Perlis to Build New Racetrack in Chuping

Perlis to Build New Racetrack in Chuping: A RM20 Million Motorsport Circuit

The Perlis state government is developing a new motorsport racetrack in Chuping, specifically within the Chuping Valley Industrial Area (CVIA). This project is a proposed 1.3-kilometre circuit with a stated development value of RM20 million, aimed at boosting the northern state's tourism sector and cementing Perlis as a motorsport destination in Asia. The project is spearheaded by the Perlis state government under Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah, with a ground-breaking ceremony planned for 15 September.

Key Facts

What is the Chuping Racetrack Project?

The Chuping racetrack project is a state-government-initiated development to construct a 1.3-kilometre motorsport circuit within the Chuping Valley Industrial Area (CVIA). This facility is designed to attract regional and international motorsport events, positioning Perlis as a benchmark for other Asian nations and potentially drawing cross-border visitors from Thailand.

**The RM20 million circuit in Chuping is explicitly designed to generate economic impact through tourism and to attract participants from foreign countries.** The state government intends for this development to be a template for neighbouring countries, solidifying Perlis's reputation at the Asian level.

Why is Perlis Building the Race Circuit at CVIA?

The construction of the race circuit is directly linked to a two-fold strategy: economic growth and cross-border tourism. According to Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah, the project will serve as an economic catalyst beyond the construction phase, with the specific intention of drawing international motorsport fans to Perlis.

The strategic placement near the northern border is intended to capitalise on visitor inflows from Thailand. The state government anticipates that the presence of a dedicated circuit will stimulate demand for upscale accommodation, as they concurrently aim to attract investors for a five-star hotel.

"(The motorsport circuit development project)... this is an economic impact besides our development and we also want to see this besides the economic impact in terms of tourism because it involves participants from abroad who will attract as many motorsport enthusiasts as possible."

— Abu Bakar Hamzah, Menteri Besar Perlis

**The racetrack is a strategic state asset intended to strengthen the tourism sector with the arrival of visitors from Thailand, alongside the development of a five-star hotel.**

What Is the Timeline for the Perlis Racetrack?

The official timeline is anchored by a planned ground-breaking ceremony on 15 September. This follows a site inspection conducted on a Wednesday afternoon to review the project location. The state has not yet published a definitive completion date for the track or the accompanying five-star hotel development.

The initial phase prioritises the land clearing and ceremony; however, specific data regarding the construction duration or operational launch date is not currently available. The state government is aiming to expand the tourism ecosystem, including holding engagement with Brunei or Thailand to establish twin-city and border tourism concepts.

According to the original source, the ground-breaking is scheduled for 15 September, but the full track completion date remains undisclosed.

Who Is This For in Malaysia?

This project is aimed at state economic planners, Malaysian tourism stakeholders, and the motorsport community. It targets the sports tourism niche by appealing to participants and spectators from Thailand and other Asian countries, rather than just local street racers or private track day enthusiasts.

For the average Malaysian, this addresses the lack of dedicated high-speed testing grounds near the northern region. It also proposes a twin-city concept with Thailand to stimulate regional cross-border tourism, similar to joint initiatives in other border states, though no specific economic projections for visitor counts or ROI have been released.

The racetrack is specifically designed for Perlis and Thailand tourists, with state plans to create a border twin-city concept involving Brunei or Thailand.

Common Questions

Where is the RM20 million racetrack being built in Perlis?

The racetrack is being built within the Chuping Valley Industrial Area (CVIA) in Chuping. This location is specifically chosen to utilise industrial land and capitalise on the northern border tourism economy.

When will the ground-breaking for the racetrack occur?

The Majlis Pecah Tanah (ground-breaking ceremony) is scheduled for 15 September. This date was confirmed by Menteri Besar Perlis, Abu Bakar Hamzah, following a site visit to inspect the construction location.

What will the racetrack cost and how long is it?

The proposed circuit will cost RM20 million and measure 1.3 kilometres in length. According to the Menteri Besar, it is designed to serve as an example for neighbouring countries and at the Asian level.

Sources and Methodology

This article was last updated on 20 August 2026. Information specific to Malaysia was verified against the primary source material from Careta, with original reportage by Firdaus Razani and distributed via Astana News.

Currency conversions and monetary values are as stated in the original source, using Ringgit Malaysia (RM). No external statistics or user surveys were included due to their absence in the original source material.