Ceria’s handover marks a milestone at Eco Horizon, while Irama at Eco Sun offers a new opportunity for homebuyers who missed out.

A new chapter begins at Eco Horizon in Batu Kawan as Ceria, EcoWorld’s first duduk development in Penang, welcomes its homeowners. The handover exercise, taking place from late October into early November 2026, marks a milestone for the fully sold development comprising 1,302 serviced apartments.

For homeowners, collecting their keys signals the beginning of life in a new community. Meanwhile, the occasion marks a proud moment for EcoWorld’s Penang team, celebrating the delivery of its first duduk development in the state and bringing the brand’s approach to vertical living to Eco Horizon.

Each Ceria residence offers 1,000 sq. ft. of living space within the township. Its Batu Kawan location places homeowners within reach of established destinations such as IKEA, Design Village, and UOW Malaysia KDU Penang Batu Kawan Campus. Shopping, education, and everyday amenities are also close by.

Ceria Square Welcomes Established Brands

Complementing the residences is Ceria Square, comprising 26 commercial lots beneath the apartments.

Ceria Square has already welcomed a line-up of tenants, including Umiya, Bingxue, Meh
Electrical, Anytime Fitness, Watsons, RHB Bank and MR D.I.Y., with more to be announced. These tenants are set to bring added convenience to homeowners and the surrounding community as businesses begin operations progressively.

Selected commercial units remain available for lease, offering retailers and business operators an opportunity to establish a presence within Eco Horizon and serve its growing community. Interested businesses are invited to enquire about available spaces and leasing opportunities.

Leasing Enquiries: WhatsApp Robert

Missed Out on Ceria? Discover Irama at Eco Sun

With Ceria fully sold, homebuyers interested in the duduk concept have another opportunity in Batu Kawan.

Launched in 2026, Irama at Eco Sun is EcoWorld’s second duduk development in Penang. It is also the first high-rise residential development and the first duduk offering within the Eco Sun township.

Irama brings the concept to a different EcoWorld address, offering 500 serviced apartments, each with a built-up area of 1,000 sq. ft. For buyers who missed out on Ceria, it presents a fresh opportunity to own a duduk home within another EcoWorld township in Batu Kawan.

The development will also feature Irama Square, comprising 22 commercial lots beneath the residences, creating space for future businesses to complement the residential community.

With handover targeted for 2029, Irama offers buyers the opportunity to plan ahead for their next chapter at Eco Sun.

Visit the Irama Show Units

As Ceria’s homeowners begin receiving their keys, Irama continues the duduk journey in Penang.

A limited number of residential units remain available at Irama, and show units are open for viewing. Interested purchasers are invited to experience the 1,000 sq. ft. layout firsthand and discover what the development has to offer.

Register your interest in Irama or enquire about leasing opportunities at Ceria Square through the EcoWorld sales team.

Four old warehouses surrounding Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) in George Town are set to undergo refurbishment and adaptive reuse, transforming them into a waterfront leisure destination featuring duty-free retail outlets, dining facilities, exhibition spaces and art markets, according to a report by Kwong Wah Yit Poh.

Penang State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the Penang Port Commission (PPC), through Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB), would undertake the redevelopment of Warehouses 2, 3, 4 and 6. Under the proposed plan, Warehouses 2, 3 and 4 are earmarked for duty-free retail facilities, while Warehouse 6 will be converted into retail space. The wider development will also incorporate food and beverage outlets, exhibition areas, small-scale art markets and event spaces, alongside a pedestrian promenade along the waterfront.

The project aims to preserve the historical and architectural characteristics of the old warehouses, including their maritime heritage, while introducing new uses to the waterfront area. It is also intended to strengthen the connection between the cruise terminal and George Town’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, providing additional retail and leisure options for cruise passengers, domestic tourists and local visitors.

According to Wong, the refurbishment is expected to begin in 2028, with construction taking approximately 18 months and completion targeted for 2030, subject to the fulfilment of preliminary requirements and regulatory approvals. Preparatory work will include site investigations, design development, impact assessments, heritage conservation procedures and procurement. A Conservation Management Plan (CMP) must also be prepared and approved before the conservation works proceed.

The redevelopment will need to accommodate the cruise terminal’s existing passenger operations, particularly during peak arrival periods, to ensure that ground transportation and passenger movement remain functional throughout the construction period.

Separately, Warehouses 5, 7 and 8 at Church Street Pier, together with the land area at Tanjung City Marina, are being considered under a separate development proposal. The Penang Port Commission has issued a request for proposal (RFP) for the sites, based on a proposed 30-year lease with an option for a further 15-year extension. The proposal is currently being followed up and coordinated by the Maritime Division of the Transport Ministry, with its implementation timeline yet to be determined.

Image source: Timothy Tye FB

The RM851 million Air Itam–Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass project is expected to be completed by April 2027, with construction reaching 93.19% progress as of 30 September 2026. Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow gave the assurance during a site visit in Gelugor, saying the contractor, Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC), has sufficient funds to complete the remaining works despite an unsuccessful land auction involving a plot near Gurney Bay.

Approximately RM50 million is needed to complete the project, which spans 5.7km and will connect Bandar Baru Air Itam and Farlim directly to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway. The main bridge and viaduct structures have been completed, with the remaining works focusing on connecting parapets, installing road barriers and carrying out road surfacing. Additional construction teams have also been deployed to accelerate progress. The state government remains prepared to transfer the relevant Gurney Bay land to CZC or its nominated company under the existing land-swap arrangement.

The bypass, which is the first project under the Penang Transport Master Plan, is expected to shorten travelling time between Air Itam and the coastal expressway while easing congestion along Jalan Masjid Negeri and Green Lane. A multi-level U-turn flyover along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway is also being constructed, with completion targeted for April 2027. Both facilities will undergo the necessary technical inspections and road safety audits before being opened to traffic. The state has yet to quantify the expected reduction in traffic on existing roads, with further studies needed to assess its impact.

German life science company Eppendorf SE has held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new manufacturing facility at Bandar Cassia Technology Park in Penang, marking the start of construction on its first production site in Southeast Asia. The project involves an investment of EUR40 million (approximately RM190 million) and follows the signing of a lease agreement with Penang Development Corporation (PDC) in July 2026.

The facility will occupy an approximately 48,500 sq m site, with a planned built-up area of around 16,000 sq m. It will house production, warehousing, offices, quality-related functions, shipping and logistics operations, as well as employee facilities. The plant will manufacture selected products from Eppendorf’s Centrifuges & Instruments portfolio for laboratories and scientific workplaces worldwide, adding advanced manufacturing capabilities to the company’s existing operations in Malaysia.

Construction is targeted for completion by the end of 2027, followed by the installation of production equipment. Manufacturing is expected to begin gradually in 2028, with operations ramping up through 2030. The company anticipates employing approximately 130 people by the end of 2029. The facility is also designed with sustainability features, including energy-efficient building systems, solar photovoltaic panels, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and water-retention systems, with Eppendorf aiming for LEED Gold certification.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Eppendorf Supervisory Board Chairman Philipp von Loeper, Eppendorf CEO Dr Christine Munz, and representatives from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), InvestPenang and PDC.

Eppendorf has maintained a presence in Malaysia for more than three decades, beginning with the establishment of its Kuala Lumpur office in 1995. The Penang investment marks an expansion of its Malaysian operations into manufacturing and will serve as an additional production base within its global network, which has historically been centred in Europe and the United States.

The investment is expected to strengthen Penang’s position in high-value manufacturing, particularly in the life sciences and scientific equipment sectors, while creating skilled employment opportunities and supporting the development of local suppliers.

Motorists travelling along Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah towards Sungai Tiram will no longer be allowed to turn right into Jalan Sungai Tiram 1 from November 14, 2026, as part of a proposed traffic flow improvement by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).

The new traffic arrangement will take effect at 6.00am on Saturday, November 14, and will be implemented on a trial basis for at least three months to assess its effectiveness.

According to MBPP, the restriction is intended to eliminate one traffic signal phase at the junction, allowing a longer green-light duration for vehicles travelling along Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah. This is expected to reduce the overall traffic signal cycle time and improve traffic flow along the main road.

Motorists heading towards Jalan Sungai Tiram 1 will have three alternative routes. They can make a U-turn at the Penang International Airport roundabout before heading back towards Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and turning into Jalan Sungai Tiram 1.

Alternatively, motorists can make a U-turn at the airport roundabout towards Jalan Tun Dr Awang, followed by another U-turn near Kondominium Tree Sparina before turning left into Jalan Sungai Tiram 9 to access the Sungai Tiram neighbourhood.

The third option is to continue towards the overhead bridge and make a U-turn in front of the Bayan Lepas Police Station before proceeding back towards Sungai Tiram.

Motorists are advised to take note of the new arrangement and plan their journeys accordingly, particularly during the initial implementation period.