scubish.com: Travel information for Penang

Penang (Malay: Pulau Pinang， Traditional Chinese:檳城, Simplified Chinese: 槟城) is an island off the northern part of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is also the name of the Malaysian state which is made up of Penang Island and the facing strip of territory on the mainland called Seberang Perai (formerly Province Wellesley).

Penang is one of Malaysia's main tourist draws. Its beaches are a little lacklustre when compared with those in some other Malaysian states, but this is more than compensated by the island's rich multicultural history which is full of colonial and Chinese influences.
Cities

The Island

Georgetown - The capital of Penang, a favourite spot for tourists as it has lots of pre-war houses also one of the favourite spot for the locals as most of Penang's pubs are located there.

Batu Ferringhi - Located on the north coast, with white sandy beaches, luxurious hotels & restaurants... a favourite spot for both locals & tourist.

Mainland

Butterworth / Bagan - The mainland gateway to Penang

Bukit Mertajam - The capital of Seberang Perai Tengah district

Nibong Tebal - The capital of Seberang Perai Selatan district

Simpang Ampat - A small town in the district of Seberang Perai Selatan, famous for its nearby seafood at Bukit Tambun and Batu Kawan

Seberang Jaya - Satellite township in the district of Seberang Perai Tengah

Tasek Gelugor - A small town which is 20 minutes from Butterworth

Understand

Penang Tourism Action Council 56th Floor, KOMTAR, Phone:+60 4 262-0202, Fax:+60 4 263-1020

Penang Heritage Trust 26 Church Street, Phone+60 4 264-2631. Fax+60 4 262-8421

Exotic Penang web site - official Penang State Tourism website

MATTA (Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents) organizes its promotional fairs several times nation wide within each year. One can find some good deals during the exhibition, either for inbound or outbound travels.

Tourism Malaysia

* Penang Tourist Centre: Bangunan Penang Port Bhd, Pesara King Edward. Phone:+60 4 261-6663

* Penang Development Corporation Tourism Division: 1 Persiaran Mahsuri, Bayan Baru. Phone:+60 4 643-2111, Fax:+60 4 643-2405

* Tourism Information Centre: Level 3, Concourse KOMTAR. Phone:+60 4 261-4461

* Tourism Malaysia Penang Branch: 56th Floor, KOMTAR. Phone:+60 4 261-0058 / 264-3494. Fax:+60 4 262-3688

History

Penang was part of the Malay state of Kedah until 1786, when Captain Francis Light built a fort at the site of present-day Georgetown and managed to get the island ceded to the British East India Company. Along with Malacca and Singapore. The island was one of the three British Straits Settlements.

The name Penang comes from the Malay word Pinang, means the betel nut (槟榔） tree (Areca catechu). The name Pulau Pinang translated literally from Malay means "betel nut island". The original name of Penang was Pulau Ka-satu or "First Island", it was renamed to Prince of Wales Island on 12 Aug 1786 to commemorate the birthday of the Prince of Wales, later, George IV. During the early and middle part last century, Penang Island was also known as "The Pearl of the Orient".

The capital Georgetown, was named after King George III of Great Britain. Penang, especially Georgetown, remains as it was, today.

Today, Penang has the highest population density in Malaysia and is the only Chinese-majority state. Penang state is today the third-largest economy amongst the states of Malaysia, after Selangor and Johor.

The cargo trade has largely shifted down to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore since Penang lost its free-port status in 1969, but now Penang makes a good living off tourism and electronics factories. The multi-national corporations that built their manufacturing factories in the Free Trade Zone include Intel, AMD, Dell, Agilent, Osram, Motorola, Seagate, and Jabil. Penang has been granted a Cyber-City status since 21 Jun 2004.

Orientation

Georgetown, at the north-eastern tip but sprawling down the entire eastern coast, is Penang's sole city of size or historical significance. The island's best beaches, and consequently heaviest tourist development, are on the northern side, particularly Batu Ferringhi.

When to go

Penang's high season is around Christmas, New Year's Day, and Chinese New Year (check the lunar calendar; it could fall on the end of January or early to mid February), when the east coast of Malaysia is drenched and hordes of sun-seeking Europeans descend on the island. Accommodation tends to be packed, and priced accordingly.

Get in

By plane

Recently refurbished Penang Bayan Lepas International Airport () is one of Malaysia's larger and better-equipped airports, operated by Malaysia Airports, with regular connections to Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. The Langkawi route has recently been stopped as part of Malaysia Airlines restructuring but there are increasing calls to have it reinstated. The airport is located on the southeastern coast of the island, some 20 minutes from Georgetown. Contact number:+60 4 643-4411 Fax:+60 4 643-5339
Cities that connects to Penang with direct flight:

Domestic

Johor Bahru (JHB) with AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines

Kota Bharu (KBR) with FireFly

Kota Kinabalu T2 (BKI) with AirAsia

Kuala Lumpur LCCT (KUL) with AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines

Kuala Terengganu (TGG) with FireFly

Kuantan (KUA) with FireFly

Kuching (KCH) with AirAsia

Langkawi (LGK) with FireFly

International

Bangkok, Thailand (BKK) with AirAsia

Medan, Indonesia (MES) with Malaysia Airlines , AirAsia and Kartika Airlines

Ko Samui, Thailand (USM) with FireFly

Phuket, Thailand (HKT) with FireFly

Singapore (SIN) with Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airline

Incheon, South Korea (ICN) with Korean Air

Hong Kong (HKG) with Cathay Pacific .

By train

There are no trains on Penang Island, but many people take the train to Butterworth on the peninsula and then connect to the ferry (within walking distance from the train terminal). You can also book the KTMB train tickets at the Penang ferry terminal or the railway station in Butterworth. Contact numbers:

Penang jetty +60 4 261-0290

Butterworth +60 4 323-7962 / 331-2796

Bukit Mertajam +60 4 539-2660

From Thailand:

An overnight train departs Bangkok daily at 14:45 (Thai time). It is scheduled to arrive at Butterworth at 12:55 (Malaysian time) but normally gets there late, usually around 14:00-14:30. Fares vary depending on the type of berth and carriage; an air-con upper berth costs 1,120 baht (as at April 2007). The surcharge for a bicycle is 104 baht to the border; a further small freight charge may be made by KTMB for the border-Butterworth leg.

By car

Penang is connected to the mainland and the North-South Expressway by Penang Bridge , one of the longest bridges in Asia. One-way toll for a car from mainland is RM7 (RM5.60 for those who holding Touch 'n Go card that purchased from Penang Bridge toll plaza); no charge for vehicles to mainland.

Toll rate:

Motorcycles - RM1.40

Motorcycles with sidecars; commercial vehicles on three wheels; car including station wagon - RM7.00 (RM5.60 for those who holding Touch 'n Go card that purchased from Penang Bridge toll plaza)

Lorries; vans and buses with two axles and four wheels - RM12.00

Lorries, vans and buses with two axles and five or six wheels - RM25.00

Vehicles with three axles - RM45.00

Vehicles with four axles - RM60.00

Vehicle with five or more axles - RM75.00

By bus

Long-distance buses connect Georgetown to a variety of Malaysian towns. The trip from Pudu Raya, Kuala Lumpur costs around RM 27 (standard 26-seat coach; prices vary by operator) and take around 4 hours. From Johor Bahru in 10h for RM 50. The buses arrive at the new bus terminal Sungai Nibong, half an hour ride from the center of Georgetown, not far from the airport. To get to the KOMTAR building, a taxi costs around RM15-20.

Major coach operators:

Konsortium

Plusliner / Nice

Transnasional

By minivan

Minivans service is available between Georgetown and some towns in Thailand such as Ko Phi Phi, Phuket, Trang, Surattani, Krabi, Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan, Bangkok and Hat Yai on daily basis. Georgetown office is located at KOMTAR bus terminal.

By boat

From the mainland
The classic way to arrive in Penang, especially if traveling by train, is to take the ferry from Butterworth. The ferry service operator is Penang Port and its operation hour is 5:30AM till 1:00AM (Last departure) daily.

Ferry rates applicable (from Butterworth to Penang Island) are listed below:

Pedestrian: Adult - RM1.20 & Children (between 5 to 12 years old) - RM0.60

Vehicles: Bicycle - RM1.40, Motorcycle (inclusive of pillion rider) - RM2.00, Trishaw/tricycle - RM3.00, Motorcar (including station wagon, four-wheel drive, three-wheel commercial vehicle, motorcycle with side car) - RM7.70, Lorry (2 axles with 4 wheels) - RM13.20, Lorry (2 axles with 6 wheels) - RM27.50.

From Langkawi

Ferry service available from Langkawi to Penang at 2.30PM and 5.15PM on daily basis. Operated by Langkawi Ferry Services , Tel: +60 4 264-2088 in Penang; +60 4 966-3779 in Langkawi. Oneway trip costs RM45 for adult, RM30 for child (3-11 years old) and RM20 for infant (below 2 years old). Return trip costs RM85, RM55 and RM40 respectively. Single trip takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Penang Port also operates Swenttenham Pier on Penang island to handle some of the largest cruise vessels in the world. The following are fleets that routinely stopover at Swenttenham Pier:

SuperStar Virgo and SuperStar Gemini operated by Star Cruises

Pacific Sky operated by P&O Cruises

From Medan, Indonesia

Ferries depart from Medan's port of Belawan to Swenttenham Port or vice versa at 9am daily. Operated by Langkawi Ferry Services , Tel: +60 4 264-2088 in Penang; +62 61 4521666 / 4527555 in Medan. Oneway trip costs RM110 for adult, RM60 for child (3-12 years old) and RM40 for infant (below 3-year old); return trip costs RM180, RM100 and RM50 respectively. Travel duration is about 5 hours 30 minutes.

Get around

Getting around Penang can be a minor hassle, as buses tend to be poorly signposted and infrequent; and taxis uniformly refuse to use the meter.

By bus

Buses are somewhat frequent on the main artery to Batu Ferringhi. Look out for Transitlink bus 202 bound for Teluk Bahang; it goes through midtown Pulau Tikus, (northwest end of) Gurney Drive, Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Bungah, and Batu Ferringhi. Avoid so-called 'minibuses' because they usually go as far as Tanjung Bungah and can be poorly maintained. Route 93, also bound for either Tanjung Bungah or Teluk Bahang, generally runs on buses that do not have air conditioning, but the ride is more decent than one on a minibus.

The main hub for buses in Georgetown is KOMTAR, the tallest building in town. The secondary hub is located at the ferry terminal. All buses depart from the ferry terminal will stopover at KOMTAR, but downtown-bound buses destined for KOMTAR may not go all the way to the ferry terminal; ask the bus operator. There is a new long-distance bus terminal at Sungai Nibong, refer to by bus entry.

Municipal Council of Penang Island provides a free shuttle bus service in Georgetown which runs approximately every 12 minutes Mon-Fri 7AM-7PM plus Saturdays 7AM-2PM (no service on Sundays or public holidays).

By trishaw

These three-wheeled vehicles might be the best idea for a pleasant city tour. One can stop at any point to take photo or buy souvenirs. Negotiate the fare first before get on the trishaw; it is advisable to hire them by the hour for extended sightseeing.

By ferry

Starting 4 March 2006, Penang Evening Cruise offers visitors a chance to watch the beautiful sunset scene of Penang. The cruise passes Penang Bridge, Pulau Jerejak, Esplanade and Gurney Drive. The cruise departs every Saturday, 6PM from Swettenharm Pier. The fare is RM60 per adult and RM48 per child; soft drink and finger food is included into the fare. Complimentary pick-up from major city and beach hotels is offered, check at the time of booking. For ticket booking, contact the following:

Tour & Incentive Travel, Tel: +60 4 227-4522 / 447-3122, Fax: +60 4 227-4755

Bintang Biru Travel & Tours, Tel: +60 4 227-1618 / 227-1613 / 227-1615, Fax: +60 4 227-1620

Tongyan Trave & Tours, Tel: +60 4 229-1199, Fax: +60 4 229-9988

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Penang Ferry service which are available since 1920s is stiil making its daily round along the busy water of Penang. The ferry ride was short and it took about 15 minutes to reach the Penang Island from Butterworth ferry terminal. The betel nut orange ferries has since been beautified with colorful painting.

Ferry rates is as follows:

Pedestrian

Adult RM1.20
Children (between 5 to 12 years old) RM0.60

Seasons Ticket (Pedestrians) – valid for two months from date of issue

Adult RM30.00

Special passengers

School children RM6.00
Kad Orang Kurang Upaya (a card for disabled people) Free

Vehicles

Bicycle: RM1.40
Motorcycle (inclusive of pillion rider): RM2.00
Trishaw/tricycle: RM3.00
Motorcar: (including station wagon, four-wheel drive, three-wheel commercial vehicle, motorcycle with side car): RM6.50
Lorry (2 axles with 4 wheels): RM13.20
Lorry (2 axles with 6 wheels): Not Allowed

Rentals

Motorcycle and bicycle rental services are plentiful along Chulia Street in Georgetown area or Batu Ferringhi.

Car rentals may be a viable option, especially if planning to get off the beaten track and explore the western or southern coast. Take note that Penang Island has quite a number of one-way streets and narrow roads. Many Penangites ride motorbike and minority of them have disregard for pedestrians, cars and even their own lives, be careful when driving on the roads.

Avis Rent-A-Car,. Arrival Hall of Penang International Airport. Tollfree within Malaysia: 1-800-88-2054, Tel. +60 4 643-9633.

Budget Rent-A-Car,. 77-G-1 Jalan SP Chelliah. Tel. +60 4 210-8211 / 210-8212 / 210-8213, Fax +60 4 226-6690.

Hertz,. Tollfree within Malaysia: 1-800-88-3086

* 38 Farquhar Street. Tel. +60 4 263-8602 / 263-5914, Fax +60 4 263-1273. .

Insas Pacific Rent-A-Car,. Arrival Hall of Penang International Airport. Tel. +60 4 643-8891, Fax +60 4 644-4602. .

* Arrival Hall of Penang International Airport. Tel. +60 4 643-0208, Fax +60 4 642-6635. .

Kasina Rent-A-Car,. Sungai Tiram. +60 4 644-1842. .

Mayflower Car Rental,. Arrival Hall of Penang International Airport. Tollfree within Malaysia: 1-800-88-1688, Tel. +60 4 641-1191.

New Bob Rent-A-Car,.

* 11 Gottlieb Road. Tel. +60 4 229-1111, Fax +60 4 229-7777.

* 3S, BA, Jalan Sungai Emas. Tel. +60 4 881-3886.

See

In addition to the sights below, Georgetown has a number of culturally and historically interesting sites, covered on their own page.

Botanical Gardens,, Jalan Kebun Bunga, Phone:+60 4 227-0428 (for group tour arrangement) Fax:+60 4 228-6075 . Every day, 5AM-8AM. The gardens were established by Charles Curtis from British way back in 1884; it's generally known as Waterfall Gardens by the local community. Every morning, local people come to the gardens to perform their daily exercises like walking, jogging, running, treckking, aerobic dance, practice :WikiPedia:Tai Chi|Tai Chi (太极) or :WikiPedia:Qi Gong|Qi Gong (气功). Here also home of monkeys. Do not feed the monkey and beware of the snatch thieving from them. The gardens also hosts its annual international floral fest in May. Free admission.

Penang Hill (升旗山, Malay:Bukit Bendera) - Penang Hill probably has the best view of Georgetown and Penang Bridge, especially at night. Go up via the Penang Hill Railway, a fascinating little cable train service that lifts you out of the heat and humidity of the coastal plain and up to a fabulous view and cool breezes. When you reach the summit you can walk around the hilltop, stop for tea, enjoy a leisurely lunch, buy a souvenir, try to photograph Georgetown and the Strait, or simply breathe deep lungs full of cool mountain air.

Bukit Jambul Orchid, Hisbiscus & Reptile Garden, Persiaran Bukit Jambul. Phone:+60 4 644-8863, Fax:+60 4 644-2236 / 228-5733. Daily 9.30AM-6.30PM (last admission at 5.30PM). This garden is close to Hotel Equatorial and is about 10 minutes from Penang International Airport. One can have a picture with Malaysia's largest tame snake, a rare Albino Phython or watch the Snake Show on weekends and public holidays, 11.30AM-3.30PM. Adult RM5 and children RM2.

Fisheries Department Research Institute Aquarium, Batu Maung. Phone:+60 4 626-3925, Fax:+60 4 626-2210. Daily 10AM-5PM. Adult RM1, children (7-12 years old) RM2, free admission for children under 7.

Kek Lok Si (极乐寺, "Temple of Supreme Bliss"). A rambling hillside structure that claims to be the largest Buddhist temple in South-East Asia, now featuring a just-completed (2003) giant statue of Kuan Yin as well. Colorful and gaudy, but still atmospheric in spots. Located near the village of Ayer Hitam; a taxi from Georgetown will set you back RM 15-20.

Penang Bridge (槟威大桥) was the largest bridge in Asia and the third largest in the world. The bridge connects the island to the mainland (Seberang Perai) and offers unparalleled ocean views. Engineers designed the bridge to withstand earthquakes measuring up to 7.5 on the Richter scale. An amazing feat of craftsmanship.

Pulau Jerejak Resort, (Jerejak Island), Phone: +60 4 658-7111, Fax:+60 4 659-7700, , . Also known as the Alcatraz of Malaysia, because of the Jerejak Prison. This beautiful tropical island is about 362ha, opposites the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone, south eastern tip of the Penang island. In ancient time, immigrants must be sent to the health inspection centre in the island as a precaution step, before they were deported to Penang. In late 1930's, a hospital that could house 150 Tuberculosis patients were built. The island is now opened to public as a recreational resort. Numerous of outdoor activities including nature & historical treckking, mountain bike trails, archery are available; personal care such as aromatherapy massage, tired foot treatment, body scrub are also available. Ferry will depart from Penang starting at 6.30AM until 12.30AM. Return trip fare for guests with room / event reservations: Adult RM6, Children RM3. Day trippers: Adult RM16 (include meals), Children RM3. Various accommodation option available: tent for 2 person costs RM80 per night, 2-bed room RM115, chalet RM220 or promotional 3D/2N package for 2 person costs RM499.

Snake Temple (蛇庙) was built in 1850 in the memory of the renowned Chinese monk Chor Soo Kong, the Snake Temple is situated in the small town of Bayan Lepas and is famous for the fact that it has pit vipers living on the temple ground. Legend has it, that Chor Soo Kong, who was also a healer, gave shelter to the snakes of jungle. After the completion of the temple, snakes appeared on their own accord. Today the snake population of the Temple of the Azure Cloud is very small, due to the urbanization of the area, but you can still see them coiled up on the altar tables, and touch them if you are brave enough. Originally the snakes were said to be rendered inoffensive by the smell of the incenses, but just for good measure, today the resident vipers are devenomed. RM5 for adult foreigner and RM1 for children.

War Museum Lot 1350, Mukim 12, Batu Maung, Phone: +60 4 626-5142, 391-0067 Fax: +60 4 626-4142, 644-8015. Every day, 9AM-7PM (last admission). Located at southeastern of Penang, this museum could be the largest living war museum in Asia. It is the mighty military fortress built in 1930's by British to protect the island from enemies. The British Royal Engineers and a work force comprises of local labourers blasted and dug into the hill to create a fort with underground military tunnels, intelligence and logistic center, halls, offices, ventilation shafts, canon firing bays, sleeping querters, cook houses as well as medical infirmary.

Tropical Spice Garden - The Tropical Spice Garden, which is located in a 8 acre valley fronting the shores of Teluk Bahang showchase a lanscaped garden that consist of tropical collection from all over the world. The garden have over 100 varieties of tropical spice and herbs plant and a huge collection of exotic flora.

Jewellery Factory Tour', Bayan Lepas FIZ 3, Tel : 6-04-6471288, . Free factory tour with, of course, the chance to buy direct from them. Open 10 AM-5 PM daily.

Food tasting - Penang is popular among Malaysians for a huge variety of local food such as Char Kwey Teow, Penang Laksa and Nasi Kandar, which are found almost practically everywhere in the Island. However, the best place to go "food hopping" would be Macalister Road. For the most well-known Char Kwey Toew, try "Sister's Chow Koay Teow" at Lorong Selamat.

Jungle trekking & camping - Enjoy walking through the reserved forest in Teluk Bahang, go to northwestern cape of the island and stay nights over there, you will experience an unforgettable life with beaches, sea and the sky. For quickier and more relax way to reach there, apporach the locals at Kampung Nelayan for boat to beaches like Muka Head, Pantai Kerachut and etc. Kampung Nelayan is located less than 1km north from the small roundabout located at Teluk Bahang.

Golfing

* Bukit Jambul Golf & Country Club 2 Jalan Bukit Jambul, Tel: +60 4 644-2255, Fax: +60 4 644-2400, . Course designer: Robert Trent Jones Jr.

* Pearl Island Country Club 8 Persiaran Kelicap, Tel: +60 4 642-7888, Fax: +60 4 646-6999. Course design: Pacific Coast Design (Aust)

* Bukit Jawi Golf Resort Lot 414, Mlk6 Jln Paya Kemian Sempayi Sungai Jawi, Seberang Prai Selatan, Tel: +60 4 582-0759, Fax: +60 4 582-2613

Sight seeing is the most important agenda when visiting Penang. Plan your trip and don't forget to bring your camera to capture all your sweet memories there!

Rest & Relax

Shopping - the three most popular shopping malls in Penang would be Gurney Plaza, Prangin Mall and Queensbay, which houses a full range of fashionable goods and necessity items. If you crave the unusual, head on down to the flea market at Lorong Kulit, which is open from morning until around 2:00pm daily. If mingling with the masses is your idea of fun, check out the pasar malam (night market) along Batu Ferringhi for some inexpensive shopping and dining, gets more interesting during weekends.

Penang Bridge International Marathon - participants run over the the Penang Bridge (third longest bridge in the world) and along a scenic coastal highway. This is the only time of the year when the bridge is closed for several hours. The event will be held on June 24 this year (2007); the entry form can be obtained trough its official web site, the closing date is May 27, 2007.

Penang International Dragon Boat Festival has been staged annually since 1979 and has successfully attracted teams from all over the world including Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and the USA. This year (2007), the event will be held from June 8 to June 10. Penang will host the 6th Club Crew World Championships (CCWC) in 2008, the event is planned to be held at Teluk Bahang Dam in June/July.

Watersports are on the agenda for many visitors, although the waters are a bit too murky for scuba diving and a bit too calm for surfing or more extreme pursuits.

Buy

Costs

Life in Penang is relatively cheap. A night at a 4-star hotel costs less than RM200 (roughly USD54) for 2 persons. A typical meal at the hawker center costs only about USD3 for one person. One of the potential problems is getting around. The bus service is cheap but can be sporadic (depends on time of the day and popularity of a particular route). Taxis can ask for unreasonable prices, so haggle before boarding if the taxi doesn't seem to be running on the meter.

Books

Popular Book Co., 33-4-09 & 10, Prangin Mall Komtar, tel:04-2636122/126 fax:04-2636130

Tan Mark Book Centre, 283 Jalan Burma

Traditional foods

Nutmeg (豆蔻) products - In traditional medicine nutmeg oil or balm were used for illnesses related to the nervous and digestive systems. Preserved nutmeg strips either in dry or wet form are used as the snack by locals.

Traditional biscuits such as Tambun Pneah (淡文饼), Beh Teh Sor (马蹄酥), Heong Pneah (香饼), Pong Pneah (清糖饼), Tau Sar Pneah (豆沙饼) and etc.

* Him Heang (馨香), 162-A Burma Road, Tel. +60 4 228-6129 / 228-6130. Order through phone first due to limited daily production.

* Ghee Hiang(义香), 95 Beach Street, Tel. +60 4 262-0635, Fax +60 4 263-5158. 216 Macalister Road, Tel. +60 4 227-2222, Fax +60 4 227-2522 The company has been established since 1856; other well-known product includes sesame seed oil. Their new product that launched recently is almond biscuit (杏仁饼).

* Ng Kee Cake Shop (伍记), 61 Cintra Street, Tel. +60 4 261-2229. The shop produces and sells Cantonese traditional biscuits including wedding biscuits. One of the famous biscuits is pepper biscuit (咸切酥, Ham Chit Soo).

Eat

Penang offers plenty of good, cheap Malaysian food, but is famed throughout the rest of the country for some specialities. Don't be fooled by the names: Penang laksa or hokkien mee are quite different from what you'd get in, say, Kuala Lumpur. Topping the list are:

Hokkien Mee - Two types of noodles in prawn and pork soup with slices of pork, prawns, hard boiled egg, vegetable, beans sprout and sprinkling of deep fried shallots. LHH recommends the stall at Gurney Drive Hawker Centre near the roundabout.

Assam Laksa - a far cry from the sweet, coconutty Singaporean version, this noodle soup comes with sour broth flavored with tamarind (assam) with pureed fish, fruits, veggies and a generous helping of chili mixed in. Watch out, the combination is powerful and will have the uninitiated breathing fire! Famous assam laksa include Air Itam market, Gottlieb Road, Gurney Drive, etc.

Penang Char Keow Teow (炒馃条) - a local interpretation of the ubiquitous stir-fried flat rice noodles, tossed with bean sprouts, cockles, and anything else the chef has handy. Eggs are additional and cockles can be opt out if preferred by the customer; request when placing order. Some said the best Char Keow Teow can be found at Lorong Selamat but it cost at least RM5 per plate and that only if you have the patience of a saint to wait for it. Another choice is Macalister Road Sister's Char Koay Teow.

Koay Teow Thing - flat rice noodles in clear chicken soup with slices of chicken, pork and fish cake. Garnish with chopped spring onions. Some places have duck meat and other organ meats as extras.

Kaya (a type of jam) - which is a mixture of eggs and cocount milk to be spread over anything you want and according to some the best kaya is at a little coffee shop at the end of Madras Lane.

Coconut tart - If you have eaten egg tart before then instead of the egg put in some coconut and voila! You get coconut tart and definitely the best is at Cintra Lane.

Cendol - a mixture of blended ice with big mushy red beans with gula melaka thrown in. This will satisfy anyone even if it is raining. Cendol can be found anywhere but the best is at Penang Road.

Penang lobak - a mix of deep fried stuffs. One of it is actually called lobak (coarse minced pork and various vegs rolled in tofu skin). Other stuffs are usually stingray, tofu, tofu and shrimp in batter, etc ... (varies in different places) served with two types of dipping sauces (chillie and another type). Famous lorbak is at the coffee shop (junction of Sri Bahari Rd and Penang Rd)

Penang Sar Hor Fun (炒河粉) - a local dish with koay teow (flat rice cakes) in a delicious broth of beaten eggs and seafood bits. Goes best with prickled green chillies.

As you might expect on an island seafood is abundant. Head for the fishing village of Teluk Bahang in the north, or go to Batu Maung / Teluk Kumbar in the south for fresh fare at local prices.

If you are a durian fan, that's the place to go.
Penang's durian is unique in the world. Best way to eat is at the stall. They open the durain for you. You pay what you eat. You don't have to worry about buying rotten durians. Stalls are usually by the roadsides by durian plantations, like the along road from Teluk Bahang to Balik Pulau and along the road from Air Itam to Relau. Within Georgetown, there is one at Jalan Anson, opposite Jalan Dunlop, and another along Jalan Macalister.

Budget

Hawker stalls & hawker centers:

Breakfast

Buckingham Street near KOMTAR

Campbell Street near KOMTAR

Lunch

Prangin Mall hawker center

Wawasan Mutiara Nasi Kandar near KOMTAR bus station

Tea time

Swatow Lane near Chew Thean Yang Aquarium and Sheraton Hotel

Dinner

Buckingham Street near KOMTAR

Chulia Street near Kapitan Keling Mosque

Gurney Drive nearby the roundabouts, McDonald's restaurant and Gurney Plaza

New Lane near KOMTAR and Sunway Georgetown Hotel

Pearl Hill near Toy Museum and Copthrone Hotel

Supper

Mamak stalls along Penang Road offer Indian food such as Roti Canai, Roti Helicopter, Roti Tissue, Mutabak etc.

Mid-range

Bukit Genting Thai Food is located at the hilltop, along the road to Balik Pulau. You can enjoy the beautiful scene while tasting the delicious spicy Thai food there. Although it's a long way from Georgetown, the food and the scenery make the trip worthwhile. Call to get directions and try to get there before sunset. Beware of the narrow road going up. Best to go when it's not dark as it can get tricky driving up. Phone: 60 4 827-9805.

Cherry Sweet Spicy Thai Food, 8 Clove Hall Road. Phone: +60 4 227-6758, 229-2561. Daily (Closed on Wednesday) 12PM-3PM, 6PM-10PM. Pork-free.

eGate, next to Tesco hypermarket. Restaurants and cafe available are: Starbucks, Old Town Kopitiam, Subway, Oasis, Tao Japanese Restaurant and etc. However the food's here overrated and not worth the money you fork out.

Illyana's is at Teluk Kumbar. A Malay style eatery attracting lots of Chinese and Malays because the chef who is Thai cooks very well. Notable dishes include lala fried with olive oil and the claypot fish head curry. Seafood is always fresh (you pick what you want from the fresh seafood laid out and the chef cooks it for you, whatever style you fancy) here as it's just off the beach/jetty. Try the satay too when you are at Illyana's.

Yellow Light Thai Food, 1-C Fettes Road. Phone: +60 4 899-1471. Closed on Monday.

Splurge

Eden Seafood Village - 69A Batu Ferringhi, Phone:+60 4 881-1852. Daily 6PM-11PM.

Ocean Green Seafood, Hotel Paramount, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Penang. Used to be a popular seafood place for Penangites but of late, other seafood places have mushroomed. Commendable dishes include mantis prawns fried with salted egg yolk batter, fried sharksfin with eggs, and prawns.

Oriental Seafood Restaurant - Macalister Road, Phone:+60 4 226-0969. A sister outlet of the Oriental Seafood at Gurney Drive. This outlet at Macalister Road is less pricey and it's for the locals who crave crabs and prawns (but no view, unlike the one at Gurney Drive). Service is quick and you can order other side eats such as fried noodles, etc. Crabs go by the kilogramme so prices fluctuate. Ask first before ordering. They accept credit cards and cash.

Seoul Garden Korean Restaurant - Sunrise Tower, 1st Floor, 190-192 Gurney Drive, Phone:+60 4 2298705. The food here is not bad except that the kimchi can be quite different each time you eat here. Attracts Korean expats during lunch and dinner. So food must be similar to Korean food back home. Nice views though of the area esp during lunch. This place has been here for years!

Sleep

Most of Penang's fancier accommodation is in the form of beach resorts on the main tourist beach of Batu Feringghi. More backpacker-friendly options, as well as a few classical luxury hotels, can be found in Georgetown.

Equatorial Penang, 1 Jalan Bukit Jambul, Phone:+60-4-643 8111, Fax:+60-4-881 1180 . Located on the east coast of Penang, convenient to the airport and its industrial area, but less so for the beach-loving tourist.

Contact

Ambulance / Police: 999

Fire: 994

Rescue (Civil Defense): 991

All the abovementioned numbers: 112 from mobile phones

Tourist police:+60 4 222-1522

Telegram service: 100

International and domestic operator assisted service: 101

Directory enquiry service: 103

Multilingual international service: 198

Stay safe

Don't walk alone in deserted places.

Don't accept rides from Kereta Sapu (passenger car / unlicensed taxi).

Don't carry valuables in motorbike-baskets.

Don't leave valuables in hotel rooms.

Don't place valuables on restaurant tables.

Do be wary of snatch-thieves - especially when wearing jewelery and/or carrying bags.

Do be wary of the (sometimes aggressive) long-tail macaques (avoid red clothing) at the botanical gardens.

Do read the local newspapers to know what's going on.

Cope

Immigration Dept Georgetown Office Beach Street, Phone:+60 4 250-3410, Fax:+60 4 262-8090

Consulates in Penang

Australia 1-C Hutton Lane, Phone:+60 4 263-1114 Fax:+60 4 263-3320

Bangladesh 15 Bishop Street, Phone:+60 4 262-1085

Canada 3007 Tkt. Perusahaan 5, Kaw Perusahaan Perai, Phone:+60 4 389-3300

Denmark 1st Floor Wisma Rajab, 82 Bishop Street, Phone:+60 4 262-4886 Fax:+60 4 261-4963

Finland 8th Floor Wisma Penang Garden, 42 Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Phone:+60 4 229-4300 Fax:+60 4 227-4533

France 2nd Floor Wisma Rajab, 82 Bishop Street, Phone:+60 4 262-9707

Germany Plot 205-206 Jalan Kampung Jawa Free Industrial Zone 3, Phone:+60 4 641-5707

Hungary Plot 226-228 Jalan Kampung Jawa Free Industrial Zone 3, Phone:+60 4 644-9937

Indonesia 467 Burma Road, Phone:+60 4 227-4686

Japan Level 28, Menara BHL, 51 Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Phone:+60 4 226-3030, Fax:+60 4 226-1030. Office hour: Weekdays, closed on Weekends & Public Holidays. Office: 8:30AM-12:30PM, 2PM-5PM. Visa Counter: 8:30AM-12PM, 2PM-4PM.

Netherlands, The 202 Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah Phone:+60 4 647-3333

Norway 4 Jalan Sepoy Lines, Phone:+60 4 226-3459

Russia 37 Green Hall, Phone:+60 4 262-2944

Sri Lanka 1 Bishop Street, Phone:+60 4 261-3093

Sweden 3rd Floor, Standard Chartered Bank Chambers, 2 Beach Street, Phone:+60 4 262-5333

United Kingdom 3rd Floor, Standard Chartered Bank Chambers, 2 Beach Street, Phone:+60 4 262-5333

Thailand 1 Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Phone:+60 4 226-8029 / 226-9484, Fax:+60 4 226-3121

Turkey 3rd Floor, Standard Chartered Bank Chambers, 2 Beach Street, Phone:+60 4 262-5333

Get out

Alor Star - capital of Kedah state

Ipoh - capital of Perak state

Kuala Lumpur - capital of Malaysia

Pulau Langkawi (Langkawi Island)

Malacca

Singapore

Penang (pronounced ; Malay: Pulau Pinang), is the name of an island in the Straits of Malacca, and also of one of the states of Malaysia, located on the north-west coast of peninsular Malaysia. Penang is the second smallest state in Malaysia after Perlis, and the eighth most populous. A resident of Penang is colloquially known as a Penangite.

Name

The island was referred to as 檳榔嶼 (Bīnláng Yù) in the navigational drawings used by Admiral Zheng He of Ming-dynasty China in his expeditions to the South Seas in the 15th century. Early Malays called it Pulau Ka-Satu or "First Island".

The name "Penang" comes from the modern Malay name Pulau Pinang, which means island of the betel nut tree (Areca catechu), family Palmae. In Chinese, Penang is known as 檳城 (pinyin: Bīnchéng / Bīngchéng). All three names can refer either to the island of Penang, the state of Penang or sometimes the state capital, George Town.

More specifically, George Town is known as Tanjung in Malay and 喬治市 (Qiáozhì Shì) in Chinese. Penang Island is simply Pulau Pinang () in Malay and 檳榔嶼 (Bīnláng Xù) in Chinese, and Penang state is Negeri Pulau Pinang in Malay and 檳州 (Bīn Zhōu) in Chinese.

Geography

The state is geographically and administratively divided into two sections:

Penang Island: an island of 293 square kilometres located in the Straits of Malacca; and

Seberang Perai (used to be known as Province Wellesley): a narrow hinterland of 760 square kilometres on the Malay peninsula across a narrow channel whose smallest width is 4 km (2.5 miles). It is bordered by Kedah in the north (demarcated by the Muda River) and east, and Perak in the south.

The body of water between Penang Island and Seberang Perai is the North Channel to the north of George Town and the South Channel to the south of George Town. Penang Island is irregularly shaped, with a granitic, hilly and mostly forested interior, the highest point being Western Hill (part of Penang Hill) at 830 metres above sea level. The coastal plains are narrow, the most extensive of which is in the northeast which forms a triangular promontory where George Town, the state capital is situated. The topography of Province Wellesley is mostly flat. Butterworth, the main town in Province Wellesley, lies along the Perai River estuary and faces George Town at a distance of 3 km (2 miles) across the channel to the east.

Towns
Besides George Town and Butterworth, there are several other towns in the State of Penang, including:

In addition to public hospitals are numerous smaller community clinics. Private hospitals supplement the system with better facilities and equipments. These hospitals cater not only to the local population but also to people from other states and health tourists from neighbouring countries. Patients from the Indonesian city of Medan across the Straits regularly visit these hospitals for quality treatment, and because the cost is less than in places like Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Penang is, therefore, actively promoting health tourism.

Transportation

Getting to Penang both from within and outside Malaysia is easy as Penang is well-connected by road, rail, sea and air. AirAsia flies daily to Penang from Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

Bridge, roads and highways

Penang Island is connected to the mainland by the 13.5-kilometre Penang Bridge (completed in 1985), one of the longest bridges in Asia. Due to heavy traffic, the bridge is currently being broadened into 3 lanes from the current two. On March 31 2006, the Malaysian government announced a second bridge project, tentatively named the Penang Second Bridge, to be built under the Ninth Malaysia Plan. Penang Bridge was built by Hyundai.

Penang on the side of Province Wellesley is connected to the North-South Expressway (Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan), the 966-km long expressway which traverses the western part of Peninsular Malaysia linking major cities and towns. The expressway also incorporates the Penang Bridge.

The controversial Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) is now under way. The idea of the project is to cut travelling time on the eastern part of the island. Concerned citizens voiced protests over the designated route which will cut across quiet residential areas and also cause some environmental damage. Another expressway, the Jelutong Expressway has reduced travelling time from the Penang Bridge to the city centre by half.

The Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR) is a 14-km tolled expressway that serves primarily Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam to ameliorate the upsurge in vehicular traffic due to intense urban and industrial development.

Unfortunately, modern transportation has also brought the problem of traffic congestion to the roads of Penang, as most of the roads in the city centre are narrow, due to lack of proper planning and also primarily because these lanes and alleys were built so long ago. Many of them have since been converted into one-way streets in order to smoothen traffic flow. Roads in the city outskirts and in Province Wellesley, however, are broad and modern because these areas were more recently populated and thus could anticipate heavier traffic. As traffic congestion worsen by the year, the government desperately needs to come up with a comprehensive solution to the erratic public transportation problem.

Public transport

Penang boasted an efficient public transport network right up to the 1970s. Electric trams, trolleybuses and double deckers used to ply the streets of Penang. The Penang Hill Railway, a funicular railway to the top of Penang Hill, was an engineering feat of sorts when it was completed in 1923, and is still in use today.

The Penang bus services today are generally unsystematic and do not have a reputation of reliability. Therefore, the usage of public transportation is still low, exacerbating the traffic jams in the city during rush hours. The city council has, however, provided free shuttle bus services for short intra-city travel to lessen the congestion, with mixed success. In April 2006, the local authorities announced a revamp of the public bus service to bring about a more reliable and efficient network without any visible progress. On February 20, 2007, the government announced that Rapid KL will operate the public bus service in Penang under the new entity called Rapid Penang which is formed for this purpose.

There are two main bus terminals for express buses which travel out of the state. One is located at the ferry terminal in Province Wellesley, and a newer one at Sungai Nibong on the island.

Taxis in Penang have not conformed to the meter system as exhorted by the federal authorities, citing unprofitability. A new ruling implemented on August 1, 2006 makes it compulsory for taxis to use the meter system. Although taxi drivers have been repeatedly warned by the state government and the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB), the meter system is still not adhered to by taxi drivers in Penang.

A quaint mode of transportation, the three-wheeled trishaw, still operates in certain parts of George Town. However, with the advent of modern transportation, the trishaw has increasingly become a mere tourist attraction.

Rail and monorail

Penang has 34.9 km of rail track within its border. Butterworth is serviced by the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) or Malayan Railway West Coast line which runs from Padang Besar on the Malaysia-Thailand Border in Perlis to Singapore. Senandung Langkawi is the daily night express running from Kuala Lumpur to Haadyai via Butterworth. Trains are not a popular mode of transportation due to their low speed and also because of the availability of buses which are more convenient, as well as high ownership of cars.

Penang has had a monorail under consideration since 1999. The Penang Monorail project was finally approved on March 31, 2006 under the Ninth Malaysia Plan. On August 2, 2006, the federal government has decided to build the monorail transit system in the city of George Town. This monorail line will connect Tanjung Tokong in the north with Bayan Lepas in the south.

Airport

Penang International Airport (PEN) is located in Bayan Lepas in the south of the island, and international flights are available to London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Medan, Taipei, Bangkok, Seoul, Riau, Xiamen and Guangzhou. The airport serves as the northern gateway to Malaysia.

In 2006, the airport handled 3.1 million passengers, both domestic and international, and 22.22 million metric tonne of cargo in 2005 from within and outside the country. The airport is the hub of Firefly, a low-cost carrier wholly owned by Malaysia Airlines.

Ferry and seaports

Cross-channel ferry services, provided by the Penang Ferry Service, connect George Town and Butterworth, and were the only link between the island and the mainland until the bridge was built in 1985. High-speed ferries to the resort island of Langkawi, Kedah in the north as well as to Medan, Indonesia are also available daily.

The Port of Penang is operated by the Penang Port Commission. There are four terminals, one on Penang island (Swettenham Pier) and three on the mainland, namely North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT), Butterworth Deep Water Wharves (BDWW), and Prai Bulk Cargo Terminal (PBCT). Malaysia being the 13th largest exporting nation, the Port of Penang plays a leading role in the nation's shipping industry, linking Penang to more than 200 ports worldwide.
Swettenham Pier also accommodates cruise ships.

Utilities

Water supply which comes under the state jurisdiction, is wholly managed by the state-owned but autonomous PBA Holdings Bhd whose sole subsidiary is the Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd (PBAPP). This public limited company provides reliable, round-the-clock drinking water to 100% of the urban areas and 99.5% of the rural areas throughout the state. Penang was cited by the World Development Movement as a case study in successful public water scheme. PBA's water rates are also one of the lowest in the world . Penang's water supply is sourced from the Air Itam Dam, Mengkuang Dam, Teluk Bahang Dam, Bukit Panchor Dam, Berapit Dam, Cherok Tok Kun Dam, Waterfall Reservoir, Guillemard Reservoir, and also from neighbouring Kedah state.

Penang was among the first states in Malaya to be electrified in 1905 upon the completion of the first hydroelectric scheme. At present, electricity for industrial and domestic consumption is provided by the national electricity utility company, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).

Telekom Malaysia Berhad is the landline telephone service provider as well as the main Internet service provider in the state. Penang also has excellent cell phone coverage. Broadband internet is also widely available.

Garbage collection and disposal is managed by the respective local authorities. The main landfill is the modern Pulau Burung landfill near Nibong Tebal.

Sewage treatment in Penang is managed by the national sewerage company, Indah Water Konsortium. Prior to systematic sewerage piping and treatment, waste water was haphazardly disposed, mostly in the sea, causing environmental pollution. It is not uncommon to see washing water from roadside pushcart stalls simply released into the open drainage system. Litter floating in drains and canals is not an uncommon sight.

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

Penang is one of the hotbeds of social activism in the country. Anwar Fazal, who is one of the world's leading social advocate, together with several individuals founded the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) in 1969. The country's most vocal and active consumer protection group, CAP strives to protect the interests of consumers and is a vociferous critic of both the government and private enterprises. It publishes the Utusan Konsumer, Utusan Pengguna, Utusan Cina, Utusan Tamil, Majalah Pengguna Kanak-kanak. Anwar Fazal is also known as the "Father of the Malaysian NGO Movement" and "Ralph Nader of the East".

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action WABA is an organization based in Penang whose objectives are to protect, promote and support breastfeeding globally. In particular, their objectives are to re-establish and maintain a global breastfeeding culture, to eliminate all obstacles to breastfeeding, to promote more regional and national level co-operation, and to advocate for breastfeeding in development, women, environment and human rights programmes.

The Penang Heritage Trust is an NGO whose objective is to promote the conservation of Penang's heritage, and to foster cultural education about the history and heritage of Penang. PHT works to enlist the historic enclave of George Town as a World Heritage Site. The organisation had played an important role in saving many heritage buildings in Penang from the encroachment of development.

The Women's Centre for Change Penang (WCC) is a non-profit organisation which supports women and children in crisis.

Friends of the Penang Botanic Gardens Society is a voluntary organisation dedicated to supporting the botanic, horticultural, educational and recreational objectives of the Penang Botanic Gardens.

Crime

Crime is on the rise in Penang, sparking concern among Penangites. A case in point was the daring RM 50 million heist of computer parts at the Batu Maung Free Commercial Zone on 21 November 2006, the nation's biggest robbery to date . The prevalence of petty crimes like snatch thefts is equally disconcerting. This debacle is due in part to the police force which is, for years, markedly understaffed and overstretched. The low presence and visibility of the police force is emboldening potential criminals. The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) has promised major reforms and pledged to increase street and neighbourhood patrols.

Sports

The state has good sporting facilities which provide good training grounds for aspiring sportsmen. The two major stadia are the City Stadium in George Town and the Batu Kawan Stadium in southern Province Wellesley. The Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) in Relau has an indoor stadium and an aquatics centre.

Penang has 4 golf courses, namely the 18-hole Bukit Jambul Country Club (on the island), the 36-hole Bukit Jawi Golf Resort, the 18-hole Penang Golf Resort and the 18-hole Kristal Golf Resort.

The Penang Turf Club, established in 1864, is Malaysia's oldest horse racing and equestrian centre. The turf club is to be relocated to a new site now under construction in Province Wellesley.

Eminent sports clubs in Penang include the Bukit Mertajam Country Club, Penang Club, Chinese Recreation Club (CRC), Penang Sports Club, Penang Rifle Club, Penang Polo Club, Penang Swimming Club, Chinese Swimming Club, Penang Squash Centre and the prestigious Penang Yacht Club in Batu Ferringhi. A marina, named Tanjung City Marina which can accommodate up to 140 yachts and boats of various sizes has been built in Weld Quay to attract seafarers from around the world.

Penang also hosts the annual Starwalk and the Penang Bridge Run and Marathon.

Consulates

Many countries have their consulates in Penang in addition to one in Kuala Lumpur. Foreign representations in Penang are:

# Royal Thai Consulate-General
# Consulate-General of Japan
# Australian Consulate
# Royal Danish Consulate
# Royal Norwegian Consulate
# Russian Consulate
# Consulate of Canada
# Honorary Consulate of Sweden
# German Consulate
# Indonesian Consulate
# Consulate of the Netherlands
# Consulate-General of France
# Honorary Consulate of Finland
# Sri Lankan Consulate
# Hungarian Consulate
# Office of the Honorary British Consul

Penang's Firsts

Penang became the first British outpost in the then Malaya and South East Asia in 1786.

The country's first newspaper made its appearance in Penang in 1805 - the Prince of Wales Island Gazette. This was followed by the Penang Gazette, first published in 1837.

The Royal Malaysian Police was established when King George III awarded Penang a 'Charter of Justice’ in 1807 to form the police force and the Court of Justice.

Penang Free School founded by Rev. Sparke Hutchings in 1816, is the first and oldest English School in South East Asia.

St George's Anglican Church on Farquhar Street, established in 1816, is the oldest Anglican Church in South East Asia.

The Sekolah Kebangsaan Gelugor in Penang founded in 1826 is the first Malay school to be established in Malaysia.

Convent Light Street or the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, a girls' school established by a French Sisters' Mission in 1852, is the oldest girls' school in South East Asia.

The Municipal Council of Penang Island (Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang), is the successor of the Municipal Council of George Town, which was established in 1857 as Malaysia's first local authority.

The Penang Turf Club, established in 1864, is Malaysia's oldest horse racing and equestrian centre.

Standard Chartered Bank, the oldest bank in Malaysia, opened its doors in 1875.

In 1905 Penang completed its first hydroelectric scheme.

in 1906 Penang's first electric tramway made its appearance.

Malaysia's oldest Chinese newspaper still in circulation today, Kwong Wah Yit Poh or Kwong Wah Daily (光华日报) was founded on 20 December 1910 by Dr. Sun Yat-Sen in Penang.

The Penang Players Music and Drama Society, the oldest English amateur theatre group in Malaysia, was founded in the early 1950s by a group of expatriates residing in Penang.

On 1 January 1957, George Town became a city by a royal charter granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the first town in the Federation of Malaya to become a city.

Penang's water rates/tariffs are amongst the lowest in Malaysia (the other being Kelantan).

Covering 738 km², the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai) is the largest local authority in Malaysia.

The 2,562-hectare Penang National Park in Teluk Bahang gazetted in 2003 is the world’s smallest national park.

Famous Penangites

Anwar Fazal, who Mother Earth News called in 1983 "probably the most influential figure in the worldwide consumer movement".

Anwar Ibrahim, the ex-deputy prime minister during Tun Dr Mahathir's administration, whose hometown is Cherok Tok Kun.

Abdullah Ariff, the distinguished Malaysian artist.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Malaysia's fifth Prime Minister, is from Kepala Batas, Penang.

Jill Bennett, actress.

Eddy Choong, the four-time All England champion and other badminton legends such as Johnny Heah, Ooi Teik Hock, Lim Say Hup, Teh Kew San, Tan Aik Huang and Tan Aik Mong.

Jimmy Choo, the famous shoe designer.

Nicol David, the current international women's squash champion.

P.Ramlee, Malaysia's legendary actor/singer/director.

Lillian Too, feng shui consultant and best-selling author of feng shui books.

Li Yi (李逸), Chinese singer of the 1970s whose promising singing career was cut short by a fatal road mishap in 1980.

Popular Malaysian band Alleycats formed in the 1960s comprising Loganathan Arumugam (vocals), David Arumugam (vocals), Tan Chin Hock (drums), Shunmugam Arumugam (lead guitar), Chester Anthony Passerella (saxophone), Khoo Fook Sin and Greenville (keyboards) and Frank Ong (bass).

Tan Sri Dato' Loh Boon Siew, a tycoon famous for his Boon Siew Honda.

Dr. Wu Lien Teh (1879 - 1960), world-renowned Plague Fighter and pioneer in the modernization of China's public health system.

John H. Whyte, the political scientist, was born in Penang.

References in popular culture

Penang was the shooting location for a number of movies, most notably:

#Indochine (1992).
#Beyond Rangoon (1995).
#Paradise Road (1997) starring Glen Close and Frances McDormand.
#The Touch (2002) featuring Michelle Yeoh.
#20th Century Fox's Anna and the King (1999) featuring Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fatt.
#Ang Lee's Lust, Caution (in development).

Penang was featured in or alluded to in novels such as:

#The Penang Pirate by John Conroy Hutcheson.
#The Man Who Could Work Miracles by H. G. Wells .
#The Phantom Ship by Frederick Marryat .
#The Crab That Played with the Sea by Rudyard Kipling .
#Threshold of Hell by Albert J. Rupp, a crew member of the USS Grenadier SS210 submarine who were captured by Japanese in April 1941 along with 75 others, recounted in the book the dark days when he was interned at Convent Light Street in Penang.

State song

The lyrics of the state anthem are as follows:

''Selamat Tuhan kurniakan

''Selamat Pulau Pinang

''Negeriku yang mulia

''Kutaat dan setia

''Aman dan bahagia

''Majulah jayalah

''Negeriku yang ku cinta

''Bersatu dan bersama

''Untuk negeri kita

Trivia

Penang was voted as one of the best cities in Asia by Asiaweek. It was ranked 6th in 1998 and 9th in 2000.

Penang ranked as the 10th most liveable city in Asia in 2007, according to an international survey involving 254 cities in Asia by Employment Conditions Abroad Limited (ECA International). Back in 2002, it was placed 12th. A city is judged based on its weather, air quality, infrastructure, health services, housing, security and politics.

Many early settlers succumbed to malaria, earning Penang the unenviable epithet of "the White Man's Grave".

Penang is the name of a popular themed restaurant/bar located on Second avenue and 83rd Street in Manhattan.

See also

Penang cuisine

Straits Settlements

History of Penang

History of modern Penang

Architecture of Penang

Eponyms of the Place and Street Names of Penang

British Malaya

George Town

Province Wellesley