang to grow, especially considering the economic significance of the sector alongside tourism. 'We have held discussions with the Penang Port Commission to ensure the rail bridge will not obstruct maritime routes,' he told reporters here yesterday. Mohd Zarif said the design of the bridge would take into account shipping lanes, as the port is the lifeline for the future of the state. He said the possibility of the Penang Port being upgraded into a full-fledged container port, both at the North Port and South Port, should be considered. The proposed bridge alignment would span between the North and South ports in Butterworth, necessitating careful long-term planning. — Bernama
The Sun
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Homebuyers redefine value amid shift in mindset
AT FIRST glance, Malaysia's residential property market may appear quiet, but beneath the surface, a meaningful transformation is under way: a fundamental shift in how Malaysians approach property ownership. Today's buyers are intentional, value-focused, and sharply attuned to economic signals. The optimism of past years has given way to a more measured mindset shaped by global volatility, domestic caution, and a widening disconnect between asking prices and buyer expectations. This is not a retreat from the market; it is a recalibration. Malaysians are still buying, but with greater purpose and scrutiny. Supply expands, buyer expectations refocus According to the Property Market Q1'25 Snapshots by National Property Information Centre (Napic), residential construction jumped by 30.2% year-on-year (YoY), an expression of developer confidence. Yet, transaction volume and value fell 6.2% and 8.9%, respectively, highlighting a growing misalignment between supply and demand. This shift is not rooted in economic weakness. With policy interest rate steady at 3% and inflation down to 1.4% in April, Malaysia's fundamentals remain stable. But instead of acting on optimism, buyers are choosing caution. It is a clear signal: affordability today is no longer just about price; it's measured by perceived value. Bridging the price gap through buyer alignment Differences between current residential offerings and evolving buyer preferences are becoming more noticeable across key regions. In Kuala Lumpur, high-rise homes took the biggest hit, with prices dropping 7.3% quarter-on-quarter, which was the steepest decline among property types. According to Napic, overhang grew 14.8% year-on-year, with unsold units mostly being condominiums priced between RM200,000 to RM300,000. However, data from PropertyGuru Malaysia for April 2025 indicates that the condominium market is stabilising towards an equilibrium, showing only a slight month-on-month decrease in demand of 0.7% for condo-miniums. Selangor, meanwhile, tells a different story. According to Napic data, the price gap is widening in the apartment and serviced residence segments, but savvy buyers remain active when value aligns with expectations. Overhang fell nearly 40% year-on-year, signalling strong movement in well-priced, practical homes. Across most segments, caution dominates mark-to-market activity amid ongoing economic uncertainty. Penang continues to attract attention, especially in the condominium segment. PropertyGuru Malaysia's April 2025 data showed a 9.1% increase in condominium listing views, driven by infrastructure developments such as the LRT Mutiara Line. However, Napic data indicates a decline in transactions for homes priced above RM1 million, reflecting growing resistance to premium price points. Johor is shaping up as a market where rising prices are starting to test buyer patience. Napic reports an 8.7% year-on-year increase in high-rise prices for Q1'25. Correspondingly, PropertyGuru Malaysia's April 2025 data shows a 19.5% year-on-year decline in interest for serviced residences, with overall views for non-landed homes also trending downward. Like the non-landed property types, demand for landed property types also decreased YoY. The rise of the value-conscious buyer A dip in the demand index does not mean buyers have disappeared. In fact, they are just more selective. According to April 2025 data from PropertyGuru Malaysia, apartment views fell 14.1% while semi-detached homes dropped 21.4% year-on-year. Yet, property types that strike a smart balance between price, location, and lifestyle are defying the trend. Some even gain traction. 0 Selangor is a standout. Terraced homes continue to outperform, with demand rising 2.7% year-on-year and overhang falling 40%, according to Napic. This points to a healthy alignment between supply and real buyer appetite. 0 In Penang, condominium interest surged 9.1% year-on-year, buoyed by better connectivity and more competitive pricing, highlighting the positive impact of infrastructure upgrades like the upcoming LRT Mutiara Line. 0 Meanwhile, in Johor, the story is more nuanced. Napic data shows a 3.2% year-on-year increase in the All-Housing Price Index, led by high-rise and terraced homes. However, the price growth appears to be dampening sentiment, with declining demand suggesting that affordability concerns are weighing buyer decisions. These shifts tell us something important: buyers haven't exited the markedt. They are just more focused on finding real value. Developers are reimagining value in real time As buyers become more measured and data-driven, developers are also evolving their strategies to stay aligned. The traditional playbook of driving volume or focusing solely on premium segments is being rebalanced to meet a market increasingly shaped by value-conscious demand. Success now lies in realistic pricing, particularly in the resilient RM500,000 to RM800,000 bracket. Homes within this range continue to see steady interest, especially when paired with strong connectivity and well-designed, liveable environments. Transit-oriented developments and communities with integrated green spaces are emerging as long-term favourites among buyers. Equally important is understanding the new pace of decision-making. Buyers are being more deliberate, investing time in research, comparisons, and consultations before committing. In this era of intentional ownership, developers who align with value-driven demand through realistic pricing, livability, and accessibility are well-positioned to thrive. At PropertyGuru, we continue to support our partners with timely market insights and actionable data to help them better anticipate buyer behaviour, optimise offerings, and drive stronger outcomes across all segments. This article is contributed by PropertyGuru & iProperty country manager Malaysia, Kenneth Soh.
