Kuala lumpur: The Penang waterfront redevelopment plan necessitates meticulous coordination among multiple stakeholders, as it involves assets, heritage buildings, and port management, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the project at the Ministry of Transport (MOT) level involves the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC), which owns Wisma Kastam, also known as the Malayan Railway Building, a structure that has stood since 1909. The waterfront and marina fall under the jurisdiction of the Penang Port Commission, highlighting the need for cooperation between federal and state agencies to ensure a systematic and holistic implementation.

Loke acknowledged the state government's progress in developing public spaces along the waterfront, aligning with urban development goals focused on public welfare. He emphasized that agencies under the MOT would continue collaborating to expand public spaces and rejuvenate heritage buildings in the area for the benefit of both locals and tourists. "The bell of Wisma Kastam will resound again," Loke stated in a Facebook post following a briefing on the redevelopment plan at the RAC Sentral Tower in Kuala Lumpur.

Furthermore, Loke reiterated the government's dedication to preserving historical and heritage values within the national development agenda. During a visit to Penang on January 12, he highlighted the development plan aimed at creating a public-friendly waterfront area through a private financing initiative (PFI). The plan includes establishing a pedestrian walkway over a kilometre long, allowing people to enjoy the sea view along with cafe and tourism facilities, ultimately positioning Penang as a cruise ship tourism hub.