Seberang Perai is a

city A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...

in the

Malaysian state The states and federal territories of Malaysia are the principal administrative divisions of Malaysia. Malaysia is a federation of 13 states (''Negeri'') and 3 federal territories (''Wilayah Persekutuan''). States and federal territories Ele ...

of Penang. It is situated on the Malay Peninsula opposite

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 ...

, bordering

Kedah Kedah (), also known by its honorific Darul Aman and historically as Queda, is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km2, and it consists of the mainland ...

to the north and east and Perak to the south. Its city centre is located in Butterworth, while its

local authority Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of public administration within a particular sovereign state. This particular usage of the word government refers specifically to a level of administration that is both geographically-loca ...

, the

Seberang Perai City Council The Seberang Perai City Council is the city council which administers Seberang Perai, the mainland half of the Malaysian state of Penang. This agency is under the purview of the Penang state government. Established in 1976, Seberang Perai City C ...

, is centred near

Bukit Mertajam Bukit Mertajam ( Jawi:بوكيت مرتاجم) is the administrative centre of the city of Seberang Perai in Penang, Malaysia. It also serves as the seat of the Central Seberang Perai District. , Bukit Mertajam (core) contains a total of 13, ...

. , Seberang Perai had a population of 815,767, making it the second most populous city in

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 ...

. Originally a part of

, the territory containing the present-day city was ceded to the

British East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and South ...

in 1800. The British acquired Province Wellesley, as they subsequently named it, to provide more agricultural land and as a defensive bulwark against any cross-strait invasion of Penang Island from the mainland. Since then, it has become part of Penang, which was made a

British crown colony A Crown colony or royal colony was a colony administered by The Crown within the British Empire. There was usually a Governor, appointed by the British monarch on the advice of the UK Government, with or without the assistance of a local Council ...

in 1867. Seberang Perai has witnessed substantial economic development in the decades after Malaya's independence. Massive industrial estates have been established within Seberang Perai, while the relocation of the

Port of Penang The Port of Penang is a deepwater seaport within the Malaysian state of Penang. It consists of terminals along the Penang Strait, including five in Seberang Perai and one in George Town. The Port of Penang was the third busiest harbour in Malaysia ...

's core operations to Butterworth in 1974 has also boosted the city's economy. Improvements in connectivity and transportation were facilitated by several major projects, such as the constructions of the North–South Expressway, the

Penang Bridge The Penang Bridge is a dual carriageway toll bridge and controlled-access highway in the state of Penang, Malaysia. The bridge connects Perai on the mainland side of the state with Gelugor on the island, crossing the Penang Strait. The bri ...

and the Second Penang Bridge. Today, Seberang Perai forms part of Greater Penang, the second largest conurbation in Malaysia.

Etymology

Seberang Perai was originally named Province Wellesley after Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley, who served as the Governor of Madras and Governor-General of Bengal between 1797 and 1805. The term 'Seberang Perai' was believed to be derived from a local phrase used to refer to the northern banks of the

Perai River The Perai River ( ms, Sungai Perai; ; ta, பிறை நதி) is a major river in Penang, Malaysia. It also acts as the mother river of Butterworth, and it separates Perai and the Seberang Jaya suburb. See also * List of rivers of Malaysia ...

. The name of

Perai Perai is an urban settlement in the city of Seberang Perai, Penang, Malaysia. It lies at the southern bank of the Perai River and borders Butterworth to the north. Perai gave its name to the city of Seberang Perai, the mainland half of the Stat ...

originated from the Thai word, ''plāi'' ( th, ปลาย), which meant the end. When ''Province Wellesley'' was acquired by the

in 1800, the

served as the original boundary between British ''Province Wellesley'' and the Siamese-influenced

to the north. Hence, the locals called the northern banks of the river Seberang Perai, in reference to the Siamese territory across the river.

History

Early history

Earliest records of the history of Seberang Perai can be traced back to the prehistoric times with evidence of human settlement in Guar Kepah to the south of the

Muda River The Muda River ( ms, Sungai Muda) is the longest river in Kedah, Malaysia. Course Sourced in Ulu Muda Forest in Sik region in northeastern Kedah, along the border with Thailand, the river provides water supply to the states of Kedah and Penang. ...

about 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. Seberang Perai is located between two main important archaeological sites,

Bujang Valley The Bujang Valley ( ms, Lembah Bujang) is a sprawling historical complex and has an area of approximately situated near Merbok, Kedah, between Gunung Jerai in the north and Muda River in the south. It is the richest archaeological area in Ma ...

and Sungai Selinsing. Human remains, seashells and other artefacts have been found at the site, indicating the settlement of the area during the Neolithic era. Seberang Perai was also part of the

civilisation. The

Cherok Tok Kun Cherok Tokun, sometimes spelt as Cherok To' Kun or Cherok Tok Kun, is a small town in Penang, Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territor ...

megalith A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a prehistoric structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. There are over 35,000 in Europe alone, located widely from Sweden to the Mediterranean sea. The ...

, discovered in 1845, contains

Pali Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pāli Canon'' or '' Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of '' Theravāda'' Buddh ...

inscriptions, implying that an early

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

political entity in what is now

had established control over parts of Seberang Perai sometime between the 5th and 6th centuries. Henceforth, for much of Seberang Perai's history, the area formed part of

. It was only with the advent of

British colonialism The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts est ...

in the 18th century that the modern history of Seberang Perai would begin.

British acquisitions

In 1786,

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 ...

of the

had landed on

, which at the time was also part of

. After brokering an agreement with the then Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdullah Mukarram Shah, regarding the cession of

to the

Light Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that can be perceived by the human eye. Visible light is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400–700 nanometres (nm), corresponding to frequencies of 750–420 te ...

returned to the island on 11 August that year and claimed it "''in the name of His Britannic Majesty,

King George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of the two kingdoms on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Br ...

"''. However, the

was slow to realise the importance of the

hinterland Hinterland is a German word meaning "the land behind" (a city, a port, or similar). Its use in English was first documented by the geographer George Chisholm in his ''Handbook of Commercial Geography'' (1888). Originally the term was associated ...

across 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 ...

from

(then named the ''Prince of Wales Island''). Merchant vessels traversing the

were often threatened by pirates originating from the

. In addition,

was being invaded by

Siam Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

and Sultan Abdullah, disgruntled by the lack of military aid as promised by

, assembled his army in Seberang Perai in 1790 to retake the ''Prince of Wales Island''. The planned amphibious assault was thwarted by the

, which launched night attacks on

's forts. On 7 July 1800, the first Lieutenant-Governor of the ''Prince of Wales Island'', Sir George Leith, gained a strip of Seberang Perai from the new Sultan of Kedah, Dziaddin Mukarram Shah II. The treaty, negotiated by Leith's First Assistant

George Caunter George Caunter (c. June 1758 – 25 December 1811) was a British administrator who governed Prince of Wales Island (Penang Island) as Acting Superintendent from 1797 to 1798 and again from 1798 to 1800. As First Assistant under Lieutenant-Gove ...

, superseded Light's earlier agreement and gave the British permanent sovereignty over both Prince of Wales Island and the newly ceded mainland territory, which in subsequent years was named ''Province Wellesley''. The acquired land included a five-kilometre stretch of coastline south of the

, which became the international border between ''Province Wellesley'' and

. At the time, ''Province Wellesley'' was heavily forested and sparsely populated, with a total population of only 5,000. ''Province Wellesley'' was subsequently expanded thrice. Following the Siamese conquest of Kedah in 1821, the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

and the Siamese agreed in 1831 to demarcate the southernmost Siamese border with ''Province Wellesley'' along the

; the

in effect enlarged ''Province Wellesley'' to include the area between the

to the north and the

to the south. Province Wellesley's eastern boundaries with

was also delineated following another treaty in 1859. The final change to Penang's boundaries was made in 1874 following the

Pangkor Treaty The Pangkor Treaty of 1874 was a treaty signed between Great Britain and the Sultan of Perak on 20 January 1874, on the Colonial Steamer Pluto, off the coast of Perak. The treaty is significant in the history of the Malay states as it legitimi ...

between the

British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts e ...

and Perak, which included a clause on the demarcation of the ''Province Wellesley''- Perak border south of the

Kerian River The Kerian River ( ms, Sungai Kerian), alternately ''Krian'', is a river in the northern part of the Malaysian state of Perak. The river originates from the Bintang Range. It flows westerly and discharges into the Strait of Malacca. The main tr ...

. Penang's borders have remained unchanged since then.

British rule

Ever since the

acquisition of Province Wellesley in 1800, the strip of hinterland has been part of the Settlement (and now the State) of Penang.Mahani Musa, 2011. ''Sejarah Awal Pulau Pinang'', p. 5-61. USM Penang. The acquisition of Province Wellesley gave the

full control of the

, as well as an agricultural

and a buffer zone to protect the ''Prince of Wales Island'' from any cross-strait military invasion. it also allowed the

to suppress the pirates at the mouth of the

. In 1826, both ''Province Wellesley'' and the '' Prince of Wales Island'', along with

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...

and Malacca, were amalgamated into the Straits Settlements, with George Town on the island made as the capital. However, the capital of the Straits Settlements was then relocated to

in 1832. The Straits Settlements was later made a

under the direct governance of the

Colonial Office The Colonial Office was a government department of the Kingdom of Great Britain and later of the United Kingdom, first created to deal with the colonial affairs of British North America but required also to oversee the increasing number of c ...

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

in 1867. As a

, ''Province Wellesley'' was administered by a district officer directly under the Lieutenant-Governor (later Resident Councillor) of Penang, who in turn was subordinate to the

Governor of the Straits Settlements The governor of the Straits Settlements was appointed by the British East India Company until 1867, when the Straits Settlements became a Crown colony. Thereafter the governor was appointed by the Colonial Office. The position existed from 1826 ...

based in

. Meanwhile, ''Province Wellesley'' continued to witness continuing growth under the

. With its population increasing due to the influx of Malay refugees from Siamese-occupied

, ''Province Wellesley'' became the rice bowl of Penang. Other than

rice Rice is the seed of the grass species '' Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima'' (African rice). The name wild rice is usually used for species of the genera '' Zizania'' and '' Porteresia'', both wild and domesticat ...

and vegetables, other cash crops, such as sugar, coconut and tapioca, were also cultivated in ''Province Wellesley''. Due to the abundance of land in ''Province Wellesley'', it became the only area in Penang where rubber and palm oil estates were established as well. Other than agriculture, ''Province Wellesley'' also began to serve as Penang's transportation hub, a role it continues to play to this day. Butterworth, directly opposite George Town across the

, was developed in the mid-19th century to serve Penang's logistical needs. Ferry services were established between Butterworth and George Town towards the end of the 19th century; these became the predecessor to the present-day

Rapid Ferry The Penang Ferry Service is the oldest ferry service within the State of Penang, Malaysia, connecting the city of George Town on Penang Island and Butterworth on the mainland. This cross-strait transit has been operational since 1894, making ...

. When the pan-Malayan railway was extended into ''Province Wellesley'' in the 1900s, both Butterworth and

further inland also became important rail termini, leading to the construction of the Butterworth and

train stations. The growth of Butterworth and

also convinced the British colonial authorities to establish and regulate local governments in ''Province Wellesley''. In 1913, four local boards were set up within Province Wellesley - three rural district boards for the Northern, Central and Southern districts, as well as the Butterworth Town Board. These local boards were upgraded into local councils in 1952; the

Town Council was also established in the following year.

World War II

During the early days of the

Japanese invasion of Malaya The Malayan campaign, referred to by Japanese sources as the , was a military campaign fought by Allied and Axis forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 15 February 1942 during the Second World War. It was dominated by land battles betwee ...

in December 1941, the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...

and the

Royal Australian Air Force "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...

units stationed at

RAF Butterworth Butterworth may refer to: Places * Butterworth (ancient township), a former township centred on Milnrow, in the then Parish of Rochdale, England, United Kingdom * Butterworth, Eastern Cape, now also known as Gcuwa, a town located in South Africa ...

struggled to counter Japanese air raids over Penang and took heavy casualties. With

itself heavily damaged, these Allied units had to withdraw southwards by 15 December. The

Imperial Japanese Army The was the official ground-based armed force of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945. It was controlled by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and the Ministry of the Army, both of which were nominally subordinate to the Emperor o ...

subsequently invaded ''Province Wellesley'' from the north, with the 25th Army capturing

on 20 December 1941. As with

, the period of Japanese occupation brought much hardship to civilians in ''Province Wellesley''; especially notorious was the

Sook Ching Sook Ching was a mass killing that occurred from 18 February to 4 March 1942 in Singapore after it fell to the Japanese. It was a systematic purge and massacre of 'anti-Japanese' elements in Singapore, with the Singaporean Chinese particula ...

massacres implemented against the Chinese populace. ''Province Wellesley'' was liberated by the

in September 1945 and was placed under

military administration Military administration identifies both the techniques and systems used by military departments, agencies, and armed services involved in managing the armed forces. It describes the processes that take place within military organisations outsid ...

for one year.

Post-war era

In 1946, the Straits Settlements was abolished, and the now separate

Crown Colony of Penang The Crown Colony of Penang was a British crown colony from 1946 to 1957. It came under British sovereignty after being ceded by the Sultanate of Kedah in 1786, and had been part of the Straits Settlements from 1826 to 1946. Together with Singap ...

was to be merged into the Malayan Union. The Malayan Union was subsequently replaced by the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and full independence was granted in 1957. After Malaya gained independence in 1957, ''Province Wellesley'' was renamed Seberang Perai. The Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam

town council A town council, city council or municipal council is a form of local government for small municipalities. Usage of the term varies under different jurisdictions. Republic of Ireland Town Councils in the Republic of Ireland were the second t ...

s were merged into the surrounding rural district councils in 1961, and between 1973 and 1976, the remaining three rural district councils were amalgamated into the

Seberang Perai Municipal Council The Seberang Perai City Council is the city council which administers Seberang Perai, the mainland half of the Malaysian state of Penang. This agency is under the purview of the Penang state government. Established in 1976, Seberang Perai City Cou ...

. On 16 September 2019, Malaysia Day, Seberang Perai became a full city of its own. Following this latest amalgamation of the local councils, all of Seberang Perai are administered under a single local government, making the Seberang Perai City Council the biggest

local government in Malaysia The local government in Malaysia is the lowest tier of government in Malaysia administered under the states and federal territories which in turn are beneath the federal tier. Local governments are generally under the exclusive purview of the s ...

in terms of land size. In the decades that followed, 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 ...

opened massive industrial estates in Seberang Perai, such as in

, Mak Mandin,

and

Nibong Tebal Nibong Tebal ( Jawi: نيبوڠ تبل) is one of the major towns of the city of Seberang Perai, Penang, Malaysia. Located at the northern bank of the Kerian River in South Seberang Perai District, it is the southernmost populated place of Pen ...

. In addition, the

, which had been located in George Town, was shifted to Butterworth in 1974. The completion of the North-South Expressway, the

and the Second Penang Bridge by the Malaysian federal government, along with several state-built expressways such as the

Butterworth Outer Ring Road Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR) ( Malay: ''Lebuhraya Lingkaran Luar Butterworth'') is a coastal expressway located in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. This expressway connects Sungai Dua in the north until Perai in the south. Route background T ...

, has improved connectivity between the towns in Seberang Perai and with

. These developments have boosted the economy of Seberang Perai and led to the rapid urbanisation of the city and its townships. These have also been complemented by the growth of new residential townships, such as

Seberang Jaya Seberang Jaya ( Jawi: سبرڠ جاي) is a suburb in the city of Seberang Perai, Penang, Malaysia. Located at the southern bank of the Perai River and east of Perai proper, the area was developed in the 1970s. Since then, Seberang Jaya has evolved ...

and Juru. In recent years,

Batu Kawan Batu Kawan ( Jawi: باتو كاون) is an island in the city of Seberang Perai, Penang, Malaysia. It is geographically separated from the rest of Seberang Perai by the Jawi and Tengah rivers. , Batu Kawan contained a population of 5,537. Long ...

, where the mainland end of the Second Penang Bridge is located, has emerged as a new growth centre, spurred by a number of major projects and millions of investment funds being poured into the town.

Geography

Seberang Perai refers to the mainland portion of the State of Penang. It is physically separated from

to the west by the

. To its north, the

forms the Penang-

border, while a short section of the

marks the southern boundary between Penang and

. The Penang- Perak border also runs to the west of the Penang-

- Perak border tripoint in the

With a land area of , Seberang Perai is nearly 2.6 times the size of

and slightly larger than the total landmass of the Republic of Singapore. Seberang Perai is mostly flat. Its highest peak is

Hill, looming over the eponymous town of

at above sea level. The hill is considered a prominent landmark, as it can be seen from

; conversely, one can view

from its peak. The rivers and coastline of Seberang Perai are lined with mangrove swamps. Examples of the mangrove forests include the mouth of the

and the

basin.

Outlying islets

Two offshore

islet An islet is a very small, often unnamed island. Most definitions are not precise, but some suggest that an islet has little or no vegetation and cannot support human habitation. It may be made of rock, sand and/or hard coral; may be permanen ...

Aman Aman may refer to:Poli People First names * Aman Hambleton (born 1992), Canadian chess grandmaster * Aman Hayer (born 1979), Bhangra musician * Aman Verma (actor) (born 1971), Indian actor Surnames * Mohammed Aman (born 1994), Ethiopian mi ...

and Gedung islands, are situated off the southern coast of Seberang Perai, within the

South Seberang Perai District The South Seberang Perai District ( ms, Daerah Seberang Perai Selatan; abbreviated "SPS") is a district in Penang, Malaysia. It covers an area of 242 square kilometres, and had a population of 162,905 at the 2010 Census. The district is bordered b ...

. Of the two

s, only

Aman Island Aman Island is an islet in South Seberang Perai District, Penang, Malaysia, located off the coast of Seberang Perai. Known as the "Island of Peace", it is a home to a traditional Malay village. Places of interest in Aman Island include Jalan T ...

is sparsely populated.

Urban and suburban areas

The largest settlement of Seberang Perai is Butterworth, approximately east of George Town, Penang's capital city. Other major places in Seberang Perai include

, Simpang Ampat,

and

Drainage system

The major rivers in Seberang Perai include the

and

. Of all the rivers in Seberang Perai, the

, which forms the northern border with

, is arguably the most vital; Penang obtains up to 80% of its water supply from this river alone. Thus, illegal logging activities that have been carried out upstream in

have periodically generated concerns about Penang's water supply.

Climate

Like the rest of

, Seberang Perai has a

tropical rainforest climate A tropical rainforest climate, humid tropical climate or equatorial climate is a tropical climate sub-type usually found within 10 to 15 degrees latitude of the equator. There are some other areas at higher latitudes, such as the coast of southea ...

under the

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...

(''Af''), although it also borders on a tropical monsoon climate. Seberang Perai does experience slightly drier conditions between December and February of the following year. It sees on average around of precipitation annually with the lowest being in February while the highest was around between August and October. Penang's proximity to the island of Sumatra,

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

makes it susceptible to dust particles carried by wind from the perennial but transient forest fires, creating a yearly phenomenon known as the

Southeast Asian haze The Southeast Asian haze is a fire-related recurrent transboundary air pollution issue. Haze events, where air quality reaches hazardous levels due to high concentrations of airborne particulate matter from burning biomass, have caused adv ...

. The haze season typically occurs between July and October. Weather forecasts for Seberang Perai is served by the

Bayan Lepas Bayan Lepas is a town in the Malaysian state of Penang. It is located within the Southwest Penang Island District, near the southeastern tip of Penang Island. Founded in the 19th century, Bayan Lepas has various industries. History Bayan Le ...

Regional Meteorological Office on

, which acts as the primary weather forecast facility for northern

Peninsular Malaysia Peninsular Malaysia ( ms, Semenanjung Malaysia; Jawi: سمننجڠ مليسيا), or the States of Malaya ( ms, Negeri-negeri Tanah Melayu; Jawi: نڬري-نڬري تانه ملايو), also known as West Malaysia or the Malaysian Peninsula, ...

Government and politics

Local government

Local administration of Seberang Perai is under the purview of the

, an agency of the

. Headquartered near

, the

city council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...

is responsible for urban planning, heritage preservation, public health, sanitation, waste management, traffic management, environmental protection, building control, social and economic development, and general maintenance of urban infrastructure. The Mayor is appointed by the Penang state government for two years, while each of the 24 councillors is appointed for a one-year term. The current President of the Seberang Perai City Council is Rozali Mohamud, who took office in 2017.

Districts

Seberang Perai is also divided into three administrative districts - North, Central and South. Each district contains a lands and district office headed by a district officer. The lands and district office deals with land administration and revenue; thus it differs from the city council, which oversees the provision and maintenance of urban infrastructure.

State and federal constituencies

For the unicameral

Penang State Legislative Assembly The Penang State Legislative Assembly is the legislature of the Malaysian state of Penang. It is a unicameral institution, consisting of a total of 40 elected lawmakers representing single-member constituencies throughout Penang. The state legi ...

, Seberang Perai is divided into 21 state constituencies, more than half of the 40 seats in the entire state. The State Assemblymen are elected into office via Penang-level election, which by convention is held simultaneously with the Malaysian General Election every five years. Penang Island is also represented by seven Members of Parliament in the

Parliament of Malaysia The Parliament of Malaysia ( ms, Parlimen Malaysia) is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives, lit. "People's Assembly") and the D ...

. The Members of Parliament are elected via the Malaysian General Election, which is held every five years. The current State Assemblymen and Members of Parliament for Seberang Perai are as listed below.

Judiciary

There are three Magistrates Courts within Seberang Perai, one each for every district. The Butterworth Magistrates Court has jurisdiction for the Northern District, the Bukit Mertajam Magistrates Court over the Central District and the Jawi Magistrates Court handles cases within the Southern District.

Demographics

, Seberang Perai was populated by 818,197 residents, making it the second most populous

local government Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of public administration within a particular sovereign state. This particular usage of the word government refers specifically to a level of administration that is both geographically-l ...

area in

after the federal capital city,

Kuala Lumpur , anthem = ''Maju dan Sejahtera'' , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Malaysia#Southeast Asia#Asia , pushpin_map_caption = , coordinates = , sub ...

. This also meant that, by 2010, Seberang Perai was home to over 53.6% of Penang's population, slightly outnumbering the population of

, Malaysia's second largest city. The population of Seberang Perai was estimated to have increased to 891,300 by 2013. Most of Seberang Perai's population is concentrated within the Central District, while the Southern District is least populated. This is due to the recent urbanisation of the more industrialised Central District, which includes

Bukit Tengah Bukit Tengah is an industrial area in Central Seberang Perai District, Penang, Malaysia. This town is situated very close to the North–South Expressway. It is named after Kampung Bukit Tengah which is located next to the Mercedes-Benz automob ...

and Bukit Minyak, and the

district A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municipa ...

's greater economic activity. On the other hand, the ongoing development of the Southern District, specifically around

, has led to its more rapid population growth rate compared to the Northern and Central districts.

Ethnicities

ethnic Malays Malays ( ms, Orang Melayu, Jawi: أورڠ ملايو) are an Austronesian ethnic group native to eastern Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula and coastal Borneo, as well as the smaller islands that lie between these locations — areas that are col ...

constituted nearly 49% of Seberang Perai's population, with most Malays being concentrated in the Northern District. The

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...

made up 34% of the population; while most reside within the Central District, the Southern District has a larger proportion of

ethnic Chinese The Chinese people or simply Chinese, are people or ethnic groups identified with China, usually through ethnicity, nationality, citizenship, or other affiliation. Chinese people are known as Zhongguoren () or as Huaren () by speakers of s ...

. Another 10.5% of Seberang Perai's population comprised ethnic Indians, the third largest ethnic community.

Economy

While the economy of Seberang Perai has traditionally been driven by agriculture, since the mid-20th century, the city has become heavily industrialised. The first industrial estate was established in Mak Mandin, near Butterworth, in the 1950s under the leadership of the then

Chief Minister of Penang The Chief Minister of Penang is the head of government in the Malaysian state of Penang. According to convention, the chief minister is the leader of the majority party or largest coalition party of the Penang State Legislative Assembly. The chi ...

, Wong Pow Nee. The relocation of the

to Butterworth in 1974 and the completion of several expressways have also boosted the growth of manufacturing as one of the economic mainstays of Seberang Perai, by facilitating the ease of transportation of goods and services. The resulting rapid urbanisation of Seberang Perai has fueled the city's housing market; in particular, the Central District has benefited the most in terms of newly built housing units due to its greater industrial activity and the location of the

's terminus within the said

. In recent years,

, within the Southern District, has witnessed massive transformation, with an industrial park, an international technology hub and several other mixed-development projects being planned for the town.

Manufacturing

The main industrial zones within Seberang Perai are located in Mak Mandin,

and

. There has been a higher concentration of manufacturing activities within the Central District, which encompasses

and

, making it the most industrialised district within Seberang Perai. In particular, several multinational corporations and Malaysian manufacturing giants, including

Honeywell Aerospace Honeywell Aerospace is a manufacturer of aircraft engines and avionics, as well as a producer of auxiliary power units (APUs) and other aviation products. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, it is a division of the Honeywell International conglom ...

Sony , commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professiona ...

Mattel Mattel, Inc. ( ) is an American multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment company founded in January 1945 and headquartered in El Segundo, California. The company has presence in 35 countries and territories and sells products in more ...

Pensonic Pensonic Holdings Berhad (stylized as PENSONIC) () founded by Dato Chew Weng Khak () is a company that started business as a small shop in Penang selling electrical appliances trading under the name of ''Keat Radio Co.'' in 1965 as a sole proprie ...

Chevron Chevron (often relating to V-shaped patterns) may refer to: Science and technology * Chevron (aerospace), sawtooth patterns on some jet engines * Chevron (anatomy), a bone * '' Eulithis testata'', a moth * Chevron (geology), a fold in rock ...

and Malayawata Steel are based in

, due to its proximity to the

. Smaller industries, such as foodstuff and textiles, are concentrated in inland areas like Mak Mandin and

, while

near

has a significant engineering industry that includes international names like

Blaupunkt Blaupunkt GmbH () was a German manufacturer of mostly car audio equipment. It was owned by Robert Bosch GmbH from 1933 until 1 March 2009, when it was sold to Aurelius AG of Germany. It filed for bankruptcy in late 2015 with liquidation proceed ...

and Schlumberger. The

Industrial Park is another upcoming manufacturing zone, attracting multinational companies such as VAT,

Bose Corporation Bose Corporation () is an American manufacturing company that predominantly sells audio equipment. The company was established by Amar Bose in 1964 and is based in Framingham, Massachusetts. It is best known for its home audio systems and spea ...

Boston Scientific Boston Scientific Corporation ("BSC"), incorporated in Delaware, is a biomedical/biotechnology engineering firm and multinational manufacturer of medical devices used in interventional medical specialties, including interventional radiology, i ...

and Robert Bosch GmbH.

Entrepôt trade

The

was relocated from George Town to Butterworth in 1974, in order to expand its container and cargo services. To date, the

operates six cargo and container terminals around Butterworth. This has led to the manufacturing boom in Seberang Perai, as the

has facilitated the ease of export from the factories in

. The

handled more than 1.44 million TEUs of cargo in 2016, making it the third busiest seaport in

. The

Port A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as H ...

's strategic location allowed it to service not just northern

, but also southern

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

Agriculture

In terms of land usage, agriculture remains the dominant economic sector in Seberang Perai, with about of land being utilised for agricultural purposes in both the Northern and Southern districts. Seberang Perai has historically served as an agricultural rice bowl for Penang, as the inherent lack of land on

necessitated the choice of the mainland for plantations and paddy fields. In addition,

was once well known as a production centre for

rubber Rubber, also called India rubber, latex, Amazonian rubber, ''caucho'', or ''caoutchouc'', as initially produced, consists of polymers of the organic compound isoprene, with minor impurities of other organic compounds. Thailand, Malaysia, an ...

, cloves and

nutmeg Nutmeg is the seed or ground spice of several species of the genus ''Myristica''. ''Myristica fragrans'' (fragrant nutmeg or true nutmeg) is a dark-leaved evergreen tree cultivated for two spices derived from its fruit: nutmeg, from its seed, an ...

s. However, within the State of Penang, the agricultural sector has been declining. This sector has contributed a mere 2.2% of Penang's

GDP Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced and sold (not resold) in a specific time period by countries. Due to its complex and subjective nature this measure is ofte ...

, while only 2.7% of Penang's workforce was employed in agriculture-related occupations in the fourth quarter of that year.

Services

Seberang Perai has also witnessed a growing services sector; while the city is not as well known as

as a tourist destination of choice, it does have a developing retail scene. Eco-tourism is another sub-sector that has been recently promoted within Seberang Perai, taking advantage of the mangrove forests. More recently,

has emerged as a potential growth centre for technological services and the shared services outsourcing sub-sector, with the Penang International Technology Park in the works. Design Village, Batu Kawan, Penang

Retail

At the time of writing, among the major shopping malls within Seberang Perai are Megamal Pinang in

, Sunway Carnival Mall in

and The Summit Bukit Mertajam Plaza in

. , another shopping mall, GEM Mall in Butterworth, is under construction; it has been touted as the largest shopping mall in northern

. In 2016, Design Village,

's largest

outlet mall An outlet store, factory outlet or factory shop is a brick and mortar or online store in which manufacturers sell their stock directly to the public. Traditionally, a factory outlet was a store attached to a factory or warehouse, sometimes allowin ...

, was opened in

, offering various international fashion and accessory brands such as Gap,

Pierre Cardin Pierre Cardin (, , ), born Pietro Costante Cardino (2 July 1922 – 29 December 2020), was an Italian-born naturalised-French fashion designer. He is known for what were his avant-garde style and Space Age designs. He preferred geometric sha ...

Padini Padini Holdings Berhad () is a Malaysia-based investment holding company. The company sells both men's and ladies’ shoes and accessories, garments, ancillary products, children’s garments, maternity wear and accessories through various subsidi ...

, Adidas and Levi's. Spanning a total area of , Design Village is also the first

in northern

. Another famous component of Seberang Perai's retail sub-sector is Juru's Auto-City. An entertainment and retail precinct in Juru, it not only contains several automobile showrooms, but also a varied assortment of retail outlets, eateries and other services. Some of the international names at Juru Auto-City include

Audi Audi AG () is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. As a subsidiary of its parent company, the Volkswagen Group, Audi produces vehicles in nine production facilities worldwide. Th ...

, Ferrari, Fiat, Porsche,

Nando's Nando's (; ) is a South African multinational fast casual chain that specialises in flame-grilled peri-peri style chicken. Founded in Johannesburg in 1987, Nando's operates over 1,200 outlets in 30 countries. Their logo (also seen as a sort of ...

, Starbucks, Secret Recipe and Subway. In 2016, IKEA, the world's largest furniture retailer, announced that it will open a store in

by 2018, making it the first IKEA outlet in northern

Transport

Since the latter half of the 20th century, several infrastructural projects have been completed in Seberang Perai, boosting the city's connectivity with

, as well as the rest of

. Seberang Perai is connected to

via a ferry service, the

and the Second Penang Bridge, the latter of which is the longest bridge in

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainlan ...

. The feasibility of more cross-strait links are being explored at the time of writing.

's North–South Expressway, part of

Asian Highway 2 Asian Highway 2 (AH2) is a road in the Asian Highway Network running from Denpasar, Indonesia to Merak and Singapore to Khosravi, Iran. The route is connected to M10 of the Arab Mashreq International Road Network. The route is as follows: ...

, runs through Seberang Perai, as is Penang's sole section of inter-state rail track operated by the

Malayan Railway Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) (Jawi: كريتاڤي تانه ملايو برحد) or Malayan Railways Limited is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The railway system dates back to the British colonial era, when it was firs ...

Land

North-South Highway in Butterworth, Penang

The North-South Expressway is the main highway that runs across the more developed western

; the expressway forms part of

, as it is connected to

Phet Kasem Road Phet Kasem Road (, , )ราชบัณฑิตยสถาน. ''อ่านอย่างไร และ เขียนอย่างไร ฉบับราชบัณฑิตยสถาน.'' พิมพ์ครั้งที่ ...

at its northern end and the Singapore Causeway at its southern end. This expressway runs through Seberang Perai, thus connecting major areas, such as Butterworth,

, Juru,

and

, with other cities and towns along western

, southern

and

. Other major roads and expressways within Seberang Perai include the

(BORR) and the Butterworth–Seberang Jaya Toll Road. The BORR was constructed in the 2000s to alleviate traffic congestion along the North–South Expressway, providing drivers from Butterworth with an alternative route to

to the south. The

Prai River Bridge Perai River Bridge (''Jambatan Sungai Perai'' in Malay) is a dual-three lane cable stayed bridge connecting the banks of the Perai River in Perai, Penang, Malaysia. It is part of the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR). Designed by Dar Al-Handas ...

was also built for this purpose, traversing the

that separates Butterworth and

. In addition, the BORR is linked to the Butterworth–Seberang Jaya Toll Road, which was completed in 2007. Cmglee Penang second bridge aerial

Aside from roads and expressways, rail transportation has historically played a vital role in Seberang Perai's economy. The first railway tracks were laid in the 1900s, connecting the area with the rest of Malaya for the first time, and facilitating the transportation of agricultural and mining commodities for export via the

. Today, about of rail track stretches within Seberang Perai as part of the

's West Coast Route. Out of the six train stations in Seberang Perai, the two major stations are in Butterworth and

, with the former offering services by both the

and the State Railway of Thailand; the Butterworth rail station is also one of the major stops of the

Eastern and Oriental Express The Eastern & Oriental Express is a luxury train that carries passengers between Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. It runs between Singapore's Woodlands Train Checkpoint and Bangkok, stopping at Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth, and Kanchanaburi, t ...

between

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populati ...

and

. Domestically, the

runs the inter-state

Electric Train Service The KTM ETS (commercially known as ETS, short for 'Electric Train Service') is an inter-city rail passenger service operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) using electric multiple-unit (EMU) trains. The KTM ETS is the second electric train service ...

along much of its West Coast Route, allowing train commuters from Penang to travel to

Kuala Lumpur , anthem = ''Maju dan Sejahtera'' , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Malaysia#Southeast Asia#Asia , pushpin_map_caption = , coordinates = , sub ...

in as little as four hours. Penang Sentral, Butterworth

The two bridges that connect Seberang Perai with

are the

and the Second Penang Bridge. The

links

and

Gelugor Gelugor is a southern suburb of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. Named after a plant species, Gelugor lies along the eastern seaboard of Penang Island, between Jelutong and Sungai Dua, and nearly south of the city centre. Gelugor had been ...

, a southern suburb of Penang's capital city, George Town, and was completed in 1985. At the time of its opening, the bridge was the longest in

. In 2013, it was superseded by the -long Second Penang Bridge to the south, which runs between

and

Batu Maung Batu Maung is a residential neighbourhood in the Malaysian state of Penang. It is located within the Southwest Penang Island District, near the southeastern tip of Penang Island, and adjacent to the town of Bayan Lepas and the Penang Internation ...

near the southeastern tip of

. A major transportation hub,

Penang Sentral Penang Sentral is an intermodal transit-oriented development in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. Proposed as the main transportation hub for the State of Penang, and by extension, Greater Penang, the first phase of the Penang Sentral project o ...

, is being constructed in Butterworth, and the first phase of the project, which consists of an inter-city bus terminal, is slated for completion in 2017.

is strategically located next to the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal and the Butterworth rail station. Overall, there are eight phases of the

project, which aims to integrate all bus, rail and ferry services under a single mixed complex that will also incorporate commercial, residential and retail elements, akin to

Kuala Lumpur Sentral Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station (KL Sentral) is a transit-oriented development that houses the main railway station of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Opened on 16 April 2001, KL Sentral replaced the old Kuala Lumpur railway station as the ...

Public transportation

The ground public transportation needs within Seberang Perai are currently being met by

Rapid Penang Rapid Penang (styled as ''rapidPenang'') is a public bus brand in the Penang, State of Penang, Malaysia. Formed as a subsidiary of Prasarana Malaysia in 2007, to date it is the main public transport operator within Penang; its bus network serves ...

, the primary public transit bus brand in Penang. At the time of writing, Rapid Penang operates 19

public transit Public transport (also known as public transportation, public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) is a system of transport for passengers by group travel systems available for use by the general public unlike private transport, typic ...

routes within Seberang Perai, three cross-strait BEST shuttle bus services towards

, and four interstate routes towards neighbouring

and Perak. Most public transit bus routes originate and terminate in Butterworth, linking it with other towns such as

and Simpang Ampat, while other routes operate specifically within each of the three districts of Seberang Perai. Other than

, the only other public transit bus operator is Cityliner, which handles a handful of routes within Seberang Perai as well.

Sea

BUTTERWORTH DOCKS MALAYSIA JAN 2012 (7014895773)

Currently the most vital harbour within northern

and one of the largest in the country, the

now operates the following facilities around Butterworth. * North Butterworth Container Terminal * Butterworth Wharves * Prai Wharves * Vegetable oil tanker pier * Bagan Dalam Dockyard * Prai Bulk Cargo Terminal The

handled more than 1.44 million TEU of cargo in 2010, the third largest cargo volume amongst seaports in

. The Port's strategic location enabled it to serve not just northern

, but also southern

, which links Butterworth and George Town, has been managed by

Prasarana Malaysia Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana) (English: Malaysian Infrastructure Limited) is a 100% government-owned company which was set up by Ministry of Finance (Malaysia) as a corporate body established under the Minister of Finance (Incorporation ...

since 2017. This cross-strait shuttle ferry service commenced operations in 1894, making it the oldest surviving ferry service in

. At present, six ferries ply the

between the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Butterworth and George Town daily.

Shopping

AEON The word aeon , also spelled eon (in American and Australian English), originally meant "life", "vital force" or "being", "generation" or "a period of time", though it tended to be translated as "age" in the sense of "ages", "forever", "timele ...

Mall Bukit Mertajam *

BiG Seberang Jaya *

BiG Bukit Minyak * Aspen Vision City * Sunway Carnival Mall * Megamal Pinang, Prai * Pearl City Mall * Design Village Outlet Mall * IKEA Batu Kawan, Penang *

Tesco Tesco plc () is a British multinational groceries and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Welwyn Garden City, England. In 2011 it was the third-largest retailer in the world measured by gross revenues and the ninth-largest in th ...

Extra Seberang Perai *

Kepala Batas * Tesco Bagan Ajam * Summit Bukit Mertajam Plaza * Billion Kota Permai * Billion Seberang Jaya * Econsave Jawi * Econsave Butterworth * Econsave Chain Ferry

Healthcare

Public hospitals * Seberang Jaya Hospital (main) * Bukit Mertajam Hospital * Sungai Bakap Hospital * Kepala Batas Hospital Private hospitals
KPJ Penang Specialist Hospital

Bagan Specialist Centre

Sports

* Batu Kawan Stadium * Penang Golf Resort * Jalan Betek MBSP Stadium

Education

There are several higher learning institutions located in Seberang Perai but the most prominent are Universiti Sains Malaysia Engineering Campus located in Nibong Tebal;

Universiti Teknologi MARA The MARA Technological University ( Malay: ''Universiti Teknologi MARA''; Jawi: اونيۏرسيتي تيكنولوڬي مارا; abbr. UiTM) is a public university based primarily in Shah Alam, Selangor. It was established to help rural Mala ...

(UiTM) with branches in Penang and Bertam; and Politeknik Seberang Perai (PSP). Both are situated in the town of

Permatang Pauh Permatang Pauh is a town in Central Seberang Perai District, Penang, Malaysia. There are two institutions of higher learning located in Permatang Pauh, namely a campus of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and Politeknik Seberang Perai at Bandar P ...

Tourism

Penang Bird Park in

boasts a collection of over 300 species of birds with enormous walk-in aviaries and is the first and largest bird park of its kind in Malaysia. Popular among bird enthusiasts, the park was built in a garden landscaping concept with natural ponds and a vast collection of flora and several other wildlife including mousedeer, giant alaipaima fish, phytons and monitor lizards. A popular recreational park among locals and outsiders alike, the Bukit Mertajam Recreational Forest in

is a tropical rain forest reserve sprawls over 37 hectares of hilly terrain including the Mertajam hill. The forest contains indigenous rain forest trees that could be over a hundred years old such as the Meranti Seraya (''Shorea curtisii'') and Meranti Rambai Daun (''Shorea acuminate''). For the adventurous hikers, there are numerous jungle trail branching out towards the peak and also accessible by jeep and cycling. Other activities include picnicking, swimming by the waterfall and camping. A small village of

Mengkuang Titi Mengkuang Titi is a small Malay village in Central Seberang Perai District, Penang, Malaysia. It is located not too far from the Mengkuang Dam. The village has a population of about 800, and still retains the rustic feel ideal for the developme ...

provides homestay programmes for foreign tourists which is the opportunity to live with the local Malay family while experiencing Malay culture and the laid-back lifestyle of rural living. Among the activities during the programme were fruit picking in the orchard, visiting a handicraft centre, Mengkuang-mat-weaving demonstration, a trip cottage industry factories (Malaysian Muffins), bedak sejuk (traditional beauty powder made from rice flour) and soy bean products), visiting the Mengkuang Dam vicinity and the Air Itam Dalam mangrove reserve, a cultural performance, a stroll through a rubber plantation and an oil palm plantation.

Bukit Tambun Bukit Tambun is a town, a suburb of Simpang Ampat in Penang, Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states ...

, a small tranquil fishing village located in the

South Seberang Perai The South Seberang Perai District ( ms, Daerah Seberang Perai Selatan; abbreviated "SPS") is a district in Penang, Malaysia. It covers an area of 242 square kilometres, and had a population of 162,905 at the 2010 Census. The district is bordered b ...

district, remains a seafood heaven for local and foreign tourists alike. It consists of seafood restaurants dotting along the river mouth with the dining area hovering over the water, serving local delicacies which are fresh daily catch from the sea.

Pulau Aman Aman Island is an islet in South Seberang Perai District, Penang, Malaysia, located off the coast of Seberang Perai. Known as the "Island of Peace", it is a home to a traditional Malay village. Places of interest in Aman Island include Jalan Te ...

is an island off-coast of

located at the south-east 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 ...

. It consists of a quaint Malay fishing village. The island is accessible to the public via ferry boat from the Batu Musang jetty in

. There is an old well, Telaga Emas (Golden Well) located right next to the sea. One of the highlights in the town of

include the firefly watching along the river of Sungai Krian. This can be done late in the evening by boat as visitors can have the opportunity to enjoy the dazzling display of fireflies in the mangrove swamp. In fact one of the major events in Seberang Perai is the St. Anne's Novena and Feast which is held end of July annually at the

St. Anne's Church, Bukit Mertajam ta, புனித அன்னாள் தேவாலயம் zh, 圣安纳圣殿 , native_name_lang = , image = Exterior View of St. Anne’s Minor Basilica (New Church).jpg , alt = , capti ...

which attract nearly over 100,000 pilgrims from all over the country and as far as neighbouring countries such as the Philippines, Russia, Singapore and Australia. Recently, the North Seberang Perai Local Plan 2020 Draft have developed several heritage trails, namely the Archeo-Tourism Trail, Heritage Trail and Beach Recreation Trail. The Archeo-Tourism Trail would cover an old fort at

Kota Kuala Muda Kota Kuala Muda is a small town in Kedah state, Malaysia. Near the town is Pantai Merdeka (Merdeka Beach). Kota Kuala Muda is also one of the sub-districts ( mukims) of Kuala Muda District The Kuala Muda District is a district in Kedah, Malay ...

, an archaeology complex in Sungai Emas, the Langkasuka ruins in Kota Aur, an early archaeology site in Guar Kepah, a candi (temple) in Permatang Pasir, the Merdeka Bridge-cum-fort in Bumbung Lima and a border cornerstone in Ekor Kucing. Besides that, The Heritage Trail would commence from the Butterworth railway station through the Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal, a traditional blacksmith shop in Permatang Benuan, the Capal Jago chapal maker's shop in Kepala Batas and terminates at the whispering market in the Kuala Muda fishing village. Aside from that, the Beach Recreation Trail would cover the Pantai Bersih beach, Bagan Ajam beach, Pantai Teluk Molek (Robina Park) beach, Teluk Air Tawar recreation park, Kuala Bekah beach, Pantai Penaga, Sungai Muda sanctuary park, Pantai Kamloon recreation park, Bertam Vision Park, Padang Cempedak recreation park and Air Hitam Dalam recreation park. Furthermore, the Central Seberang Perai Local Plan 2020 draft would include the upgrade of the Penang Bird Park, the

Expo, proposals of rural homestay project in Sama Gagah, Pematang Pasir and Kubang Semang, promoting education-based tourism with MICE facilities in Prai and eco-tourism in Mengkuang Dam and

Image Gallery

File:Bmcity.jpg, St. Anne's Church, Bukit Mertajam File:St Anne Bukit Mertajam.jpg, Old Shrine of St. Anne's Church, Bukit Mertajam File:Bukit Mertajam Recreational Forest.JPG, Bukit Mertajam Recreational Forest File:BUTTERWORTH TO GEORGETOWN FERRY PENANG ISLAND MALAYSIA JAN 2012 (6963801373).jpg, A

at the Sultan Abdul Halim Jetty in Butterworth. File:Temple b1.jpg, Tow Boo Kong Temple, Raja Uda, Butterworth File:Perai and Penang Bridge.jpg, Bird's eye view of Perai and Penang Bridge File:Batu Musang Jetty.JPG, Batu Musang Jetty where visitors can take a boat ride to

from Batu Kawan.

References

External links

Official website of Seberang Perai City Council in English
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