By Erma Idayu Mohd Yusof
BUTTERWORTH, Sept 9 (Bernama) — The PICCA Convention Centre @ Butterworth Arena will become the nation’s focal point on Sept 16 when it hosts the official Malaysia Day 2025 celebration to be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The decision follows Penang’s selection as this year’s host, in line with the rotational practice between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
Located in the heart of Butterworth with strategic access near the North-South Expressway and Penang Bridge, PICCA — which saw its construction delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic — now stands tall since its full completion in 2022 as one of the largest event venues in northern Malaysia.
Island LandCap Hospitality Sdn Bhd Chief Operating Officer James Chang said PICCA began phased operations after its management was handed over to the company in 2023.
He said the 2023 National Quran Recitation and Memorisation Competition became the first large-scale event that tested PICCA’s capability as a modern convention centre.
“That event was our first real test. Our team had to ensure that core facilities such as internet connectivity, power supply and live television broadcast support systems were perfectly in place,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview recently.
Since then, PICCA has continued to grow as a preferred venue for a wide range of events, from international exhibitions and beauty festivals to official government functions, including the MADANI Aidilfitri Celebration in April.
Spanning 17,828 square metres, PICCA has hosted over 50 events covering conferences, convocations, award ceremonies, concerts, corporate dinners and multi-ethnic weddings.
The two-storey convention centre houses three main halls that can be combined to accommodate up to 10,000 guests, in addition to four function rooms with a capacity of 1,000 people and over 1,000 parking bays.
Among its accolades are recognition in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for the ‘Largest Participation in a Claypot Meal Eating Session’ with 2,500 participants, and the Merit Award in the Excellence in Convention and Exhibition Centre category at the Malaysia Business Events Awards (MBEA) 2025 in August.
On the culinary front, Chang pointed out that all dishes at PICCA are prepared by certified halal caterers approved by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), offering a wide variety from Malay, Chinese, Indian to Western cuisine, including customised menus for major events.
As to preparations ahead of Malaysia Day next week, he said the centre has worked closely with the police to fine-tune security and traffic management around the venue to ensure smooth proceedings.
The historic celebration is scheduled to begin at 8.30 pm with the attendance of Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang Tun Ramli Ngah Talib, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
— BERNAMA
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