Batu Lanchang

Batu Lanchang
Neighbourhood of George Town
Other transcription(s)
•  Jawi	باتو لنچڠ
•  Chinese	峇都兰樟(Simplified) 峇都蘭樟(Traditional)
•  Hokkien	Bâ-too-lân-tsiang (Tâi-lô)
Batu Lanchang Location within    George Town in    Penang
Coordinates: 5°23′0″N100°18′0″E / 5.38333°N 100.30000°E / 5.38333; 100.30000
Country	Malaysia
State	Penang
City	George Town
Government
•  Local government	Penang Island City Council
•  Mayor of Penang Island	Rajendran P. Anthony
•  Batu Lancang State Assemblyman	Ong Ah Teong (DAP)
•  Jelutong Member of Parliament	RSN Rayer (DAP)
Time zone	UTC+8 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	Not observed
Postal code	11600
Website	mbpp.gov.my

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.

Formerly an agricultural area, Batu Lanchang has turned into a suburban residential area, with a mix of high-rises and landed properties. Green Lane, in particular, has become an affluent neighbourhood, whilst also serving as a major thoroughfare through Batu Lanchang, linking the city centre with Gelugor.

History

An apartment at Batu Lanchang Avenue

Taman Free School

Batu Lanchang was once an agricultural area, where coconut groves stretched all the way to the hills of Air Itam. At the time, Green Lane was the only road through Batu Lanchang; true to its name, it was a country path lined with trees. Urbanisation of the area began in the 1950s, when residential high rises were first built along Green Lane. The development of residential estates around Green Lane, such as Island Park and Island Glades, have transformed it into a wealthy suburban neighbourhood. Development then gradually spilled out across Batu Lanchang, leading to residential high rises like the Central Park condominiums.

Transportation

To this day, Green Lane serves as the main thoroughfare within Batu Lanchang. It forms part of the Penang Middle Ring Road and is heavily used by motorists daily. ^[1] Other major roads within this suburb include Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim (formerly Batu Lanchang Road) and Batu Lanchang Lane; the former leads towards Jelutong while the latter links the suburb with Air Itam.

Rapid Penang buses 11, 13, 206 and 304 serve the residents of the suburb, by connecting Batu Lanchang with various destinations such as Jelutong, Gelugor, Air Itam and Paya Terubong. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

Education

Penang Free School has produced several prominent personalities throughout its long history.

Heng Ee High School is well known for the strong academic performance of its students.

A total of two primary schools, seven high schools and a vocational school are located within Batu Lanchang. Notably, Green Lane is home to two of Penang's top missionary schools – Penang Free School and Convent Green Lane. Penang Free School is also the oldest English school in Southeast Asia, with a history dating back to 1816.

Aside from Penang Free School and Convent Green Lane, Batu Lanchang contains two of the more well-known Chinese high schools in Penang – Chung Hwa Confucian High School and Heng Ee High School. Chung Hwa Confucian High School was established in 1904, making it the oldest Chinese school in Penang. ^[6]

The schools within Batu Lanchang are as follows.

Primary schools

• SRK Batu Lanchang ^[7]
• SRJK (C) Kheng Tean ^[8]

High schools

• Penang Free School
• Convent Green Lane
• Chung Hwa Confucian High School ^[9]
• Heng Ee High School
• SMK Hamid Khan ^[10]
• SMK Georgetown ^[11]
• SMK Haji Zainul Abidin ^[12]

Vocational school

• SMV Batu Lanchang ^[13]

In addition to these schools, the Penang Digital Library is also located within the grounds of Penang Free School. ^{[14] [15]} Launched in 2016, it is the first digital library in Malaysia and contains a digitalised collection of over 3,000 reading materials. ^{[16] [17]}

Demographics

The following is based on the 2020 Malaysian Census conducted by Malaysia's Department of Statistics. ^[18]

Population within Batu Lanchang

Ethnicity	Population	Percentage (%)
Chinese	29,331	83.96
Malay	2,985	8.55
Indian	1,818	5.20
Other ethnicities	171	0.49
Non-Malaysian citizens	629	1.80
Total	34,934	100.00

Ethnic breakdown of Batu Lanchang's population in 2020 ^[19]

   Malay (85.5%)

   Chinese (8.7%)

   Indian (5.3%)

  Other ethnicities (0.5%)

Health care

Lam Wah Ee Hospital, one of the several private hospitals on Penang Island, is located at the junction of Green Lane and Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim. Since its establishment in 1883, the hospital continues to provide traditional Chinese health care to this day, whilst also offering modern treatments as with other private hospitals. ^[20]

Two other private specialised medical centres within Batu Lanchang are the Carl Corrynton Medical Centre and the Optimax Eye Specialist Hospital. ^{[21] [22]}

Tourist attractions

• Batu Lanchang Market, where a variety of Penang cuisine can be sampled. ^{[23] [24] [25]}

Neighbourhoods

• Green Lane
• Taman Free School

References

1. "Penang CM defends tree removals, says extra road needed to alleviate jams". 2016-02-25. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-07-02. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-07-22. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-07-02. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-07-02. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
6. Jin Seng, Chuah (2013). Penang 500 Early Postcards. Editions Didier Millet. ISBN   9789671061718.
7. "SK BATU LANCHANG - PULAU PINANG - Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-19.
8. "SJK(C) KHENG TEAN – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-19.
9. "SMJK CHUNG HWA CONFUCIAN (CF) – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-19.
10. "SMK HAMID KHAN – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-19.
11. "SMK GEORGETOWN – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-19.
12. "SMK HAJI ZAINUL ABIDIN – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-19.
13. "SMV BATU LANCHANG – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-19.
14. "Penang's digital library to run 24/7 from May 1 – Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
15. "Penang Digital Library". www.penangdigitallibrary.com. Retrieved 2017-03-20.
16. Zabidi, Nor Diana. "Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang – The Penang Digital Library". www.penang.gov.my (in Malay). Archived from the original on 2017-03-20. Retrieved 2017-03-20.
17. "Paperless library option – Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-03-20.
18. "Population Distribution and Basic Demographic Characteristics, 2010" (PDF). Department of Statistics, Malaysia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
19. "Battle in a Crowded Ring". The Star . 29 April 2018.
20. "HLWE :: History". www.hlwe.com.my. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
21. "CONTACT US | Carl Corrynton Medical Centre | Plastic Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery, Regenerative Medicine, Orthopaedic/Sports Medicine". www.carlcorrynton.com. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
22. "Penang Eye Specialist Hospital | OPTIMAX Eye Specialist Malaysia". www.optimax2u.com. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
23. "myPenang – Batu Lanchang Market". www.mypenang.gov.my. Archived from the original on 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
24. Ahmad, Aida. "Top 10 nibbles from Penang – Focus | The Star Online" . Retrieved 2017-05-16.
25. "Malaysian kuih: A marriage of flavours and cultures". 2016-03-27. Retrieved 2017-05-16.