Penang has created 25 new towns and expanded the boundaries of 10 others following the state government’s latest gazettement of municipal borders.
Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the move, published in the state gazette on Sept 4, affects more than 210,000 land titles and 184,000 strata titles, which will be reclassified under their new status.
“This step is crucial to realign land classification throughout the state in tandem with the rapid pace of economic and social development in these areas,” Bernama quoted him as saying at a press conference at Komtar today.
The revision means Penang now has 42 towns: 10 with expanded limits, 25 newly established, and seven unchanged.
Chow said the last time municipal boundaries were updated was in 1966. Many areas, still regarded as villages then, have grown into bustling townships, such as Bayan Baru, Bukit Jambul, Seberang Jaya, Bandar Perda, Bandar Cassia, Simpang Ampat, Telok Air Tawar and Bertam.
Based on the urban hierarchy, George Town remains the capital while seven other areas are classified as major towns: Balik Pulau, Batu Kawan-Cassia, Bayan Baru, Bukit Mertajam, Butterworth, Kepala Batas and Nibong Tebal.
Another 31 areas have been designated as local towns, including Batu Feringghi, Tanjong Bungah, Ayer Itam, Bayan Lepas, Bertam, Tasek Gelugor, Seberang Jaya, Prai, Simpang Ampat, Sungai Bakap, Juru and Jawi.
Chow said the boundary revisions were based on 11 criteria, including population size, topography, environmental sensitivity, committed developments and socio-economic potential.
“Through this boundary revision, the state government is confident of strengthening the land and tax management system to ensure more organised development,” he said.
He said the changes would also affect land and parcel tax rates, which will take effect in 2026, as rural areas are reclassified as urban.
However, the state government has agreed to defer new strata parcel tax rates affecting more than 184,000 titles until 2027 to ease the burden on property owners.
