The Pinang River (
Malay
Malay may refer to:
Languages
* Malay language or Bahasa Melayu, a major Austronesian language spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore
** History of the Malay language, the Malay language from the 4th to the 14th century
** Indonesi ...
: ''Sungai Pinang'') is a river that runs through the city of
George Town in
Penang
Penang ( ms, Pulau Pinang, is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, by the Malacca Strait. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay ...
,
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
. Stretching for approximately , the river separates
George Town proper to the north and its suburb of
Jelutong
Jelutong is a suburb of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. Located south of the Pinang River, Jelutong has been inhabited since as early as the late 18th century, when traders from Aceh and India settled around the area.
It was once notorious ...
to the south.
It also passes under the
Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway before emptying into the
Penang Strait
The Penang Strait is an 11 kilometre-wide strait that separates Penang Island from mainland Malay Peninsula. Penang Island is to the west of the channel, while Seberang Perai, the mainland half of the State of Penang, is to the east. The norther ...
.
Sungai Pinang
Sungai Pinang is a residential neighbourhood along the Pinang River within the city of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. The neighbourhood, bounded by the river to the north and Jalan Sungai Pinang to the south, is also geographically part of th ...
also refers to the neighbourhood that exists along the river.
It is believed that the first riverine villages had been established in the late 18th century, prior to the arrival of Captain
Francis Light
Captain Francis Light ( – 21 October 1794) was a British explorer and the founder of the British colony of Penang (in modern-day Malaysia) and its capital city of George Town in 1786. Light and his lifelong partner, Martina Rozells, were th ...
, the founder of modern
Penang
Penang ( ms, Pulau Pinang, is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, by the Malacca Strait. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay ...
.
The Pinang River was widely regarded as one of the filthiest
waterways in Malaysia.
In recent years, the
Penang state government
The Government of Penang ( ms, Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang) refers to the government authority of the Malaysian state of Penang. The state government adheres to and is created by both the Constitution of Malaysia, the supreme law of Malaysia, an ...
has intensified efforts to clean up and deepen the river, resulting in an improvement of the river's water quality.
Geography
The Pinang River meanders eastwards for about from the confluence between Air Terjun and Air Itam Rivers towards the
Penang Strait
The Penang Strait is an 11 kilometre-wide strait that separates Penang Island from mainland Malay Peninsula. Penang Island is to the west of the channel, while Seberang Perai, the mainland half of the State of Penang, is to the east. The norther ...
. It also has four other tributaries - Kecil, Air Putih, Dondang and Jelutong Rivers.
The river's mouth, which is located east of the
Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, was actually reclaimed from the sea. The original mouth was situated under a bridge linking Bridge Street (now ''Jalan C.Y. Choy'') and Jelutong Road.
Historically, the Pinang River had marked the southernmost limits of
George Town, while its working-class suburb of
Jelutong
Jelutong is a suburb of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. Located south of the Pinang River, Jelutong has been inhabited since as early as the late 18th century, when traders from Aceh and India settled around the area.
It was once notorious ...
lies to the south. Nonetheless, the river area has become urbanised since the mid 20th century, with residential high-rises and office blocks lining both river banks.
History
In the 18th century, prior to the founding of
Penang Island
Penang Island ( ms, Pulau Pinang; zh, 檳榔嶼; ta, பினாங்கு தீவு) is part of the state of Penang, on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It was named Prince of Wales Island when it was occupied by the British Ea ...
by Captain
Francis Light
Captain Francis Light ( – 21 October 1794) was a British explorer and the founder of the British colony of Penang (in modern-day Malaysia) and its capital city of George Town in 1786. Light and his lifelong partner, Martina Rozells, were th ...
,
Malay
Malay may refer to:
Languages
* Malay language or Bahasa Melayu, a major Austronesian language spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore
** History of the Malay language, the Malay language from the 4th to the 14th century
** Indonesi ...
fishermen had already established fishing villages along the Pinang River.
The fishermen, who originated from
Kedah
Kedah (), also known by its honorific Darul Aman (Islam), Aman and historically as Queda, is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area ...
and
Aceh
Aceh ( ), officially the Aceh Province ( ace, Nanggroë Acèh; id, Provinsi Aceh) is the westernmost province of Indonesia. It is located on the northernmost of Sumatra island, with Banda Aceh being its capital and largest city. Granted a s ...
, chose the river for its constant supply of fresh water, as well as a route to the interior of
Penang Island
Penang Island ( ms, Pulau Pinang; zh, 檳榔嶼; ta, பினாங்கு தீவு) is part of the state of Penang, on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It was named Prince of Wales Island when it was occupied by the British Ea ...
. The original river mouth also served as a resting place for traders arriving via the
Penang Strait
The Penang Strait is an 11 kilometre-wide strait that separates Penang Island from mainland Malay Peninsula. Penang Island is to the west of the channel, while Seberang Perai, the mainland half of the State of Penang, is to the east. The norther ...
.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the development of heavy industries around
Jelutong
Jelutong is a suburb of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. Located south of the Pinang River, Jelutong has been inhabited since as early as the late 18th century, when traders from Aceh and India settled around the area.
It was once notorious ...
, south of the Pinang River, caused extensive pollution of the river, which lasts to this day.
The factories in
Jelutong
Jelutong is a suburb of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. Located south of the Pinang River, Jelutong has been inhabited since as early as the late 18th century, when traders from Aceh and India settled around the area.
It was once notorious ...
depended on the river for fresh water, whilst simultaneously using the river for waste disposal. Haphazard disposal of domestic and animal husbandry waste into the river has exacerbated the problem. As of 2000, the river was classed under Class V of the National Water Quality Standards, the lowest in the index, indicating severe pollution and the river's inability to support living organisms.
Since 2008, the
Penang state government
The Government of Penang ( ms, Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang) refers to the government authority of the Malaysian state of Penang. The state government adheres to and is created by both the Constitution of Malaysia, the supreme law of Malaysia, an ...
has ramped up efforts to clean up and deepen the Pinang River. The aim is two-fold: to improve the river's water quality to Class II of the National Water Quality Standards, and to mitigate the perennial flash floods that threaten the low-lying neighbourhoods along the river.
Due to the ongoing clean-up efforts that included the installation of rubbish traps and desilting works, it was reported that, as of 2016, the water quality of nearly 60% of the Pinang River was at Class II.
See also
*
List of rivers of Malaysia
This is an incomplete list of rivers that are at least partially in Malaysia. The rivers are grouped by strait or sea. The rivers flowing into the sea are sorted along the coast. Rivers flowing into other rivers are listed by the rivers they flow ...
References
{{Geography of Penang
Rivers of Penang
Rivers of George Town, Penang
Landforms of Penang
Rivers of Malaysia