THE Penang government has plans to set up more tourist attractions on Pulau Aman and Pulau Gedung off southern Seberang Prai, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said in the state legislative assembly today.

These plans are already part of the 2030 Penang Structure Plan draft, he said.

Pulau Aman, which measures 155.8 acres, with 68 owned by the state government, is zoned for tourism. The island is already famed for its mee udang (prawn noodles) restaurants.

Pulau Gedung, with 112 out of 166.9 acres belonging to the state government, is zoned as a forest reserve.

“The islands can also offer suitable activities for tourists and visitors like jungle trekking and extreme biking,” Chow said.

The 830-acre Pulau Jerejak off the main Penang island has also been zoned for tourism. The state owns 702 acres of land on the island.

Here, a mixed development master plan for Tropical Island Resort Sdn Bhd was approved by the state in August 2016.

“Following this, the Penang Island City Council approved the planning permission for the redevelopment of the RainForest Resort and build a mixed development project of hotels, service apartments and condominiums in March this year.

“In June, the state also approved the planning permission to build a bridge to Pulau Jerejak (from the main island),” he said.

There are no plans, however, to develop the 78.74-acre Pulau Kendi and 92.6-acre Pulau Rimau, another two small islands in the state which are both zoned as forest reserves.

Chow was answering an oral question from Goh Choon Aik (PH-Bukit Tambun) at the state legislative assembly this morning on plans for the five islands. – November 9, 2018.