Silicon Island

Ongoing Silicon Island reclamation (6 January 2024)


Silicon Island is the name of a manmade island presently being created off Permatang Damar Laut, on the southeastern coast of Penang Island. Work to reclaim the sea began on Friday, 1 September 2023 after the project received approval from relevant agencies.¹. Previously known as Island A of the Penang South Islands project, it is now called Silicon Island after the project was scaled down to one island on the advise of the Prime Minister.

Early works to create Silicon Island involves the deployment of marine buoys and the installation of silt curtain around the reclamation site which would eventually see the creation of the 2,300-acre (930-hectare) island. The project developer is Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between SRS Consortium and the Penang state government. SRS Consortium is a subsidiary of engineering, property and infrastructure company Gamuda. Silicon Island Development is formed on a joint venture basis between SRS Consortium and the Penang state government on a 30:70 basis.³

According to Gamuda², 20% of land on the island will be reserved for green parks, mangroves, water canals, wetlands, floodplains and bioswales, to enhance biodiversity and to cool the environment by 1-2 degrees Celcius.

Features of Silicon Island include a 7km Central Canal, a 3km stretch of public beaches and a 5km esplanade. There will be 140km of bicycle and walking tracks island-wide. The 7km Central Canal is a navigational waterway to encourage the use of green mobility, including water transportation. Silicon Island will have a minimum platform level of 3m above mean sea level, so as to face any joint occurrences of high tides and storm surges.

Videos of Silicon Island

Updates on Silicon Island

19 March 2025
I visited the coast of Permatang Damar Laut to view the work in progress. A temporary bridge has been constructed to connect Permatang Damar Laut to Silicon Island. Eventually a permanent crossing will be constructed, possibly running parallel to the temporary bridge, which will be dismantled when construction is completed, to connect Silicon Island to Jalan Permatang Damar Laut.

Silicon Island reclamation. (19 March 2025)


Temporary bridge connects to the coast of Permatang Damar Laut. (19 March 2025)


Works signage. (19 March 2025)


View of Silicon Island materialising from the sea. (19 March 2025)


29 March 2024
Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that the Mutiara LRT Line will have its first segment running from Silicon Island to Komtar.

Saturday, 6 January 2024
Core members of AnakPinang, together with some invited friends, were given a tour of the Silicon Island reclamation site by project developer Silicon Island Development. It is the first visit by members of the public to the project site after the visit by the chief minister. Watch the video of the visit below.

Visiting the Silicon Island reclamation site (6 January 2024)


Orange floats carrying the pipe that conveys sand from the sand carrier. (6 January 2024)


The second and third boat in our group visiting the Silicon Island reclamation site. The island is emerging on the left. (6 January 2024)


Silt curtain is installed around the work site. (6 January 2024)

Map of Silicon Island, Penang

References