MBPP activates Ops Payung with checkpoints, CCTV monitoring and extended patrols to manage traffic in George Town during the festive season.
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has activated ‘Ops Payung’ to manage traffic congestion at key tourist spots during the school holidays and festive period.
The operation will be enforced at major hotspots including Jalan Penang, Bukit Bendera, the Penang Festival site in Sungai Nibong, and Padang Kota Lama.
On Jalan Penang, three checkpoints will operate from 11 am to 5 pm at Pasar Chowrasta Market, Kedai Jeruk Madu and in front of Lebuh Keng Kwee.
At Bukit Bendera, enforcement will be conducted at two checkpoints from noon until 6 pm.
Officers will manage traffic flow at the Sungai Nibong festival site from 7 pm to midnight, while tow-truck patrols will operate at Padang Kota Lama from 6 pm.
MBPP will use its CCTV network as ‘Intelligent Eyes’ to monitor real-time traffic and deploy teams swiftly to congestion points.
The operating hours for the council’s Traffic Unit have been extended to midnight, with extra patrols in other congestion-prone areas.
All city council construction and public works projects are suspended from 23 December to 1 January 2026, with only emergency repairs permitted.
A 24-hour maintenance team is on standby to conduct repairs and ensure smooth traffic flow.
The council advises all motorists to comply with traffic laws, plan journeys ahead, and park only in designated areas.
Over 2.2 million vehicles are expected to enter Penang during the year-end school holidays and Christmas period.
Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said the projection is based on previous festive trends and the ongoing Penang Festival.
