Batu Kawan | |
---|---|
Other transcription(s) | |
• Mandarin | 峇都交湾(Simplified) 峇都交灣(Traditional) |
• Tamil | பத்து காவான் |
Coordinates: 5°13′52.32″N100°26′38.97″E / 5.2312000°N 100.4441583°E | |
Country | Malaysia |
State | Penang |
City | Seberang Perai |
District | South Seberang Perai |
Government | |
• Local government | Seberang Perai City Council |
• Mayor of Seberang Perai | Azhar Arshad |
Area | |
• Total | 29.5 km2 (11.4 sq mi) |
Population (2020) [1] | |
• Total | 11,409 |
• Density | 390/km2 (1,000/sq mi) |
Demographics | |
• Ethnic groups | |
Time zone | UTC+8 (MST) |
• Summer (DST) | Not observed |
Postal code | 14100, 14110 |
Area code(s) | +6045 |
Batu Kawan is an island and suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It is geographically separated from the rest of Seberang Perai by the Jawi and Tengah rivers. As of 2020 [update] , Batu Kawan contained a population of 11,409. [1]
Long considered a quiet agricultural backwater, Batu Kawan is undergoing rapid development, which was sparked by the completion of the Second Penang Bridge that connects the town with Batu Maung on Penang Island in 2014. [2] [3] A host of multinational firms, including Boston Scientific, Western Digital Corporation, Bose Corporation, Dexcom and Bosch, have set up manufacturing plants within the Batu Kawan Industrial Park. [4] In addition, Batu Kawan is home to Design Village, Malaysia's largest outlet mall.
Among the ongoing developments within Batu Kawan are an IKEA store, Aspen Vision City and Utropolis, the latter of which is expected to serve as a hub for tertiary education. [5] [6] [7]
The agricultural village of Batu Kawan had been in existence since the 19th century, when the area was home to sugar, coconut and rubber estates. [7] [8] In particular, sugar plantations in the area had been run by Chinese settlers as early as 1796. [9] Granite was extracted from the area as well; the granite was then sent across the Penang Strait to George Town on tongkangs departing from the Batu Musang Jetty. [8]
In the 1960s, the aforementioned plantations were cleared to make way for larger palm oil estates. [7] [2] [3]
In 1990, the Penang Development Corporation (PDC), a statutory body of the Penang state government, acquired 6,000 hectares (60 km2) of land in Batu Kawan. [7] [2] The Penang State Stadium, completed in 2000, was one of the first development projects undertaken by the PDC, followed by the Batu Kawan Industrial Park and the Penang Science Park. [7] [2] [3]
In 2008, the Malaysian federal government commenced the construction of the Second Penang Bridge, which links Batu Kawan with Batu Maung on Penang Island. [3] The completion of the bridge in 2014 proved to be a catalyst to Batu Kawan's contemporary development, with the town being touted as "Penang's third satellite township" after Bayan Baru on the island and Seberang Jaya in Central Seberang Perai. [7] [2] In 2012, the PDC launched the Bandar Cassia residential development, which is modelled after Singapore's Housing and Development Board schemes. [2] [10] This was soon followed by larger property developments, such as Utropolis and Aspen Vision City. [4] [6]
In 2015, the Penang state government declared the launch of a new development corridor within the South Seberang Perai District, which encompasses Batu Kawan and Nibong Tebal. [11]
Batu Kawan forms an island off Seberang Perai; it is physically cut off from the mainland by the Jawi River to the north and the Tengah River to the south. The town neighbours Juru (in Central Seberang Perai District) to the north, Simpang Ampat to the east and Nibong Tebal to the south.
As of 2020 [update] , Mukim 13, the subdivision that contains Batu Kawan, was home to a population of 11,409. [1] Malays formed 60% of the population, followed by Indians at 18% and Chinese at 15%.
Lebuhraya Bandar Cassia is the main expressway within Batu Kawan. [12] The highway is, in turn, linked to the North–South Expressway, which passes by the town.
The Second Penang Bridge, which links Batu Kawan with Batu Maung on Penang Island, spans a total length of 24 km (15 mi), making it the longest bridge in Southeast Asia. The completion of the bridge in 2014 also brought about the rapid development of Batu Kawan. [2] The bridge is a tolled expressway, with a toll plaza situated at the entrance of the bridge in Batu Kawan.
Batu Kawan is used to serve by Rapid Penang's Congestion Alleviation Transport (CAT), a free-of-charge transit bus service within Batu Kawan. [13] However this service have ceased operations since the pandemic in 2020, making Batu Kawan is inaccessible via normal public transportation methods other than e-hailing or taxi.
Batu Kawan is served by two primary schools and one high school.
Primary schools
High schools
A number of tertiary institutions have planned to establish their campuses within Batu Kawan as well, including University of Hull, KDU University College and Peninsula College. [17] [18] [19] In particular, the 10-acre (40,000 m2) KDU University campus, scheduled for completion by 2018, will be the largest tertiary institution within Batu Kawan. [17] [20]
The Penang State Stadium, completed in 2000, is the main sporting stadium of the State of Penang and the home ground of the state's football association, Penang FA. The stadium, which has a capacity of 40,000, also played host to national-level sporting events, such as the 2000 Sukma Games.
Opened in 2016, Design Village, with a built-up area of 37,161 m2 (400,000 sq ft), is the biggest outlet mall in Malaysia. [21] Among the tenants within the mall are Gap, Timberland, Pierre Cardin, Sacoor Brothers, Superdry, Kate Spade New York, Padini, Adidas, Body Glove, Levi's, Guess, Samsonite, Esprit and Cotton On. [22]
In 2017, the construction of the IKEA Batu Kawan store was launched by the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng. [5] Slated for completion by 2019, it is the first IKEA store in northern Malaysia and spans a built-up area of 39,979 m2 (430,330 sq ft). [5] [23]
The Batu Kawan Industrial Park encompasses the southern portion of Batu Kawan and is bounded by the Second Penang Bridge to the north. [24] The 2,680-hectare (26.8 km2) industrial zone has attracted a host of multinational firms, such as Boston Scientific, Bose Corporation, Bosch, ViTrox, Western Digital, Dexcom and Hewlett-Packard. [4] [2] [25] In addition, a 4.2-acre (17,000 m2) gold and jewellery hub is being built within the industrial park. [26]
The major residential developments within Batu Kawan include Aspen Vision City and Utropolis@Batu Kawan, undertaken by Aspen Group and Paramount Property respectively. [4] [6] [7] The former includes a financial hub, a Columbia Asia hospital, an international school and other commercial properties, whilst the latter consists of the campus of KDU University College and various other properties. [4] [27] Other ongoing projects within the town include the EcoHorizon residential development by EcoWorld. [28]
In an effort to promote environmental conservation, all development projects within the town are required to abide by a 30% green area ruling, enacted by the Seberang Perai City Council. [29]
Bandar Cassia or Cassia City is a township in Batu Kawan. The township was developed by the Penang Development Corporation (PDC, PERDA) in 1993. [30]
Butterworth is the city centre of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It lies about 3 km (1.9 mi) east of George Town, the capital city of Penang, across the Penang Strait. As of 2020, Butterworth had a total population of 80,378 residents.
University of Wollongong Malaysia is a private university in Malaysia, with its campus in Utropolis Glenmarie, Shah Alam. Established in 1983, and a pioneer in Malaysian private education, UOW Malaysia was one of the first private colleges in Malaysia to have its own purpose-built campus. UOW Malaysia offers education programs at the Certificate, Diploma, Degree and Masters levels.
Seberang Perai is a city in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located on the Malay Peninsula and separated from Penang Island by the Penang Strait, it shares borders with Kedah to the north and east, and Perak to the south. The city spans an area of 748 km2 (289 sq mi) and had a population of 946,092 as of 2020, making it the third largest city in Malaysia.
Bukit Mertajam is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It also serves as the seat of the Central Seberang Perai District. As of 2020, Bukit Mertajam had a population of 12,079.
Nibong Tebal is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located at the northern bank of the Kerian River within the Southern Seberang Perai District, it is the southernmost populated place of Penang. Nibong Tebal contained a population of 1,425 as of 2020.
Bayan Lepas is a suburb of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located near the southeastern tip of Penang Island, 15 km (9.3 mi) south of the city centre, it is home to the Penang International Airport, the third busiest airport in Malaysia, as well as one of the oldest free industrial zones in the country.
Perai is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It lies at the southern bank of the Perai River and borders Butterworth to the north.
Batu Maung is a residential neighbourhood in the Malaysian state of Penang. It is located 15.7 km (9.8 mi) south of the city centre, adjacent to Bayan Lepas and the Penang International Airport. Batu Maung is home to the island terminus of the Second Penang Bridge and the southern end of the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway. It is also surrounded by fishing villages such as Permatang Damar Laut and Teluk Tempoyak.
Teluk Bahang is a suburb of George Town within the Malaysian state of Penang. It is located 13.6 km (8.5 mi) west of the city centre near the northwestern tip of Penang Island. Established as a fishing village, Teluk Bahang has evolved into a tourist destination, with a number of attractions built within the vicinity of the town.
Seberang Jaya is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. 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 into a booming area, with various commercial and retail developments.
Ayer Itam is a suburb of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. Nested within the central valleys of Penang Island, it is located approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) southwest of the city centre. The suburb is home to Kek Lok Si, touted as the largest Buddhist temple in the country.
Gelugor is a suburb of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. Named after a plant species, Gelugor lies along the eastern seaboard of Penang Island, between Jelutong and Sungai Dua, and nearly 5 km (3.1 mi) south of the city centre.
Jelutong is a suburb of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located 3.2 km (2.0 mi) south of the city centre, Jelutong has been inhabited since as early as the late 18th century, when traders from Aceh and India settled around the area.
Bayan Baru is a neighbourhood of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located 11 km (6.8 mi) south of the city centre, it lies within the suburb of Bayan Lepas, and adjacent to the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone, Relau, Sungai Ara and Bukit Jambul.
Sungai Ara is a residential neighbourhood within the city of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located 11.9 km (7.4 mi) south of the city centre, it lies between Relau, Bayan Baru and Bayan Lepas.
Teluk Kumbar is a suburb of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. It is located about 17.8 km (11.1 mi) south of the city centre, at the southern coast of Penang Island between Bayan Lepas to the east and Gertak Sanggul to the west.
Batu Lanchang is a residential neighbourhood within the downtown core of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. It is sandwiched between Farlim to the west and Jelutong to the east.
Farlim, officially Bandar Baru Ayer Itam, is a residential neighbourhood within the city of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located 6 km (3.7 mi) southwest of the city centre, the township was created in the 1980s. Over the recent decades, Farlim has witnessed rapid development with several residential and commercial developments within the area.
Sungai Nibong is a residential neighbourhood within the city of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. It lies near the eastern coast of Penang Island, about 8.6 km (5.3 mi) south of the city centre.
Sungai Dua is a residential neighbourhood within the city of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. Not to be confuse for Sungai Dua on George Town, the Sungai Dua on Butterworth is located to the north of Perai River and to the east of the North-South Expressway. This area has experienced rapid housing development.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)