History of George Town, Penang

Last updated

An 1811 painting of George Town Penang Museum historical painting N171b.jpg
An 1811 painting of George Town

George Town, the capital city of the state of Penang, is the second largest city in Malaysia and the economic centre of the country's northern region. The history of George Town began with its establishment by Captain Francis Light of the British East India Company in 1786. Founded as a free port, George Town became the first British settlement in Southeast Asia and prospered in the 19th century as one of the vital British entrepôts within the region. It briefly became the capital of the Straits Settlements, a British crown colony which also consisted of Singapore and Malacca.

Contents

During World War II, George Town was militarily occupied by the Japanese Empire between 1941 and 1945. At the war's end, it became the first city in British Malaya to be liberated, under Operation Jurist. Following the dissolution of the Straits Settlements in 1946, Penang was merged into the Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia). Despite a secessionist movement that originated from the city, the merger with Malaya went ahead and the federation attained independence from the British Empire in 1957.

George Town became the first city in Malaya, and by extension, Malaysia, when in 1957, it was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II. In addition, the city centre has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. Today, the city, well known for its cultural diversity, colonial-era architecture and street food, is a booming tourist destination and still serves as the financial centre of northern Malaysia.

Historical affiliationsPeriod
Flag of Kedah (18th century - 1912).svg Kedah Sultanate 1136–1786
Flag of the British East India Company (1801).svg British East India Company 1786–1867
Flag of the British Straits Settlements (1904-1925).svg Straits Settlements 1826–1941; 1945–1946
Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg Empire of Japan 1941–1945
Flag of the Federated Malay States (1895-1946).svg Malayan Union 1946–1948
Flag of Malaya.svg Federation of Malaya 1948–1963
Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia 1963–Present

Establishment

Fort Cornwallis, in the heart of George Town, was constructed at the spot where Francis Light first set foot on Penang Island. Fort Cornwallis Penang Dec 2006 002.jpg
Fort Cornwallis, in the heart of George Town, was constructed at the spot where Francis Light first set foot on Penang Island.
A bronze statue of Francis Light still stands within Fort Cornwallis to this day. Georgetown FrancisLight.JPG
A bronze statue of Francis Light still stands within Fort Cornwallis to this day.
George Town was named after King George III, who ruled the British Empire between 1760 and 1801. Allan Ramsay - King George III in coronation robes - Google Art Project.jpg
George Town was named after King George III, who ruled the British Empire between 1760 and 1801.
Francis Light's grave in the Old Protestant Cemetery in George Town. Francis-light-grave.jpg
Francis Light's grave in the Old Protestant Cemetery in George Town.

For centuries prior to the arrival of the British East India Company in the Malay Peninsula in the late 18th century, Penang Island had formed part of the Sultanate of Kedah. As a Siamese vassal kingdom, Kedah had maintained an uneasy and somewhat turbulent diplomatic relationship with its mightier northern neighbour.

In the 1770s, the British East India Company, seeking to expand its presence into Southeast Asia, instructed Francis Light to form trade relations in the Malay Peninsula. [1] [2] At the time, in the aftermath of the Burmese–Siamese War, Kedah was facing the threat of military invasion by both Siam and Burma, as well as an internal Bugis rebellion. [1] [3]

Aware of the unfolding situation, Light landed in Kedah, proceeded to form cordial relations with the then sultan of Kedah, Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin II, and promised British military assistance. [4] [5] To illustrate his commitment, Light led a force to recapture a Bugis-held fort for the sultan, who reciprocated by offering Penang Island. [1] [2] [6] Light subsequently wrote to his superiors regarding the offer, arguing that Penang Island could serve as a "convenient magazine for trade", and its strategic location would allow the British to check Dutch and French territorial gains in Southeast Asia. He added that, with the other ports in the region, such as Aceh and Phuket, riddled with piracy and ruled by despotic governments, the British East India Company could seize the opportunity to establish a tranquil harbour on Penang Island conducive for free trade, also noting that if "Malay, Bugis and Chinese will come to reside here, it will become the Exchange of the East if not loaded with impositions and restrictions". [4]

However, nothing materialised until 1786, when Light was finally ordered to acquire Penang Island from Kedah. [5] [6] By then, the British were fighting the Thirteen American Colonies, which were backed by France and the Netherlands. [1] Faced with the Dutch dominance of the East Indies (now Indonesia) and a growing French threat, the British East India Company sought control of Penang Island as a Royal Navy repair base, and a trading post between China and the Indian subcontinent. [2]

Light negotiated the cession of Penang Island to the British East India Company with the new sultan of Kedah, Abdullah Mukarram Shah, in exchange for British military protection and a lease of 6,000 Spanish dollars to pay off Kedah's debts to Siam. [1] [2] [4] [7] With the agreement between Light and the Kedah sultan fruitfully concluded, Light and his entourage sailed on to Penang Island, where they arrived on 17 July 1786. [8] [9]

The site where Light first landed was originally a mangrove swamp covered in thick jungle. To expedite the clearing of the vegetation, Light ordered his vessels to fire silver coins into the jungle. [1] [2] Fort Cornwallis would later be constructed at the spot where Light first set foot.

Once enough land was cleared, creating what is now the Esplanade, a simple ceremony was held on 11 August, during which the Union Jack was flown for the first time. This marked the formal possession of Penang Island by the British East India Company in the name of King George III. [10] The island was renamed the Prince of Wales Island after the heir to the British throne, while the new settlement of George Town was founded in honour of King George III.

Thus, George Town became the first British settlement in Southeast Asia and heralded the start of British colonialism in the Malay Peninsula. [4] Indeed, during the next century, the settlement would serve as a springboard for further British expansion of territory and influence in the region.

Unbeknownst to Sultan Abdullah, however, Light had acted with neither the authority nor the approval of his superiors in India. [1] [2] [7] When Light reneged on his promise of British military assistance against Siam, in 1791 the Kedah sultan assembled an army and a fleet of pirates in what is now Seberang Perai to recapture the Prince of Wales Island. [1] In response, the British East India Company reinforced the garrison on the island with two companies from Calcutta. Having failed to persuade the sultan to disband his forces, the British East India Company attacked and defeated the Kedah forces, destroying a Kedah fort in Perai in the process. [1] [11]

Light died from malaria in 1794 and was buried within the city's Old Protestant Cemetery at Northam Road. To this day, Light is regarded as the founding father of Penang.

Early growth

A 1799 map of George Town The Map of Early Penang Showing the Malay Town on the South of the Town Center by Popham 1799.jpg
A 1799 map of George Town
An 1810 engraving depicting the eastern side of George Town Penang Museum historical painting M141b.jpg
An 1810 engraving depicting the eastern side of George Town
1814 print of a view overlooking George Town Penang Museum historical painting N172b.jpg
1814 print of a view overlooking George Town
An 1818 painting depicting George Town and Province Wellesley (in the horizon), as seen from a hilltop. Penang Museum historical painting K126b.jpg
An 1818 painting depicting George Town and Province Wellesley (in the horizon), as seen from a hilltop.
St. George's Church, at Farquhar Street, was founded in 1816, making it the oldest Anglican church in Southeast Asia. St. George's Church Penang Dec 2006 005.jpg
St. George's Church, at Farquhar Street, was founded in 1816, making it the oldest Anglican church in Southeast Asia.
The High Court of Penang, the birthplace of Malaysia's modern-day judiciary, was established in 1808. It was subsequently moved to its current grounds at Light Street, where it remains to this day. High Court, Penang (2008).jpg
The High Court of Penang, the birthplace of Malaysia's modern-day judiciary, was established in 1808. It was subsequently moved to its current grounds at Light Street, where it remains to this day.

Francis Light had established George Town as a free port to entice merchants from the Dutch ports in the region. [12] Attracted by the promise of free trade without having to pay any form of tax or duties, and assured of their safety at the British-governed harbour, merchants flocked into George Town; consequently, the number of incoming vessels rose exponentially from 85 in 1786 to 3,569 in 1802. The population of the new settlement had also increased to 10,000 by 1792. [13] [14] [15] Immigrants arrived from various parts of Asia; in 1801, the then lieutenant-governor of the Prince of Wales Island, Sir George Leith, commented that "there is not, probably, any part of the world where, in so small a space, so many different people are assembled together or so great a variety of languages spoken". [4]

At the height of the Napoleonic Wars, the British East India Company enlarged and rearmed Fort Cornwallis. The Royal Navy based a small squadron under Admiral Troubridge at the island in 1805, but withdrew it in 1806. A small shipyard was established that launched its first vessel in 1806. It built few vessels and was closed in 1811 or 1812. The last large vessel built there was Countess of Harcourt. [16]

Soon after the establishment of George Town, pepper cultivation was introduced onto the Prince of Wales Island. [17] Spice farms were opened in the interior of the island, while other spices, including local variants of nutmeg and clove, also began to be harvested. [18] In the early 19th century, Penang, which by then comprised both the Prince of Wales Island and a strip of the Malay Peninsula named Province Wellesley (now Seberang Perai), emerged as a centre of spice production and trade within Southeast Asia. [17] [18] [19] The Port of Penang in George Town functioned as a conduit, through which agricultural produce from the spice farms further inland were exported. The export of spice also allowed the British East India Company to cover the administrative costs for Penang. [18] [19]

George Town was originally developed haphazardly, as buildings and streets were constructed ad hoc. [20] [21] The new settlement, arranged in a grid pattern, was bounded by four streets - Light Street, Beach Street, Chulia Street and Pitt Street. [22] [23] The segregation of George Town's commercial and administrative precincts, as well as ethnic enclaves, can still be seen today; with Light Street serving as an administrative precinct where government and judicial offices are concentrated. [24]

A committee of assessors for George Town was established in 1800, making it the first local government to be established within British Malaya. [25] The committee, which consisted of British and local Asian ratepayers, was tasked with the valuation of property within the new settlement.

In 1807, Penang was conferred a royal charter that provided for the establishment of a Supreme Court and a police force. The Supreme Court of Penang was first opened at Fort Cornwallis in the following year, with Edmond Stanley assuming office as its first Recorder (Judge). [26] [27] In the following decades, Penang's judiciary and police force were progressively extended to the whole of the Straits Settlements, and later copied throughout British Malaya. [28] [29] Hence, George Town became the birthplace of the present-day Malaysian judiciary system, as well as the Royal Malaysian Police. [26] [27] [28] [29]

Straits Settlements

Original flag of the Straits Settlements, in use between 1874 and 1925 Flag of the British Straits Settlements (1904-1925).svg
Original flag of the Straits Settlements, in use between 1874 and 1925
Flag of the Straits Settlements between 1925 and 1941 Flag of the British Straits Settlements (1925-1946).svg
Flag of the Straits Settlements between 1925 and 1941
Panoramic image of George Town in the late 19th century, with the city's Esplanade in the foreground. View of Penang from Tie Sin's Tower (7886247166).jpg
Panoramic image of George Town in the late 19th century, with the city's Esplanade in the foreground.
The Port of Penang at Weld Quay in 1910. Weld Quay was reclaimed from the sea in the 1880s. KITLV - 80020 - Kleingrothe, C.J. - Medan - Quay in Penang - circa 1910.tif
The Port of Penang at Weld Quay in 1910. Weld Quay was reclaimed from the sea in the 1880s.
Beach Street, traditionally the mercantile centre of the city, remains an integral part of George Town's Central Business District. Beach Street in George Town, Penang 2023.jpg
Beach Street, traditionally the mercantile centre of the city, remains an integral part of George Town's Central Business District.
The Government Offices at Weld Quay was constructed to house the government offices for the colony of Penang. However, much of the building was destroyed during World War II. Only this portion remains standing to this day. Beach Street Penang Dec 2006 003.jpg
The Government Offices at Weld Quay was constructed to house the government offices for the colony of Penang. However, much of the building was destroyed during World War II. Only this portion remains standing to this day.
The city's Pinang Peranakan Mansion is an exquisite example of Peranakan architecture and interior design. Pinang Peranakan Mansion.JPG
The city's Pinang Peranakan Mansion is an exquisite example of Peranakan architecture and interior design.
The Jewish Cemetery in George Town. Today, the Jewish community no longer exists, with the passing of the last Jew in 2011. Jewish Cemetery Penang Dec 2006 018.jpg
The Jewish Cemetery in George Town. Today, the Jewish community no longer exists, with the passing of the last Jew in 2011.
The Eastern & Oriental Hotel was founded in the 1880s by the Armenian Sarkies Brothers, who went on to establish similar hotels throughout Southeast Asia, such as Singapore's Raffles Hotel. Georgetown, George Town, Penang, Malaysia - panoramio - pupupi.jpg
The Eastern & Oriental Hotel was founded in the 1880s by the Armenian Sarkies Brothers, who went on to establish similar hotels throughout Southeast Asia, such as Singapore's Raffles Hotel.
A trolleybus in George Town in 1926 George Town trolleybus number 1 - ca. 1926.jpg
A trolleybus in George Town in 1926

In 1826, the British East India Company consolidated its territories of Penang, Singapore and Malacca into a single political entity, the Straits Settlements. George Town was made the capital of this new entity. However, owing to Singapore's more strategic geographical position between the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea, the Port of Singapore rapidly surpassed the Port of Penang as the preeminent harbour in the region. Prompted by this development, in 1832, Singapore replaced George Town as the capital of the Straits Settlements in 1832. [32] Even so, George Town remained the seat of the Straits Settlements judiciary until 1855. [33] [34]

Although its importance became secondary to Singapore's, George Town remained a vital British entrepôt within Southeast Asia, funneling the exports meant for global shipping lines which had bypassed other regional harbours. [34] [35] In the latter half of the 19th century, the tin mining boom in the neighbouring Sultanate of Perak and southern Siam brought more prosperity to the city. Tin from the Kinta Valley and Siam were shipped to George Town for smelting, before being exported via the Port of Penang to European and American industries. [34] The Port of Penang subsequently became a major conduit for the export of tin from British Malaya, directly challenging the Port of Singapore. [36] [30] The launch of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the advent of steamships further cemented the Port of Penang's importance. [34] These factors were crucial, as it established the Malacca Strait as part of the main sea route between Europe and Asia, with George Town as the first port-of-call east of the Indian subcontinent and a vital link in the international telegraph lines.

In 1857, the George Town Municipal Commission, which consisted of five members and led by the resident-councillor of Penang, was formed. Three of the municipal commissioners were to be elected by expatriate ratepayers and Straits-born British citizens, making the Municipal Commission the first, albeit partially, elected local government within British Malaya. [25] However, the local elections were abolished by 1913.

By then, Penang became home to a myriad of ethnicities and religious affinities. Aside from the sizeable Chinese, Malay, Indian, Peranakan, Eurasian and Siamese communities, there were significant minorities of Burmese, British, Javanese, Japanese, Sinhalese, Jewish, German and Armenian origin. [11] [34] [30] [37] At the time, each ethnic community had a tendency to specialise in particular trades and economic sectors. [11] While the Europeans predominated in the various professional fields, and ran mercantile and shipping firms, the Peranakans and the Eurasians tended to enter the nascent civil service as lawyers, engineers, architects and clerks. Some of the newer Chinese arrivals, labelled derisively by the Peranakans as 'Sinkheh' (Chinese: 新客; new guests), were coolies and agricultural farmers, although many eventually entered into commercial, trading and real estate enterprises within the city; certain dialect communities, such as the Cantonese and the Hakka, found employment as artisans, blacksmiths, carpenters and cooks. The Indians were first brought in as convict workers for public works, such as public buildings, roads and drains, although a substantial Indian Muslim community also competed with the Chinese in commercial, trading and shipping stevedore activities. [11] [19] The Malays, meanwhile, were primarily engaged in agricultural occupations, including rice farming and fishing. Other ethnic groups, such as the Jews and the Armenians, were mainly active in mercantile, commercial and hospitality ventures, such as the Eastern & Oriental Hotel.

Due to the influx of Chinese immigrants, the Chinese became the largest ethnic community within George Town by the 1850s, and remains so to this day. [38] The ethnic enclaves within the city shifted with the gradual change in demographics. For instance, Chulia Street, which had been home to significant numbers of ethnic Indians, became dominated by Chinese immigrants by the turn of the century. [19] Meanwhile, the Europeans, including British officials, preferred quieter suburban areas to the west, such as Northam Road, Anson Road and Residency Road.

The rapid population growth that resulted from the booming economy led to a number of social problems, chiefly the inadequate sanitation and public health facilities, as well as rampant crime. The latter was brought about by the influx of Chinese, which led to the formation of rival triads and secret societies. [34] [39] Turf wars between the triads grew in intensity, and when the Straits Settlements authorities attempted to enforce new municipal laws in 1857, the Chinese triads came into conflict against the British-led police force as well. This culminated in the Penang Riots of 1867, when the Kean Teik Tong, led by Khoo Thean Teik and the Red Flag, clashed against the alliance of the Ghee Hin Kongsi and the White Flag in the streets of George Town. [40] [41] The resulting civil unrest lasted for 10 days, before the turf war was eventually put down by the Straits Settlements authorities under newly appointed Lieutenant-Governor Edward Anson, who were assisted by European residents and reinforcements from Singapore. [42] [43]

Also in the same year, the Straits Settlements was made a British crown colony, thereby transferring the administration of Penang, Singapore and Malacca from British India into the hands of the Colonial Office in London. [44] [45] Direct British rule meant better enforcement of the rule of law, as Penang's police force was vastly improved and the secret societies that had plagued George Town during the preceding decades were gradually outlawed, although underground triads persisted in industrial areas such as Jelutong until well into the 1980s. [34] [39] [46]

By the end of the 19th century, George Town also evolved into a leading financial centre of British Malaya, as mercantile firms and international banks, including Standard Chartered and HSBC, established regional branches within the city. [9] [30] Land reclamation in the 1880s provided greater space for the booming Port of Penang and allowed for the construction of the Government Offices, which became the seat of government for Penang. [30] Investments on innovative urban public transportation meant that, by the early 20th century, George Town boasted the best urban public transportation system within British Malaya. Steam-powered trams had been introduced in the city in 1887; the trams were then replaced by trolleybuses in the 1920s. [4] [47] [48] The Penang Hill Railway, launched in 1923, remains operational to this day and is Penang's sole funicular railway system.

With improved access to education and rising living standards, George Town soon enjoyed substantial press freedom and there was a greater degree of participation in municipal affairs by its Asian residents. [24] [4] [34] Penang's representatives in the Straits Settlements Legislative Council gained a reputation for their assertive contestation of the policies made by the Singapore-based British authorities.

On top of that, George Town, perceived as being more intellectually receptive than Singapore, also became as a magnet for well known English authors, Asian intellectuals and reformists. [24] [4] [34] [49] For instance, the Chinese revolutionary leader, Sun Yat-sen, chose to move his Southeast Asian base from Singapore to George Town, where he continued his efforts to reorganise and raise funds for the Chinese revolutionary movement against the Qing dynasty. [4] [34] [50] These efforts culminated in the 1910 Penang conference, which paved the way to the Wuchang uprising that successfully overthrew the Manchu imperial government of China. [19] [51]

World wars

World War I

A 1914 map from the New York Times depicting the Battle of Penang. When the Emden Raided Penang, Map, fromThe New York Times, Dec.jpg
A 1914 map from the New York Times depicting the Battle of Penang.
The Cenotaph in George Town was built in honour of fallen Allied servicemen of World War I. GEORGETOWN PENANG ISLAND MALAYSIA JAN 2012 (6815563818).jpg
The Cenotaph in George Town was built in honour of fallen Allied servicemen of World War I.

On 28 October 1914, the Battle of Penang broke out, during which an Imperial German Navy cruiser, SMS Emden , covertly sailed into George Town and sank the Imperial Russian Navy cruiser, Zhemchug. The French Navy destroyer, Mousquet, set off in pursuit, before being sunk by SMS Emden as well off the northwestern tip of Penang Island. 147 French and Russian sailors were killed, while the survivors were rescued by local Malay fishermen. [52]

Aside from the naval battle, George Town was largely unaffected by the events of World War I. However, the city's German community suffered economic losses during the war, as the British administrators seized the assets of German-owned firms, forcing German merchants to relocate their businesses elsewhere. [30]

World War II

An Imperial Japanese Navy submarine at the Port of Penang in 1942. Japanese submarine I-10 at Penang port in 1942.jpg
An Imperial Japanese Navy submarine at the Port of Penang in 1942.
The Japanese-issued 'banana' dollar, so labelled due to the banana tree motif on notes such as this. Ten dollar note issued by the Japanese Government during the occupation of Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak and Brunei (1942, obverse).jpg
The Japanese-issued 'banana' dollar, so labelled due to the banana tree motif on notes such as this.

World War II, on the other hand, unleashed unprecedented social and political upheaval to George Town. From 9 until 18 December 1941, Japanese warplanes indiscriminately strafed and bombed the city, in the process eliminating the obsolete Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force squadrons tasked with the defence of Penang. [53] [54] It was estimated that 600 civilians perished as a result of the Japanese bombardment, with an additional 1,100 wounded.

Notwithstanding the fact that the British Army had earlier designated Penang Island as a fortress, Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival subsequently ordered a withdrawal from Penang. Not only did the British Army abandon the Batu Maung Fort without firing a single shot, they also surreptitiously evacuated the city's European residents, leaving ethnic Asians to the mercy of the impending Japanese occupation. [55] To this day, it has been agreed that the withdrawal and the covert evacuation of Europeans contributed to the loss of the British sense of invincibility, and that "the moral collapse of British rule in Southeast Asia came not in Singapore, but in Penang". [56]

George Town fell to the Imperial Japanese Army on 19 December 1941, marking the start of a period of Japanese occupation. [53] [57] Penang Island was renamed Tojo-to, after the then Japanese prime minister Hideki Tojo. [56] The Japanese enacted differing policies with each ethnic community. Ethnic Chinese residents arguably suffered the most brutal treatment, as the Imperial Japanese Army massacred thousands of Chinese as part of the Sook Ching campaign to rid anti-Japanese elements in the society. [58] Female residents were also coerced to work as comfort women by the Imperial Japanese Army, with a handful of brothels set up within the city. [53] [59] [60] [61]

The city's residents also had to contend with economic hardship during the Japanese occupation, with hyperinflation caused by the oversupply of the Japanese-issued 'banana' dollars, and the acute shortage of food and raw materials, due to a combination of Japanese wartime rationing and an Allied blockade of Japanese shipping. [62] [63] [64] Households were forced to grow secondary crops such as sweet potatoes, yam and tapioca for their own subsistence. Beginning in 1942, a standardised Japanese curricula was enforced in schools throughout the city, with Japanese as the official language. In fact, social lifestyles were also greatly affected, as it became compulsory to bow to Japanese soldiers on guard duty and to sing the Japanese national anthem, whilst whole streets and shops were renamed in Japanese. [65]

Japanese officials signing the surrender of Penang documents on board HMS Nelson on 2 September 1945. Japanese surrender Penang.jpg
Japanese officials signing the surrender of Penang documents on board HMS Nelson on 2 September 1945.
British Royal Marines liberating George Town on 3 September 1945. Royal Marines Parade in Penang (5316034010).jpg
British Royal Marines liberating George Town on 3 September 1945.
Japanese prisoners of war being marched through the streets of George Town by their British captors on 3 September 1945. Reoccupation of Penang (5315445771).jpg
Japanese prisoners of war being marched through the streets of George Town by their British captors on 3 September 1945.

Meanwhile, the Port of Penang was utilised as a major Axis submarine base in Southeast Asia. [66] [67] Between 1942 and 1944, George Town became the port of call and a replenishment hub for the submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the Kriegsmarine (of Nazi Germany) and the Regia Marina (of the Kingdom of Italy). [68] [69]

Between 1944 and 1945, Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force bombers from India repeatedly launched bombing raids on George Town, seeking to destroy naval and administrative facilities. [53] Several colonial buildings were destroyed or damaged, such as the Government Offices, St. Xavier's Institution, Hutchings School (now the Penang State Museum) and the Penang Secretariat Building. [30] The destruction of the latter also wiped out a large part of British and Japanese records concerning Penang Island, complicating post-war efforts to compile a comprehensive history of Penang. [70] The Penang Strait was also mined to deny its use to Japanese shipping. [71]

Following the Japanese surrender on 15 August 1945, the Penang Shimbun, a Japanese daily, published the proclamation of surrender issued by the emperor of Japan. Under Operation Jurist, a British Royal Navy fleet, led by HMS Nelson, accepted the surrender of the Japanese garrison in Penang on 2 September 1945. A British Royal Marines contingent landed at Swettenham Pier on the following day and subsequently dispersed to capture key locations, including the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang Hill and the military facilities in Gelugor. By the end of 3 September, George Town became the first city in Malaya to be liberated from Japanese rule. [53]

Post-war

Flag of the Crown Colony of Penang, which was in use between 1946 and 1949. Flag of Penang (1946-1949).svg
Flag of the Crown Colony of Penang, which was in use between 1946 and 1949.

As with the rest of Penang, George Town was placed under a military administration until 1946, as the British sought to restore order in the face of an emerging communist insurgency. [53]

On 1 April 1946, the British dissolved the Straits Settlements, with Sir Shenton Thomas being its last governor. The now separate crown colonies of Penang and Malacca were to be merged with the Federated Malay States and the Unfederated Malay States to form a new federation, the Malayan Union. Excluded from this union, the Crown Colony of Singapore was to remain firmly under British rule. The Malayan Union was subsequently replaced by the Federation of Malaya in 1948. As the gradual withdrawal of the Western colonial powers in Southeast Asia continued taking shape, the independence of Malaya as a united political entity seemed an inevitable conclusion.

However, George Town's residents were alarmed with the merger of the British crown colony of Penang into the vast Malay heartland. Questions were raised over economic and ethnic issues, such as the citizenship of non-Malays, the trade regulations imposed on Penang by the central government in Kuala Lumpur and the introduction of export duties for trade with the rest of Malaya. [72] The underlying fear of George Town's residents was that the city's free port status would be eroded over time; although George Town was at that point the most developed urban area in Malaya, they also presciently anticipated that Penang's economy would become subordinated and peripheral to the overall schemes of the central government in Kuala Lumpur, with Penang's wealth being milked by the more backward states. [72] [73]

In response, the Penang Secessionist Committee, formed in 1948, was led by D.A. Mackay, then the chairman of the Penang Chamber of Commerce, and included the Penang Muslim Chamber of Commerce, the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the Penang Straits Chinese Association, the Penang Eurasian Association and the Penang Indian Chamber of Commerce. [72] [74] [73] [75] [76] The committee proposed to exclude Penang from the Federation of Malaya, which would allow Penang to either retain its links with the British Empire or form a political union with Singapore. [72] [74] [77]

Ultimately, the Penang Secession Committee failed to achieve its goals and petered out. A secession motion tabled in the Penang Settlement Council in 1949 was narrowly voted down by British officials, while another petition sent to London in 1951 also met with British disapproval. [72] [74] [73] [77] While the secessionists' cause found sympathy with some British and American observers, the British administrators were reluctant to jeopardise their own plans to grant independence to a unified Malayan polity. The British government subsequently allayed the fears raised by the secessionists by guaranteeing George Town's free port status and by reintroducing municipal elections for the city in 1951. [74]

For the municipal elections in 1951, George Town was divided into three wards - Tanjung, Kelawei and Jelutong. [78] By 1956, the George Town Municipal Council became the first fully elected local government in Malaysia. Five wards were created to elect one councillor each year, while the president of the Municipal Council was voted from amongst the councillors.

Conferment of city status

The City Hall, built in 1903, became the headquarters of the George Town City Council in 1957. Today, it still serves as the headquarters of the Penang Island City Council. Penang City Hall.jpg
The City Hall, built in 1903, became the headquarters of the George Town City Council in 1957. Today, it still serves as the headquarters of the Penang Island City Council.
George Town's Esplanade, with the City Hall visible to the right. The proclamation of George Town's city status was made here on 1 January 1957. The Esplanade, George Town, Penang (2).jpg
George Town's Esplanade, with the City Hall visible to the right. The proclamation of George Town's city status was made here on 1 January 1957.

On 1 January 1957, amid much fanfare, George Town was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II in 1957, becoming the first city within the Federation of Malaya, and by extension, Malaysia. The royal charter from Queen Elizabeth II stated that

"... the said Municipality of George Town shall on the first day of January in the year of Our Lord One thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven and for ever thereafter be a city and shall be called and styled THE CITY OF GEORGE TOWN instead of the Municipality of George Town and shall thenceforth have all such rank, liberties, privileges and immunities as are incident to a City." [79]

A simple proclamation ceremony was held in the morning at the city's Esplanade, attended by the then sultans of Perak and Pahang. [79] [80] The British high commissioner to Malaya at the time, Donald MacGillivray, paid tribute to Francis Light, who had founded George Town in 1786, and added that

" Penang Island, with its capital of George Town, was the seed-bed for the first planting of democracy and modern progress throughout Malaya... George Town with its fine motto of ‘Leading We Serve’, is still in the vanguard of progress, not only by being the first local government throughout this country to elect its own president and its own council, but also by being the first municipality in Malaya to be elevated to the status of city. Penang continues to lead." [80]

The ceremony was followed by a week-long celebration marking the official elevation of George Town into a city - as well as the centenary of the local government and the New Year's Day - which lasted from 1 to 6 January, and included street festivities and a Chingay procession. [80]

George Town continued to be the only city within Malaysia (other than Singapore between 1963 and its Separation in 1965) until 1972, when Kuala Lumpur also officially became a city.

Penang, as part of the Federation of Malaya, attained independence from the British Empire on 31 August 1957, and subsequently became a member state of Malaysia in 1963.

Post-independence

1957–1976

#Mayor of George Town In office
1 D. S. Ramanathan 1957–1961
2Ooi Thiam Siew1961–1964
3Chooi Yew Choy1964–1966
George Town in 1971. 227a Georgetown Penang, Malaysia (51255889913).jpg
George Town in 1971.

Soon after Malaya attained independence from the British Empire, the left-wing Labour Party was elected into power in the George Town City Council, with D. S. Ramanathan becoming the first mayor of George Town. [35] [81] This reflected the lively political scenario within Penang in the post-independence era, as urban voters tended to elect the Labour Party to run the city council while leaving the state government in the hands of the ruling Alliance coalition, the latter of which also controlled the Malayan federal government.

Under the Labour Party, the city council implemented several social welfare policies. Low-cost housing were built, such as at Sungai Pinang and Cintra Street. [81] Clinics and other healthcare facilities were opened for the urban poor, while a committee was formed for residents to air their grouses in any spoken language, even though English was the official language within the city council. The party also formulated the policy of electing a deputy mayor of a different ethnicity from that of the mayor's. The councillors were even encouraged to wear white, a measure that preceded Singapore's People's Action Party by a few years.

Ramanathan was succeeded as the mayor by Ooi Thiam Siew, who in turn was followed by Chooi Yew Choy. By 1965, the George Town City Council was the richest local government in Malaysia, with an annual revenue that was double that of the Penang state government. [82] This solidified the financial autonomy of the city council, which was frequently at loggerheads against both the state government and the Malaysian federal government over differences in development priorities and budget allocations. [35] [78] [81]

However, the acidic relationship between the city council and the Malaysian federal government would soon lead to the former's dissolution. In 1965, as the Indonesian Confrontation raged on, the federal government suspended municipal elections throughout the country. [81] Allegations of maladministration and misconduct soon surfaced from within the George Town City Council. This led to the formation, by the federal government, of a Royal Commission of Enquiry, led by a senator, Athi Nahappan. [78] [81] [83] While the Royal Commission was underway, the George Town City Council was concurrently suspended and its functions were transferred temporarily to the then chief minister of Penang, Wong Pow Nee.

The findings from the Royal Commission, released in the form of the Athi Nahappan Report, cleared the George Town City Council of any allegations of corruption and recommended the resumption of the city council, as well as municipal elections in the country. [78] [81] [83] Nonetheless, in 1971, the Penang state government, by then dominated by the Gerakan party and under the leadership of Lim Chong Eu as the chief minister, decided to continue the suspension of Penang's local governments indefinitely.

Meanwhile, as previously guaranteed by the British authorities, George Town's free port status was untouched in the years immediately after the Malayan independence. The earlier fears by the secessionists eventually materialised, however, when in 1969, the free port status was suddenly revoked by the Malaysian federal government. [24] [73] [84] As the Port of Penang's trade volume plummeted, 16.4% of Penang's working population became unemployed, adversely affecting George Town's services sector. [85] [86] In 1974, the Port of Penang was finally relocated from George Town to Seberang Perai, across the Penang Strait, to accommodate larger cargo and container vessels; to this day, only the city's Swettenham Pier remains operational as a terminal for cruise shipping. [87] These events marked the death of the George Town's maritime trade and heralded the start of the city's slow, decades-long decline, which was reversed only in recent years. [88]

By the 1970s, George Town's decline became more chronic due to a combination of external and internal factors. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, the Malaysian federal government intensified the development of Kuala Lumpur and nearby Port Klang, directing investments in communication, transport, education and health towards the Klang Valley region. [24] Kuala Lumpur soon outstripped George Town as Malaysia's largest city and financial centre, while Port Klang rapidly became the country's busiest seaport. [89] Consequently, George Town began to suffer substantial brain drain as the city's younger residents started emigrating for better employment opportunities. [86] [90] [91] [92] Concurrently, the opening of the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone, to the south of George Town, also led to the hollowing out of the city centre; the city's population began to spread southwards, creating new suburban areas like Bayan Baru and Farlim. [86] [91] [93] These led to implications on George Town's social fabric as well; for instance, the Catholic churches in the city were forced to merge their congregations into a single City Parish due to the shrinking of the city's Christian population.

Constructed in 1974, the Komtar Tower within the city centre is Penang's tallest skyscraper. Komtar, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia.JPG
Constructed in 1974, the Komtar Tower within the city centre is Penang's tallest skyscraper.

In 1974, Lim launched the massive Komtar redevelopment project in the heart of George Town, aiming to revive the city's declining fortunes. [24] [94] The project included the 250 m (820 ft)-tall Komtar Tower, which remains Penang's tallest skyscraper to this day. Controversially, hundreds of shophouses, schools and temples, as well as entire streets such as Gladstone Road and Hong Kong Street, were bulldozed to make way for the project. [24] [94] [95] However, instead of arresting the city's decline, Komtar itself became a white elephant by the early 2000s. [94] [96] [97]

Controversy over city status

In 1974, the two local governments on Penang Island, the George Town City Council and the Penang Island Rural District Council, were merged to form the Penang Island Municipal Council. [98] The merger of the local governments was finalised by the Local Government Act 1976, which also provided for non-elected local governments. Consequently, since then, Penang's local governments have been under the control of the Penang state government. [78]

The merger also sparked a decades-long debate over George Town's city status. Ever since the merger, the Malaysian federal government maintained that, as the legal entity (local government) for George Town had now been superseded, George Town no longer existed as a city. The city of George Town was no longer mentioned in federal government publications and maps.

However, most Penangites contend to this day that George Town is still a city, as its city status has never been officially or legally revoked. [82] [99] [100] Several federal and municipal ordinances and by-laws in use today still refer to the City of George Town, such as the City of George Town Ordinance 1957 and the City of George Town Liquefied Petroleum Gases By-Laws 1971. [101] According to Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) trustee and lawyer, Anwar Fazal, George Town "legally has been and is still a city because the City of George Town Ordinance 1957 was never repealed". [99] [102]

In addition, Clause 3 of the Local Government (Merger of the City Council of George Town and the Rural District Council of Penang Island) Order 1974, which was sanctioned by the then Penang state government, stated that

"... the status of the City of George Town as a city shall continue to be preserved and maintained and shall remain unimpaired by the merger hereby effected." [103]

The clause above implies that, although the legal entity for George Town had been superseded, George Town's city status remains intact and unchanged by the merger of the local governments.

1977–2008

Completed in 1985, the Penang Bridge was then the longest bridge in Southeast Asia. Penang Bridge main span taxi.jpg
Completed in 1985, the Penang Bridge was then the longest bridge in Southeast Asia.

In 1985, the Penang Bridge, then the longest bridge in Southeast Asia, was opened for traffic. The 13.5 km (8.4 mi) bridge spans the Penang Strait between George Town's southernmost suburb of Gelugor and Perai in Seberang Perai, making it the first road link between Penang Island and the Malay Peninsula.

In the 1990s, as George Town's banks began reassessing their spatial requirements to accommodate larger business volumes, a number of commercial developments were launched along the city's Northam Road. [104] [105] The commercial skyscrapers along this coastal road quickly attracted various banking, auditing and other financial services, as the newer buildings offer greater office space and more advanced amenities that the colonial-era buildings at Beach Street lacked.

Also in the early 1990s, the Penang state government, then led by Koh Tsu Koon as the chief minister of Penang, drew up plans for the development of Penang Hill near the city. This drew considerable backlash from Penang's civil societies, concerned about the potential environmental degradation of the forested hill. [24] The plan was ultimately scrapped.

At the turn of the century, the city's non-governmental organisations (NGOs) turned their attention to the city centre itself, where the Rent Control Act was being repealed. [24] In the preceding decades, the Act had protected the city's low-income residents from eviction by preventing property tenants from increasing rentals arbitrarily. When it was nullified in 2001, property rentals soared rapidly. Residents and smaller businesses, unable to cope with the rental hikes, moved out of the city centre, further contributing to the hollowing out of the city centre. [24] [106] Unscrupulous private developers took advantage of the situation and demolished several pre-war heritage buildings within the city centre for redevelopment, while other historic buildings fell under neglect. In response, NGOs based within the city, such as the Penang Heritage Trust, began to mobilise public support and form strategic partnerships for the conservation of these historic buildings.

By then, the decades of brain drain also took its toll within George Town. For instance, while Kuala Lumpur was granted several mega-projects, including the Petronas Towers and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, George Town suffered a shortage of qualified engineers and architects, as professionals continued gravitating towards the Greater Kuala Lumpur area. [107] [7] In the case of the new commercial properties along Northam Road, cheap unskilled labour from the poorer countries in the region, such as Bangladeshis and Nepalis, filled the void left by the quality subcontractors who had moved to Kuala Lumpur. Moreover, the lack of a coherent urban planning policy and inadequate traffic management meant that little was done to curb the worsening traffic congestion within the city. [108] Even George Town's reputation for cleanliness was not spared, as reports of coastal pollution and dirty streets within the city made headline news. [108] As early as 1996, the then Malaysian prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, had even called Penang a "garbage state". [109] [110]

Tanjung Tokong, a suburb of George Town, was among the worst hit areas during the Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004. Tanjungtokongwave.png
Tanjung Tokong, a suburb of George Town, was among the worst hit areas during the Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004.

These, combined with Penang's slowing economy, led to widespread resentment over the decline and neglect of George Town, and by extension, Penang. [111] In 2004, a media campaign was initiated by Malaysia's press to restore the city to its former glory. [108] [112] [113] [114] [115] The dissatisfaction over the decline of the city formerly known as the 'Pearl of the Orient', combined with Penang's relatively lively political scene, contributed to the defeat of the incumbent Barisan Nasional (the current ruling coalition the Malaysian federal government) in the 2008 State Election by the federal opposition pact, Pakatan Rakyat. [35] [7] [116] As a result, Pakatan Rakyat, led by the DAP, was voted into power within Penang, with Lim Guan Eng succeeding Koh as the chief minister.

In late 2004, George Town was hit by the massive Indian Ocean tsunami. The city's northern coast, such as Batu Ferringhi and Gurney Drive, were among the worst hit places within Penang. The tsunami claimed 52 lives in Penang, out of the 68 deaths in Malaysia. [108] Since then, a network of sirens has been installed throughout George Town as part of a national tsunami warning system designed to alert the public of such calamities in the future. [117]

2008–present

# Mayor of Penang Island In office
1Patahiyah Ismail2015–2017
2Maimunah Mohd Sharif2017–2018
3Yew Tung Seang2018–present
A large portion of the city centre has been gazetted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. Old town of Georgetown..JPG
A large portion of the city centre has been gazetted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.
A LinkBike station in George Town. This public-bicycle sharing service is an initiative of the Penang state government to alleviate traffic congestion in the city. LinkBike, George Town, Penang.jpg
A LinkBike station in George Town. This public-bicycle sharing service is an initiative of the Penang state government to alleviate traffic congestion in the city.

In 2008, a large part of the George Town city centre, along with Malacca, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nearly 260 hectares (640 acres) of the city centre now comes under UNESCO protection, which controls and prohibits infrastructural changes within the zone to maintain the integrity of the city's historical core. [118]

Concurrently, the new Penang state government, under Pakatan Rakyat (now Pakatan Harapan), implemented various policy changes to improve George Town's liveability and cleanliness, as well as boosting the city's economic competitiveness. Efforts to improve hygiene and pedestrianisation, as well as the use of public transportation, the promotion of the city's cultural diversity and improvements in traffic flow, were implemented. [119] [120] [121] By 2010, George Town was ranked the eighth most liveable city in Asia by ECA International, the highest ranking attained by a Malaysian city. [122] In 2017, the city was also rated the second cleanest within Malaysia, after Ipoh. [123]

A row of renovated Peranakan shophouses in George Town. In recent years, colonial-era heritage properties have become popular amongst expatriates seeking to establish businesses. Penang - Part 4 - Relics (24901641793).jpg
A row of renovated Peranakan shophouses in George Town. In recent years, colonial-era heritage properties have become popular amongst expatriates seeking to establish businesses.

Moreover, George Town, as the economic and financial centre of northern Malaysia, is now home to a vibrant services sector, augmented by its booming tourism, retail and startup industries, while a growing number of expatriates and returning Penangite émigrés have repurposed the city's heritage properties for business enterprises. [124] [125] [126] In 2016, George Town was ranked the most attractive destination for commercial property investment within Malaysia by Knight Frank, surpassing even Kuala Lumpur. [127]

In 2015, the Malaysian federal government elevated the Penang Island Municipal Council into the present-day Penang Island City Council; in effect, the jurisdiction of the city of George Town was expanded to cover the entirety of Penang Island, as well as five of the surrounding islets. [128] This also makes George Town the only Malaysian city to have been conferred city status twice. Patahiyah Ismail became the first mayor of Penang Island, as well as the first female mayor in Penang's history. [129]

Skyline of George Town, Penang.jpg
Skyline of George Town as of 2017, as seen from Gurney Drive.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Straits Settlements</span> British colony in Southeast Asia (1826–1946)

The Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia. Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under control of the British Raj in 1858 and then under direct British control as a Crown colony in 1867. In 1946, following the end of World War II and the Japanese occupation, the colony was dissolved as part of Britain's reorganisation of its Southeast Asian dependencies in the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penang</span> State in Malaysia

Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. These two halves are physically connected by the Penang Bridge and the Second Penang Bridge. The state shares borders with Kedah to the north and east, and Perak to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Town, Penang</span> Capital city of the Malaysian state of Penang

George Town is the capital of the Malaysian state of Penang. It is the core city of the George Town Conurbation, Malaysia's second largest metropolitan area with a population of 2.84 million and the second highest contributor to the country's GDP. The city proper spans an area of 306 km2 (118 sq mi) encompassing Penang Island and surrounding islets, and had a population of 794,313 as of 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malayan Union</span> Post-war federation of the Malay states and the Straits Settlements of Penang and Malacca

The Malayan Union was a union of the Malay states and the Straits Settlements of Penang and Malacca. It was the successor to British Malaya and was conceived to unify the Malay Peninsula under a single government to simplify administration. Following opposition by the ethnic Malays, the union was reorganised as the Federation of Malaya in 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federation of Malaya</span> Federation of British territories from 1948–57; independent country from 1957–63

The Federation of Malaya, more commonly known as Malaya, was a country of what previously had been the Malayan Union and, before that, British Malaya. It comprised eleven states – nine Malay states and two of the Straits Settlements, Penang and Malacca. It was established on 1 February 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tunku Abdul Rahman</span> Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1957 to 1970

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah was a Malaysian statesman and lawyer who served as the first prime minister of Malaysia and the head of government of its predecessor states from 1955 to 1970. He was the first chief minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955 to 1957. He supervised the independence process that culminated on 31 August 1957. As an independent Malaysia's first prime minister, he dominated the country's politics for the next 13 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butterworth, Seberang Perai</span> Town in Malaysia

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Swettenham</span> British colonial official in Malaya

Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham was a British colonial administrator who became the first Resident general of the Federated Malay States, which brought the Malay states of Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang together under the administration of a Resident-General based in Kuala Lumpur. He served from 1 July 1896 to 4 November 1901. He was also an amateur painter, photographer and antique collector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seberang Perai</span> City in the Malaysian state of Penang

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Malaya</span> Former set of states on Malay Peninsula

The term "British Malaya" loosely describes a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the island of Singapore that were brought under British hegemony or control between the late 18th and the mid-20th century. Unlike the term "British India", which excludes the Indian princely states, British Malaya is often used to refer to the Federated and the Unfederated Malay States, which were British protectorates with their own local rulers, as well as the Straits Settlements, which were under the sovereignty and direct rule of the British Crown, after a period of control by the East India Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Penang</span>

The State of Penang, one of the most developed and urbanised Malaysian states, is located at the nation's northwest coast along the Malacca Strait. Unlike most Malaysian states, the history of modern Penang was shaped by British colonialism, beginning with the acquisition of Penang Island from the Sultanate of Kedah by the British East India Company in 1786. Developed into a free port, the city state was subsequently governed as part of the Straits Settlements, together with Singapore and Malacca; the state capital, George Town, briefly became the capital of this political entity between 1826 and 1832. By the end of the 19th century, George Town prospered and became one of the major entrepôts in Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Penang</span>

The State of Penang in Malaysia, home to the country's third largest city as well as part of Malaysia's second most populous conurbation, has a relatively well-developed transport infrastructure. The city-state is well-connected by land, air and sea; the Penang International Airport is one of Malaysia's busiest, while the Port of Penang is the main harbour and transshipment hub within northern Malaysia. The North–South Expressway, the main highway along western Peninsular Malaysia, runs through Penang, while the two geographically separate halves of the state are now linked by two bridges and a ferry service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Penang</span> State flag of Penang

The flag of Penang consists of three vertical bands and an areca-nut palm on a grassy mount in the centre. All three bands are of equal width. From left to right, the colour of each band is light blue, white and yellow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peninsular Malaysia</span> Western, mainland Malaysia

Peninsular Malaysia, historically known as Malaya, also known as West Malaysia or the "Malaysian Peninsula", is the western part of Malaysia that comprises the southern part of the Malay Peninsula on Mainland Southeast Asia and the nearby islands. Its area totals approximately 132,490 km2 (51,150 sq mi), which is nearly 40% of the total area of the country; the other 60% is in East Malaysia on the island of Borneo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikhism in Malaysia</span> Indian origin ethnic group

Malaysian Sikhs are known to be the fourth largest Malaysian Indian ethnic group. It is estimated that there are around 100,000 Sikhs in Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penang High Court</span> State Supreme Court of Penang, Malaysia

The Penang High Court, founded in 1808, is the birthplace of Malaysia's judiciary system. It is housed inside a Palladian-style building at Light Street, George Town, Penang. To this day, the High Court sits at the top of Penang's hierarchy of courts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of Penang</span> Port in Malaysia

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 in terms of cargo as of 2017, handling 1.52 million TEUs of cargo, as well as the busiest port-of-call within the country for cruise shipping.

Penang is a diverse multiethnic and multicultural society. Residents of the state are colloquially known as Penangites or "Penang-lang". Traditionally regarded as a Chinese-majority state, the Bumiputera population, which includes ethnic Malays, has reached parity with that of the Chinese in recent years.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "The Founding of Penang". www.sabrizain.org. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "History of Penang". Visit Penang. 2008. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  3. Swettenham; Frank Athelstane (1850–1946). "Map to illustrate the Siamese question". W. & A.K. Johnston Limited. University of Michigan Library . Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Lewis, Su Lin (2016). Cities in Motion: Urban Life and Cosmopolitanism in Southeast Asia, 1920–1940. United Kingdom: Cambridge University. ISBN   9781107108332.
  5. 1 2 "Francis Light | British military officer". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Penang Notebook". 10 December 2015. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Jenkins, Gwynn (2008). Contested Space: Cultural Heritage and Identity Reconstructions : Conservation Strategies Within a Developing Asian City. LIT Verlag Münster. ISBN   9783825813666.
  8. Zabidi, Nor Diana. "Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang - Fort Cornwallis 228th Anniversary Celebration". www.penang.gov.my (in Malay). Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Hockton, Keith (2012). Penang: An Inside Guide to Its Historic Homes, Buildings, Monuments and Parks. Kuala Lumpur: MPH Group Publishing. ISBN   9789674153038.
  10. Ooi, Keat Gin (2010). The A to Z of Malaysia. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN   9780810876415.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Ooi, Keat Gin. "Disparate Identities: Penang from a Historical Perspective, 1780–1941" (PDF). Universiti Sains Malaysia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 February 2017.
  12. Ashley Jackson (November 2013). Buildings of Empire. OUP Oxford. pp. 7–. ISBN   978-0-19-958938-8.
  13. Nordin, Hussin. "Malaysian Journal of Society and Space" (PDF). Charting the Early History of Penang Trading Networks and Its Connections with the New ASEAN Growth Triangle (Malaysia-Indonesia-Thailand). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  14. Nordin, Hussin (1 December 2005). "Networks of Malay Merchants and the Rise of Penang as a Regional Trading Centre". Southeast Asian Studies. 43 (3): 215–237. ISSN   0563-8682.
  15. "pg.3 - Chapter 1 - Early Penang Society (contd)". 100pfs.blogspot.my. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  16. Phipps, John, (of the Master Attendant's Office, Calcutta), (1840) A Collection of Papers Relative to Ship Building in India ...: Also a Register Comprehending All the Ships ... Built in India to the Present Time .... (Scott), p.175.
  17. 1 2 Souza, George Bryan (2014). Hinterlands and Commodities: Place, Space, Time and the Political Economic Development of Asia over the Long Eighteenth Century. BRILL. ISBN   9789004283909.
  18. 1 2 3 Ooi, Kee Beng (2014). "When Penang Became A Spice Island". Penang Monthly. Archived from the original on 29 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Khoo, Su Nin (2007). Streets of George Town, Penang . Penang: Areca Books. ISBN   978-983-9886-00-9.
  20. "The Penang Story". A Comparison on the Urban Spatial Structures of the British Colonial Port Cities Among Calcutta, George Town and Singapore.
  21. "Too close for comfort for Penang folks - Star2.com". Star2.com. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  22. "George Town World Heritage Site". www.gtwhi.com.my. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  23. "ASEAN Conference on Environment-Behaviour Studies". Urban Landscape Factors That Influenced the Character of George Town, Penang Unesco World Heritage Site.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Daniel Goh, P. S. (2014). "Between History and Heritage: Post-Colonialism, Globalisation, and the Remaking of Malacca, Penang and Singapore" (PDF). Trans-Regional and -National Studies of Southeast Asia. 2.
  25. 1 2 Koay Su Lin, Steven Sim (2014). "A history of local elections in Penang Part I: Democracy Comes Early". Penang Monthly. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  26. 1 2 "Brief History - Penang Bar Committee". penangbar.org. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  27. 1 2 "History of The Malaysian Judiciary | Chief Registrar's Office Federal Court of Malaysia Official Website". www.kehakiman.gov.my. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  28. 1 2 Bernard See (18 March 2007). "Keepers of the peace". The Star . Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  29. 1 2 "Brief history of the Royal Malaysia Police". The Star . 17 May 2005.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Langdon, Marcus (2014). George Town's Historic Commercial and Civic Precincts. Penang: George Town World Heritage Incorporated.
  31. "The Jewish community in Penang is all but gone leaving only tombs behind - Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  32. "Singapore becomes admin centre of the Straits Settlements - Singapore History". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  33. "Judicial History". Supreme Court of Singapore.
  34. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Turnbull, C. M. "The Penang Story". Penang's Changing Role in the Straits Settlements, 1826–1946.
  35. 1 2 3 4 Khoo, Salma Nasution (2009). Penang and Its Region: The Story of an Asian Entrepôt. Singapore: National University of Singapore. ISBN   978-9971-69-423-4.
  36. Wong, Yee Tuan (2015). Penang Chinese Commerce in the 19th Century: The Rise and Fall of the Big Five. Singapore: ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. ISBN   978-981-4515-02-3.
  37. "An Indulgent Minority". Penang Tourism. 5 July 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  38. Usman Haji Yaakob; Nik Norliati Fitri Md Nor (2013). "The Process and Effects of Demographic Transition in Penang, Malaysia" (PDF). School of Humanities. University of Science, Malaysia. pp. 42, 45 6, 9/28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  39. 1 2 "Asian Studies". Government Legislation for Chinese Secret Societies in the Straits Settlements in the Late 19th. Century.
  40. "A cowboy town that was old Penang - Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  41. "THE DISTURBANCES AT PENANG. - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - 16 Sep 1867". Trove. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  42. "Anson A E". friendsofhastingscemetery.org.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  43. "Caught between two triads | Wong Chun Wai". wongchunwai.com. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  44. "Formation of the Straits Settlements - Singapore History". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  45. Singapore, National Library Board. "Straits Settlements | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  46. "Jelutong: Home to a thriving coastal village | Wong Chun Wai". wongchunwai.com. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  47. Siow Yuen Ching. "Glorious days of Penang's trams". The Star. Malaysia. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  48. Francis, Ric & Ganley, Colin: Penang trams, trolleybuses & railways: municipal transport history, 1880s–1963. Areca Books: Penang, 2006
  49. "Then and now: The stories behind Southeast Asia's heritage hotels | CNN Travel" . Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  50. Singapore, National Library Board. "Sun Yat Sen | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  51. Andrew Sheng. "Dr Sun Yat Sen's historic Penang conference - Business News | The Star Online" . Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  52. Ajay Kamalakaran (20 May 2015). "Battle of Penang: When Malay fishermen rescued Russian sailors". Russia Beyond the Headlines . Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  53. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Barber, Andrew (2010). Penang At War : A History of Penang During and Between the First and Second World Wars 1914–1945. AB&B.
  54. Alan Warren (2006). Britain's Greatest Defeat: Singapore 1942. A&C Black. pp. 109–. ISBN   978-1-85285-597-0.
  55. "Penang Evacuated - British Garrison Withdrawn NEW JAP THRUSTS IN MALAYA London, December 19 - Northern Times (Carnarvon, WA : 1905–1952) - 20 Dec 1941". Trove. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  56. 1 2 Bayly, Christopher (2005). Forgotten Armies: The Fall of British Asia, 1941–1945. Harvard University.
  57. Chen, C. Peter. "Invasion of Malaya and Singapore". WW2DB. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  58. Netto, Anil (6 October 2013). "Old Penang: The Sook Ching massacres of World War II - anilnetto.com". anilnetto.com. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  59. "Researcher details shattered lives of local comfort women". Malaysiakini. 11 August 2001. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  60. "THE ALLIED REOCCUPATION OF THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS, 1945". www.iwm.org.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  61. "Researcher details shattered lives of local comfort women". Malaysiakini. 11 August 2001. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  62. Currency replacement and price freeze, Syonan Shimbun, 23 February 1942, Page 3
  63. Financing Japan's World War II Occupation of Southeast Asia, Gregg Huff and Shinobu Majima, Pembroke College - University of Oxford and Faculty of Economics - Gakushuin University, pp. 7–19
  64. Japan needs ships, The Decatur Daily Review, Decatur, Illinois, Saturday, July 31, 1943 – p. 4
  65. Privilege To Bow To Sentry On Duty, Syonan Shimbun, 9 March 1942, Page 3, retrieved 31 March 2017
  66. "uboat.net - U-boat Operations- The Monsun U-boats - 3. Monsun boats". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  67. "German U-Boat Operations in Australian Waters".
  68. "World War II: Yanagi Missions -- Japan's Underwater Convoys | HistoryNet". www.historynet.com. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  69. Borsa, Arnaldo. "Italian Royal Navy in World War Two: Italian surface units in Far East". www.icsm.it. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  70. Kratoska, Paul. War and Occupation in Penang, 1941–1945. Singapore: National University of Singapore.
  71. Paul H. Kratoska (1998). The Japanese Occupation of Malaya: A Social and Economic History. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers. pp. 296–. ISBN   978-1-85065-284-7.
  72. 1 2 3 4 5 Koay, Su Lin (September 2016). "Penang: The Rebel State (Part One)". Penang Monthly. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  73. 1 2 3 4 Christie, Clive (1998). A Modern History of Southeast Asia: Decolonization, Nationalism and Separatism. I.B.Tauris. ISBN   978-1-86064-354-5.
  74. 1 2 3 4 Koay, Su Lin (October 2016). "Penang: The Rebel State (Part Two)". Penang Monthly. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  75. "Journal of Southeast Asian Studies". The Penang Secession Movement, 1948–1951.
  76. Noordin Sopiee, M. (1973). "The Penang Secession Movement, 1948–1951". Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. 4 (1): 52–71. doi:10.1017/S0022463400016416. S2CID   154817139.
  77. 1 2 "Newspaper Article - "Gallup Poll" On Penang Secession". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  78. 1 2 3 4 5 Koay, Su Lin (December 2014). "A history of local elections in Penang Part II: A legacy to protect". Penang Monthly. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  79. 1 2 Ooi, Kee Beng (February 2011). "The day George Town grew up". Penang Monthly. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  80. 1 2 3 "PENANG' BIG DAY—WHAT A DAY!" . Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  81. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Koay, Su Lyn (April 2014). "When Labour ruled the council". Penang Monthly. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  82. 1 2 Ooi, Kee Beng (January 2015). "George Town – From city to municipality to culture centre". Penang Monthly. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  83. 1 2 Koay, Su Lyn (March 2015). "Local elections as the foundation of democracy Part I: The Athi Nahappan Report revisited". Penang Monthly. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  84. Brash, Celeste (2008). Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Penang. Lonely Planet. ISBN   978-1-74104-485-0.
  85. "The man behind Penang's economic transformation". The Star . Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  86. 1 2 3 Evelyn Teh (July 2016). "Where the Sea Meets the City is Where the World Meets Penang". Penang Monthly. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  87. "The Mainland Awakens". Penang Monthly. 1 September 2016. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  88. Eckhardt, Robyn (2 December 2010). "In Malaysia, Tourists Are Lured by George Town's Colorful Past". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  89. Rasiah, Rajah (December 1991). "Foreign Firms in Penang's Industrial Transformation". Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia .
  90. "Brain-drain debate after Penang loses $4b deal". news.asiaone.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  91. 1 2 "Higher Education in Regional and City Development : State of Penang, Malaysia". OECD.
  92. "Watching Penang 'grow'". Malaysiakini. 3 March 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  93. Nancy Duxbury, W.F. Garrett-Petts, David MacLennan (2015). Cultural Mapping as Cultural Inquiry. Routledge. ISBN   9781317588016.
  94. 1 2 3 "Komtar: Malaysia's Monument to Failed Modernism — Failed Architecture" . Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  95. "Angry Penangites speak out against PGCC - anilnetto.com". anilnetto.com. 5 October 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  96. "Penang's iconic Komtar gets RM50m facelift". 29 October 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  97. Loh, Arnold. "Much of Komtar's charm is gone - Nation | The Star Online" . Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  98. "The Penang Island City agenda". www.thesundaily.my. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  99. 1 2 "Where is George Town?". Malay Mail . 4 April 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  100. "Penang Island Municipal Council seeks city status status | theSundaily". www.thesundaily.my. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  101. "By Laws". Official Portal of Penang Island City Council (MBPP). 9 October 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  102. "Penang forgetting its history". The Star . 1 January 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  103. Goh, Ban Lee (February 2010). "Remember the city status of George Town". Penang Monthly. Archived from the original on 9 December 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  104. "Penang's new financial hub - Business News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  105. Goh, Beng Lan (2002). Modern Dreams: An Inquiry Into Power, Cultural Production and the Cityscape in Contemporary Urban Penang, Malaysia. SEAP Publications. ISBN   9780877277309.
  106. "Asia Times: Wreckers ball rips heart out of city: Car Rentals at www.The-Car-Reservations-Desk.com". Archived from the original on 12 April 2001. Retrieved 13 September 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  107. Sue-Ching Jou, Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao, Natacha Aveline-Dubach (2014). Globalization and New Intra-Urban Dynamics in Asian Cities. Taipei: National Taiwan University. ISBN   9789863500216.
  108. 1 2 3 4 "Tsunami impact in Penang, Malaysia: Our island, our world". aliran.com. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  109. "Akta Warisan akan diperkenal". Utusan Online. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  110. Lilian Chan (22 January 2015). "Garbage dump to shining city". Buletin Mutiara. George Town.
  111. Ooi, Kee Beng (2010). Pilot Studies for a New Penang. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN   9789814279697.
  112. Ng, Su-Ann (7 November 2004). "Penang losing its tourism lustre". The Star .
  113. Habibu, Sira (7 December 2004). "CM: Work hard to bring lustre back to Penang". The Star .
  114. "Penang - who should stop the rot?". Malaysiakini . 16 December 2004. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  115. Wong, Chun Wai (12 December 2004). "Act fast to boost island's sagging image". Wong Chun Wai. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  116. Saravanamuttu Jayaratnam, Lee Hock Guan, Ooi Kee Beng (2008). March 8: Eclipsing May 13. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN   9789812308962.
  117. "How ready is Penang for another tsunami after 10 years?". 26 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  118. Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  119. "Payment card launched for bike sharing system". The Star . 1 June 2017.
  120. "Stop! Walkers crossing". The Star . 10 May 2016.
  121. Eileen Ng (14 May 2016). "Guan Eng lifts from Singapore playbook in ambitious bid to make Penang world class". Malay Mail . Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  122. "Penang's capital is eighth most liveable city in Asia, on par with KL and Bangkok". The Star . 23 May 2010.
  123. "Ipoh is Malaysia's cleanest city". The Star . 14 August 2017.
  124. 1 2 Lester Kong (4 November 2013). "George Town: From old to modern chic and expensive". AsiaOne. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  125. 1 2 "Singapore investors 'invading' pre-war properties in Penang". The Straits Times . 12 June 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  126. "A Silicon Valley of the East: Penang's thriving start-up community". Channel NewsAsia . Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  127. "Malaysia Commercial Real Estate Investment Sentiment Survey 2016" (PDF). Knight Frank .
  128. "George Town meliputi 'pulau', jelas Datuk Bandar" (PDF). Buletin Mutiara. 1 May 2015.
  129. "Penang's first mayor a woman". The Star . 25 March 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2017.

Further reading