In a state assembly reply to Daniel Gooi (PH-Pengkalan Kota), Chow said the remaining 5% (537.2ha) is on Penang island – 496.6 hectares in the southwest district and the remaining 40.6ha in the northeast district.

Citing data from the state land and mines office, Chow said Seberang Perai North recorded the largest land bank for industries at 8,514ha, followed by Seberang Perai Central (1,951ha) and Seberang Perai South (779.3ha).

Despite that, he said the state remains intent on increasing its industrial land bank through the reclamation of three islands, known as the Penang South Islands (PSI) project, and two industrial parks in Batu Kawan.

“The Penang Development Corporation will develop the Bandar Cassia Technology Park and Batu Kawan Industrial Park 3,” he said.

Gooi had asked for a list of industrial land to attract local and foreign investors, and other means to expand the industrial land bank besides PSI.

PSI aims to raise 1,821ha of land by reclaiming three islands south of the Penang island. The project has yet to begin pending federal regulatory approvals.

Previously, the Penang government said it had no choice but to reclaim land as industrial land measuring 4ha and above was unavailable in Seberang Perai.

State executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari said small plots of land measuring less than 4ha were not ideal for companies looking to invest billions.

He had said most manufacturing plants required 8.1ha to 12.1ha of land, and sometimes double the size.

He also said Penang had been forced to turn away some investment opportunities that would have been beneficial.