States and Territories of Malaysia
Pulau Pinang Penang
Flag Coat of arms
State motto: Bersatu dan Setia (United and Loyal) (formerly Let Penang Lead)
State anthem: Untuk Negeri Kita ("For Our State")
Capital	George Town 5°25′N, 100°19′E
Ruling party	Barisan Nasional
- Yang Di-Pertua Negeri	Tuan Yang Terutama Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abbas
- Ketua Menteri	Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon
History
- Ceded by Kedah to British	11 August 1786
- Japanese occupation	1942
- Accession into Federation of Malaya	1948
Area
- Total	1,046.3 km²
Population
- 2006 estimate	1.47 million
- Density	1404.91/km²
HDI  (2000)	0.828 (high)
National calling code	+604
National postal code	10000 - 19500
License plate prefix	P
Website:	http://www.penang.gov.my
1 2,031.74 people per km² on Penang Island and 865.99 people per km² in Seberang Perai

Penang (pronounced /pə'næŋ/; Malay: Pulau Pinang) is the name of an island in the Straits of Malacca, and also of one of the states of Malaysia, located on the north-west coast of peninsular Malaysia. Penang is the second smallest state in Malaysia after Perlis, and the eighth most populous. A resident of Penang is colloquially known as a Penangite. Image File history File links Flag_of_Malaysia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Penang_(Malaysia). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Coat_of_arms_of_Penang. ... Image:Antigua and barbuda coa. ... An anthem is a composition to an English religious text sung in the context of an Anglican service. ... Anthem of the Malaysian state of Pulau Pinang Selamat Tuhan kurniakan Selamat Pulau Pinang Negeriku yang mulia Kutaat dan setia Aman dan bahagia Majulah jayalah Negeriku yang ku cinta Bersatu dan bersama Untuk negeri kita Words and music by Zainal Awaluddin bin Haji Zainal Alam Actually, the TRUTH is, it... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 273 pixelsFull resolution‎ (3,000 × 1,025 pixels, file size: 118 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... George Town is the capital city of the state of Penang in Malaysia. ... General elections were held in Malaysia on March 21, 2004. ... Barisan Nasional (National Front or BN) is a political coalition in Malaysia. ... A Chief Minister is the elected Head of Government of a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British overseas territory that has attained self-government. ... Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon (born 1949) is a Malaysian politican and currently is Penangs Chief Minister. ... Throughout much of the Second World War, British Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak were under Japanese occupation. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... World map indicating Human Development Index (2006). ... Telephone numbering in Malaysia is regulated by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). ... The postal codes used in Malaysia is a 5 digit code. ... Malaysian vehicle license plates are the license plates displayed on all motorized road vehicles in Malaysia, as required by law. ... Not to be confused with the Malayalam language, spoken in India. ... The Straits of Malacca is a narrow stretch of water between Peninsular Malaysia (West Malaysia) and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. ... Malaysia is a federation of 13 states. ... Map of Peninsular Malaysia Peninsular Malaysia (or Semenanjung Malaysia in the Malay language) is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula, and shares a land border with Thailand in the north. ... This article is about the Malaysian state. ...

Name

The island was referred to as 檳榔嶼 (Bīnláng Xù) in the navigational drawings used by Admiral Zheng He of Ming-dynasty China in his expeditions to the South Seas in the 15th century. Early Malays called it Pulau Ka-Satu or "First Island". A modern illustration of Zheng He, by an unidentified artist. ... For other uses, see Ming. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ...

The name "Penang" comes from the modern Malay name Pulau Pinang, which means island of the betel nut tree (Areca catechu), family Palmae. In Chinese, Penang is known as 檳城 (pinyin: Bīnchéng / Bīngchéng; Hokkien: Peng Sheah). All three names can refer either to the island of Penang, the state of Penang or sometimes the state capital, George Town. Binomial name Areca catechu Linnaeus Areca nut, or pinang, more commonly known as betel nut, is the seed of the betel palm or Areca catechu, a species of palm tree which grows throughout the Pacific, Asia, and parts of east Africa. ... Genera Many; see list of Arecaceae genera Arecaceae (also known as Palmae or Palmaceae), the palm family, is a family of flowering plants, belonging to the monocot order Arecales. ... Pinyin, more formally called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ), is the most common variant of Standard Mandarin romanization system in use. ... Hokkien is a Min nan word corresponding to Standard Mandarin Fujian. It can refer to: Min Nan, a Chinese language/dialect, also called Minnan, Min Nan or Minnanyu (meaning Southern Fujian). ... George Town is the capital city of the state of Penang in Malaysia. ...

More specifically, George Town is known as Tanjung in Malay and 喬治市 (Qiáozhì Shì) in Chinese. Penang Island is simply Pulau Pinang (/'pulaʊ 'pinaŋ/) in Malay and 檳榔嶼 (Bīnláng Xù) in Chinese, and Penang state is Negeri Pulau Pinang in Malay and 檳州 (Bīn Zhōu) in Chinese. George Town is the capital city of the state of Penang in Malaysia. ...

Geography

State of Penang

The state is geographically and administratively divided into two sections: Image File history File links Penang_State_Map. ... Image File history File links Penang_State_Map. ...

• Penang Island: an island of 293 square kilometres located in the Straits of Malacca; and

• Seberang Perai (also known as Province Wellesley): a narrow hinterland of 760 square kilometres on the Malay peninsula across a narrow channel whose smallest width is 4 km (2.5 miles). It is bordered by Kedah in the north (demarcated by the Muda River) and east, and Perak in the south.

The body of water between Penang Island and Seberang Perai is the North Channel to the north of George Town and the South Channel to the south of George Town. Penang Island is irregularly shaped, with a granitic, hilly and mostly forested interior, the highest point being Western Hill (part of Penang Hill) at 830 metres above sea level. The coastal plains are narrow, the most extensive of which is in the northeast which forms a triangular promontory where George Town, the state capital, is situated. The topography of Province Wellesley is mostly flat. Butterworth, the main town in Province Wellesley, lies along the Perai River estuary and faces George Town at a distance of 3 km (2 miles) across the channel to the east. The Malay Peninsula (Malay: Semenanjung Tanah Melayu) is a major peninsula located in Southeast Asia. ... State anthem: Allah Selamatkan Sultan Mahkota Capital Alor Star Royal capital Anak Bukit Ruling party Barisan Nasional  - Sultan Tuanku Abdul Halim  - Menteri Besar Mahdzir Khalid History    - British control 1909   - Japanese occupation 1942   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 9,426 km² Population  - 2003 estimate 1,778,188  - Density... Muda River is the longest river in Kedah, Malaysia. ... For other uses, see Perak (disambiguation). ... George Town is the capital city of the state of Penang in Malaysia. ... South Channel is a channel separating Penang Island and mainland Peninsular Malaysia in Malaysia. ... George Town is the capital city of the state of Penang in Malaysia. ... View from the top of Penang Hill. ... The term promontory has several similar meanings in English, including geographical names: A promontory is a prominent mass of land which overlooks lower lying land or a body of water (e. ... George Town is the capital city of the state of Penang in Malaysia. ... For discussion of land surfaces themselves, see Terrain. ... Butterworth (population 108,000) is the principal town of Seberang Prai district (formerly Province Wellesley) in the state of Penang in Malaysia. ...

Towns

Province Wellesley

Air Itam is a main town in Penang, Malaysia. ... Balik Pulau is a town in Penang, Malaysia Categories: | ... Beach at Batu Ferringhi Batu Ferringhi (Foreigners Rock[1]) is a strip of beaches on the northern coast of Penang, Malaysia. ... Batu Maung is a town in Penang, Malaysia. ... Batu Lanchang is a small town near Jelutong. ... Bayan Baru is located in Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia. ... Bayan Lepas is town in Penang, Malaysia. ... Farlim is a township area with housing estates located near Air Itam in Penang, Malaysia. ... This article lacks information on the importance of the subject matter. ... George Town is the capital city of the state of Penang in Malaysia. ... Green Lane is a small town located inside Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia. ... Gurney Drive (Malay: Persiaran Gurney) is a popular seafront street in George Town, Penang, Malaysia. ... This article lacks information on the importance of the subject matter. ... Paya Terubong is a small town located in Air Itam, Penang, Malaysia. ... Pulau Tikus is a small island in Penang, Malaysia. ... Pulau Betong is a small island in Penang, Malaysia. ... Sungai Ara is a small town in Penang, Malaysia. ... Sungai Dua is a town in Penang, Malaysia. ... Sungai Nibong is a town located near Batu Uban in Penang, Malaysia. ... Tanjung Bungah is a small town in Penang, Malaysia. ... Tanjung Tokong is a small town in Penang, Malaysia. ... Teluk Bahang is a town in Penang, Malaysia. ... Bagan Ajam is a small town in Penang, Malaysia. ... Batu Kawan is a small town in Penang, Malaysia. ... St. ... Bukit Minyak is a industrial zone located near Permatang Tinggi, Penang, Malaysia. ... Butterworth may refer to people with the surname: Bob Butterworth, former Florida attorney general George Butterworth, a composer Mary Butterworth, a colonial counterfeiter S. Butterworth, the inventor of the Butterworth filter Butterworth may also be referred to these following places: Butterworth, Penang, a town located in Province Wellesley, Penang, Malaysia... Jawi is a town on the mainland side of Penang, Malaysia. ... Juru is a town in Penang, Malaysia Category: ... Kepala Batas is a town in Penang, Malaysia. ... Nibong Tebal is a main town in Penang, Malaysia Category: ... Pantai Aceh is a town in Penang, Malaysia. ... Permatang Pauh is a town in Penang, Malaysia. ... Perai is a main industrial area in Penang, Malaysia. ... Seberang Jaya is a township near Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. ... Sungai Bakap is a town in Penang, Malaysia. ... Tambun is a main town in Kinta district, Perak, Malaysia. ... Permatang Tinggi is a small town located in Penang, Malaysia. ...

Greater Metropolitan Area of Penang

The National Physical Plan of Malaysia envisages a Conurbation of George Town encompassing George Town and surrounding areas. The Conurbation of George Town, together with the Conurbation of Johor Bahru are designated as Regional Growth Conurbations while the Conurbation of Kuala Lumpur is the National Growth Conurbation.

The greater metropolitan area of Penang consists of highly urbanized Penang Island, Seberang Prai, Sungai Petani, Kulim and the surrounding areas. In terms of population, it is the second largest urban area in Malaysia after the Conurbation of Kuala Lumpur (Klang Valley). According to the 2000 national census, the population of this urban area is about 1.6 million. As for the Conurbation of Kuala Lumpur, the population in 2000 is about 4.9 million while the population of Johor Bahru is 1 million. Currently, the population of this urban area is approximately 2 million.[1], Sungai Petani (abbreviated or SP) is a town in the state of Kedah, in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia[1]. Sungai Petani is the second largest town in Kedah after Alor Star. ... Kulim is a major town and district in Kedah, Malaysia. ... Klang Valley is the area in central Selangor, Malaysia comprising Kuala Lumpur and its surroundings and suburbs naturally delineated by hilly areas and the Port Klang coastline. ... Nickname: Motto: Berkhidmat, Berbudaya, Berwawasan (English: Servicing, cultured, visionary) Location in Malaysia Coordinates: Country Malaysia State Johor Establishment 1855 Granted city status 1994 Government  - Mayor Latiff Yusof Area  - City 185 km²  (72. ...

Under 9th Malaysia Plan, this urban area is referred to as the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER). The Northern Corridor Economic Region is one of the three development regions formed in Peninsular Malaysia, other development regions being the South Johor Economic Region (SJER) or Iskandar Development Region (IDR) and the East Coast Development Region. The Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) encompases Penang (Penang Island and Seberang Prai), Kedah (Alor Star, Sungai Petani and Kulim) and Northern Perak. Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) (Malay: Wilayah Ekonomi Koridor Utara) is a new economic development corridor in Malaysia. ... Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) (Malay: Wilayah Ekonomi Koridor Utara) is a new economic development corridor in Malaysia. ... South Johor Economic Region (SJER) (Malay: Pembangunan Wilayah Ekonomi Selatan Johor) is the new main southern development corridor in Johor, Malaysia. ... Iskandar Development Region (IDR) (Malay: Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar). ... Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) (Malay: Wilayah Ekonomi Koridor Utara) is a new economic development corridor in Malaysia. ... State anthem: Allah Selamatkan Sultan Mahkota Capital Alor Star Royal capital Anak Bukit Ruling party Barisan Nasional  - Sultan Tuanku Abdul Halim  - Menteri Besar Mahdzir Khalid History    - British control 1909   - Japanese occupation 1942   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 9,426 km² Population  - 2003 estimate 1,778,188  - Density... Alor Stars City Emblem Menara Alor Star, the start-of-art communication tower Alor Star (Traditional Chinese: 亞羅士打, Simplified Chinese: 亚罗士打, Pinyin: yàluóshìdÇŽ), City of Rice Bowl of Malaysia(Chinese: 米都), formally known as Alor Setar, with a colourful past that spanned over more than 250 years. ... Sungai Petani (abbreviated or SP) is a town in the state of Kedah, in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia[1]. Sungai Petani is the second largest town in Kedah after Alor Star. ... Kulim is a major town and district in Kedah, Malaysia. ... For other uses, see Perak (disambiguation). ...

Outlying islets

There are a number of small islets off the coast of Penang, the biggest of which, Pulau Jerejak, is located in the narrow channel between Penang Island and the mainland. It was previously a leper and penal colony, but is now a tourist attraction. Other islands include: Formerly a penal colony, this 362 hectare island called Pulau Jerejak (Jerejak Island) is a short ferry ride from Bayan Lepas, Penang. ... Hansens disease, commonly known as leprosy, is an infectious disease caused by infection by Mycobacterium leprae. ...

Pulau Aman is a small island in Penang, Malaysia. ... Pulau Betong is a small island in Penang, Malaysia. ... Pulau Gedung is a small island in Penang, Malaysia. ... Pulau Kendi is a small island in Penang, Malaysia. ... Pulau Rimau is a small island in Penang, Malaysia. ...

Climate

Penang enjoys a year-round equatorial climate which is warm and sunny, along with plentiful rainfall, especially during the southwest monsoon from April to September. The climate is very much dictated by the surrounding sea and the wind system. Penang's proximity with Sumatra, Indonesia makes it susceptible to dust particles carried by wind from perennial but transient forest fires, creating a phenomenon known as the haze. For other uses, see Monsoon (disambiguation). ... Sumatra (also spelled Sumatera) is the sixth largest island in the world (approximately 470,000 km²) and is the largest island entirely in Indonesia (two larger islands, Borneo and New Guinea, are partially in Indonesia). ... Haze is an atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and other pollutant particles obscure the normal clarity of the sky. ...

The Bayan Lepas Regional Meteorological Office is the primary weather forecast facility for northern Peninsular Malaysia.

Source: National Environment Agency

Demography

Jewish Cemetery in George Town

Armenian Street (Lebuh Armenian)

The state has the highest population density in Malaysia with 2,031.74 people per square kilometre on the island and 865.99 people per square kilometre on the mainland. Penang, along with Malacca, are the only states in Malaysia where ethnic Chinese form a plurality. The ethnic composition in 2006 was: Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 382 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 382 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 475 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 475 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... For the use of the term in political theory, see Pluralism (political theory). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• Ethnic Chinese: 638,900 (43.2%)
• Malay: 601,200 (40.1%)^{[citation needed]}
• Ethnic Indian: 158,000 (9.9%)
• Others:
  • Bumiputra - other than Malay: 5,600 (0.38%)
  • Non-bumiputra: 91,200 (6.1%)

There were Jewish and Armenian communities in Penang before World War II, but these dissipated as a result of the Japanese occupation and the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. A small but commercially significant community of German merchants also existed in Penang. Today, Penang has a sizeable expatriate population especially from Japan and Britain, many of which settle in Penang after their retirement as part of the Malaysia My Second Home programme. A Chinese Malaysian (Mandarin: ma lai xi ya hua ren (馬來西亞華人), Hokkien: mah lai se ah hua kiao, Cantonese: mah lah zai wah kew (馬來西亞華僑), Bahasa Malaysia: fill-in) is an overseas Chinese who resides in Malaysia. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A non-resident Indian (NRI) is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country. ... Bumiputra or Bumiputera (Malay, from Sanskrit Bhumiputra; translated literally, it means son of the soil), is an official definition widely used in Malaysia, embracing ethnic Malays as well as other indigenous ethnic groups such as the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia and the tribal peoples in Sabah and Sarawak. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Throughout much of the Second World War, British Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak were under Japanese occupation. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Peranakan

A restaurant serving Baba-Nyonya cuisine.

The Peranakan, also known as the Straits Chinese or Baba-Nyonya, are the descendants of the early Chinese immigrants to Penang as well as to Malacca and Singapore. They have partially adopted Malay customs and speak a Chinese-Malay creole. The Peranakan community possesses a distinct identity in terms of food, costume, rites, crafts and culture. Most of the Peranakan Chinese are not Muslims but practise ancestor worship and Chinese religion. During British rule, the Peranakan had a reputation of being loyal British subjects and many of them adopted British mannerisms. They prided themselves as being Anglophone and distinguished themselves from the newly-arrived Chinamen or sinkheh. The Peranakan, however, are almost extinct today due to their re-absorption into the mainstream Chinese community. However, their legacy lives on in their great cuisine, their intricate nyonya kebaya costume and exquisite handicrafts. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 352 KB) Summary own work Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 352 KB) Summary own work Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Peranakan, Baba-Nyonya () and Straits Chinese (; named after the Straits Settlements) are terms used for the descendants of the very early Chinese immigrants to the Nusantara region, including both the British Straits Settlements of Malaya and the Dutch-controlled island of Java among other places, who have partially adopted Malay... Peranakan, Baba-Nyonya (峇峇娘惹) and Straits Chinese (土生華人; named after the Straits of Malacca) are terms used for the descendants of the very early Chinese immigrants to the Nusantara region, including both the British Straits Settlements of Singapore, Malacca and Penang and the Dutch-controlled island of Java among other places, who... Peranakan, Baba-Nyonya () and Straits Chinese (; named after the Straits Settlements) are terms used for the descendants of the very early Chinese immigrants to the Nusantara region, including both the British Straits Settlements of Malaya and the Dutch-controlled island of Java among other places, who have partially adopted Malay... This article is about the state in Malaysia. ... A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable language that originates seemingly as a new language, sometimes with features that are not inherited from any apparent source, without however qualifying in any appreciable way as a mixed language. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... Ancestor worship, also ancestor veneration, is a religious practice based on the belief that ones ancestors possess supernatural powers. ... Temple incense in Taichung, Taiwan with Fu Dog behind. ... Kebaya is an evergreen traditional blouse of Indonesian and Malaysian women made from sheer material and usually worn with the sarong, batik or other traditional knitted like songket of colorful motives. ... Handicraft, also known as craftwork or simply craft, is a type of work where useful and decorative devices are made completely by hand or using only simple tools. ...

Language

The common languages of Penang, depending on social classes, social circles, and ethnic backgrounds are English, Penang Hokkien, Tamil and Malay. Mandarin, which is taught in Chinese-medium schools in the state, is also increasingly spoken. Lingua franca, literally Frankish language in Italian, was originally a mixed language consisting largely of Italian plus a vocabulary drawn from Turkish, Persian, French, Greek and Arabic and used for communication throughout the Middle East. ... Malaysian English (MyE) or formally known as Malaysian Standard English (MySE) is a form of English used and spoken in Malaysia as a second language. ... Penang Hokkien is a local variant of Minnan (Southern Min) spoken in Penang, Malaysia. ... Not to be confused with the Malayalam language, spoken in India. ... This article is on all of the Northern Chinese dialects. ...

Penang Hokkien is a variant of Minnan and is widely spoken by a substantial proportion of the Penang populace who are descendants of early Chinese settlers. It bears strong resemblance to the language spoken by Chinese living in the Indonesian city of Medan and is based on the Minnan dialect of Zhangzhou prefecture in Fujian province, China, but incorporates a large number of loanwords from Malay and English. Many Penangites who are not ethnically Chinese are also able to speak in Hokkien. Most Penang Hokkien speakers are not literate in Hokkien but instead read and write in standard (Mandarin) Chinese, English and/or Malay. Mǐn Nán (Chinese: 閩南語), also spelt as Minnan or Min-nan; native name Bân-lâm-gú; literally means Southern Min or Southern Fujian and refers to the local language/dialect of southern Fujian province, China. ... For other uses, see Medan (disambiguation). ... Mǐn Nán (Chinese: 閩南語), also spelt as Minnan or Min-nan; native name Bân-lâm-gú; literally means Southern Min or Southern Fujian and refers to the local language/dialect of southern Fujian province, China. ... Zhangzhou (Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is a prefecture-level city in southern Fujian province, Peoples Republic of China. ... Fujian (Chinese: 福建; pinyin: Fújiàn; Wade-Giles: Fu-chien; Postal System Pinyin: Fukien, Foukien; local transliteration Hokkien from Min Nan Hok-kiàn) is one of the provinces on the southeast coast of China. ... A loanword (or a borrowing) is a word taken in by one language from another. ...

Malay is spoken locally with north-western dialect features, such as hang for "you" and depa for "they/them".

English is a working language widely used in business and commerce, and is also the language of instruction of Science and Mathematics in schools. English used in an official or formal context is predominantly British English with some American influences. Spoken English, as in the rest of Malaysia, is often in the form of Manglish (Malaysian colloquial English). British English (BrE, BE, en-GB) is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere in the Anglophone world. ... Manglish (or sometimes Malglish or Mangled English) is the colloquial version of the English language as spoken in Malaysia and it is a portmanteau of the word Malay and English (also possibly Mandarin and English). ...

Other languages, including Cantonese and Tamil, are also spoken in the state. Teochew is heard more in Province Wellesley than on Penang Island. This article is on all of the Yue dialects. ... Tamil ( ; IPA ) is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamils in India and Sri Lanka, with smaller communities of speakers in many other countries. ... The Chaozhou language, also called Teochew, Teochiu, Tiuchiu, or Diojiu, is a dialect of the Chinese spoken variant of Minnan 閩南, spoken in the Chaoshan 潮汕 region of eastern Guangdong 廣東. // Chaozhou is a member of the Southern Min or Minnan dialect group, which in turn constitutes one of the seven major dialect...

Religion

Chinese Buddhism is the main religion on Penang

The official religion of Penang is Islam and the head of Islam is the Yang Dipertuan Agong, but other religions are freely practised. These are Buddhism, in the Theravada, Mahayana and increasingly also Vajrayana traditions, Taoism, Chinese folk religion, Hinduism, Catholicism, Protestantism (the largest denominations of which are the Methodists, Seventh-day Adventists, Anglican, Presbyterian and Baptists) and Sikhism- reflecting Penang's diverse ethnic and socio-cultural amalgamation. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 435 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 435 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Flag of the Supreme Head of Malaysia Yang di-Pertuan Agong, a Malay title usually translated as Supreme Head, Supreme Ruler or Paramount Ruler, is the official title of the constitutional head of state of the federal state of Malaysia. ... A statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Tawang Gompa, India. ... Theravada (Pāli: theravāda; Sanskrit: स्थविरवाद sthaviravāda; literally, the Way of the Elders) is the oldest surviving Buddhist school, and for many centuries has been the predominant religion of Sri Lanka (about 70% of the population[1]) and most of continental Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand). ... Relief image of the bodhisattva Kuan Yin from Mt. ... A mandala used in Vajrayana Buddhist practices. ... Taoism (or Daoism) is the English name referring to a variety of related Chinese philosophical traditions and concepts. ... Clothed statues of Matsu / Mazu (Chinese goddess of the Sea) Chinese folk religion comprises the religion practiced in much of China for thousands of years which included ancestor veneration and drew heavily upon concepts and beings within Chinese mythology. ... Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... Catholic Church redirects here. ... Protestantism encompasses the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated with the doctrines of the Reformation. ... The Methodist movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity. ... The Seventh-day Adventist (abbreviated Adventist[1]) Church is a Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week, as the Sabbath. ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ... Presbyterianism is part of the Reformed churches family of denominations of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin which traces its institutional roots to the Scottish Reformation, especially as led by John Knox. ... Baptist churches are part of a Christian movement often regarded as an Evangelical, Protestant denomination. ... Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is a religion that began in fifteenth century Northern India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive human gurus. ...

There is also a small, but little-known, community of Jews in Penang, mainly along Jalan Zainal Abidin (formerly Jalan Yahudi or Jewish Street).

Characteristics of Penang

Being one of the earliest, most established urban centres in Malaysia, Penang has often prided herself on her progress while at the same time relishing her traditional and enduring values, way of life and mannerism. Old Penang evoked images of the slow-paced lifestyle of merchants and planters in the Far East, where European culture intermingled with Eastern customs and colonial buildings stood next to attap houses and rickshaw pullers and where electric trams met bullock carts. Chinese influence has always been more evident in urban areas due to their superior numbers while the Malays, until recent times, have largely resided in the rural areas. Malays although given special rights consider themselves a marginalised race in Penang. The far east as a cultural block includes East Asia, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and South Asia. ... Japanese rickshaw (jinrikisha), 1886. ... A modern tram in the Töölö district of Helsinki, Finland A tram (or tramway, trolley, streetcar, tramcar, Straßenbahn) is a railborne vehicle (lighter than a train) for transport of passengers (or, occasionally, freight). ...

21st century Penang remains a thriving commercial (and now industrial) centre with a relatively high standard of living. However, in terms of development it has been overtaken in recent years by the Klang Valley, which is the political and economic heart of modern Malaysia. While the slower rate of development in Penang has left much of its cultural and architectural heritage intact, what development there has been poorly managed due to underfunding in infrastructure by the federal government, corruption and the breakdown of participatory local government since the late 1960s. Nonetheless, Penangites maintain a strong civic identity rooted in Penang's former pre-eminence, reinforced by a strong local cultural and linguistic identity. Klang Valley is the area in central Selangor, Malaysia comprising Kuala Lumpur and its surroundings and suburbs naturally delineated by hilly areas and the Port Klang coastline. ...

History

Main article: History of Penang

Penang, originally part of the Malay Sultanate of Kedah, was given to the British East India Company in 1786 by the Sultan of Kedah, in exchange for military protection from Siamese and Burmese armies who were threatening Kedah. On 11 August 1786, Captain Francis Light, known as the founder of Penang, landed in Penang and renamed it Prince of Wales Island in honour of the heir to the British throne. This article is concerns the history of Penang. ... State anthem: Allah Selamatkan Sultan Mahkota Capital Alor Star Royal capital Anak Bukit Ruling party Barisan Nasional  - Sultan Tuanku Abdul Halim  - Menteri Besar Mahdzir Khalid History    - British control 1909   - Japanese occupation 1942   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 9,426 km² Population  - 2003 estimate 1,778,188  - Density... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was the first joint-stock company (the Dutch East India Company was the first to issue public stock). ... 1786 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... For the country formerly called Siam see Thailand SIAM is an acronym for Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. ... is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1786 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Captain Francis Light (1740-1794) was the founder of the British colony of Penang (in modern-day Malaysia) and its capital George Town in 1786. ... George IV (George Augustus Frederick) (12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830) was king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Hanover from 29 January 1820 until his death. ...

Unbeknownst to the Sultan, Light had acted without the approval of the East India Company when he promised military protection. When the Company failed to aid Kedah when it was attacked by Siam, the Sultan tried to retake the island in 1790. The attempt was unsuccessful, and the Sultan was forced to cede the island to the Company for an honorarium of 6,000 Spanish dollars per annum. This was later increased to 10,000 dollars, with Province Wellesley (Seberang Prai) being added to Penang in 1800. An annual honorarium of 10,000 ringgits continues to this day to be paid by the Malaysian Federal Government to the state of Kedah. Year 1790 (MDCCXC) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... Love gift Man presents a cut of meat to a youth with a hoop. ... The Spanish dollar or peso (literally, weight) is a silver coin that was minted in the Spanish Empire after a Spanish currency reform in 1497. ... Seberang Perai (formerly known as Province Wellesley) is a narrow hinterland opposite Penang island on the Malay Peninsula, which together with the island forms the Malaysian state of Penang. ... // ON MAY 5 1853 MR.FADER HAD SEX WITH A MAN NAME MR WIEN THEN THEY HAD SON NAMEDMRS COTURE AND MR MANOOGIAN WENT INTO MRS HASKELLS OFFICE NAKED AND DANCED AROUND AND MASTERBATED ON HER CHEST AND SHE LICKED IT OFF THEN THEY HAD ORAL SEEX WITH NAPLOEAN OF... Ringgit (Malay for jagged) mostly refers to the Malaysian ringgit, which is the local currency in Malaysia, but it can also refer to the Singapore dollar and Brunei dollar in the Malay language. ...

In 1826, Penang, along with Malacca and Singapore, became part of the Straits Settlements under the British administration in India, moving to direct British colonial rule in 1867. In 1946 it became part of the Malayan Union, before becoming in 1948 a state of the Federation of Malaya, which gained independence in 1957 and became Malaysia in 1963. The oldest surviving photograph, Nicéphore Niépce, circa 1826 1826 (MDCCCXXVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... This article is about the state in Malaysia. ... The Straits Settlements were a collection of territories of the British East India Company in Southeast Asia, which were given collective administration in 1826. ... Year 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Malayan Union was formed on April 1, 1946 by the British. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Federation of Malaya, or in Malay Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, was formed in 1948 from the British settlements of Penang and Malacca and the nine Malay states and replaced the Malayan Union. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ...

The island was a free port until 1969. Despite the loss of the island's free-port status, from the 1970s to the late 1990s the state built up one of the largest electronics manufacturing bases in Asia, in the Free Trade Zone around the airport in the south of the island. A free port (porto franco) or free zone (US: Foreign-Trade Zone) is a port or area with relaxed jurisdiction with respect to the country of location. ... Also: 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ...

is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 243rd day of the year (244th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ...

State government

The state has its own state legislature and executive, but these have very limited powers in comparison with those of the Malaysian federal authorities.

Executive

Penang is one of only four states in Malaysia not to have a hereditary Malay Ruler or Sultan, being a former British settlement, the other three being Malacca, also a British settlement, whose sultanate was ended by the Portuguese conquest in 1511, and the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak. For other uses, see Sultan (disambiguation). ... This article is about the state in Malaysia. ... A sultan (Arabic: سلطان) is an Islamic monarch ruling under the terms of shariah. ... Year 1511 (MDXI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... East Malaysia comprises Sabah and Sarawak East Malaysia consists of the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, located on the island of Borneo to the east, across the South China Sea from Peninsular Malaysia which is located on the Malay Peninsula. ... For other uses, see Sabah (disambiguation). ... For the river, see Sarawak River. ...

The head of the state executive is a Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia). The present Governor is Tun Dato' Seri Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abbas. In practice the Governor is a figurehead, and he acts upon the advice of the state Executive Council, which is appointed from the majority party in the Legislative Assembly. Yang di-Pertua Negeri, literally the head of state in Malay, is the title of the largely symbolic state Governors of the Malaysian states of Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak, who are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or King of Malaysia. ... Flag of the Supreme Head of Malaysia Yang di-Pertuan Agong is a Malay title usually translated as Supreme Ruler or Paramount Ruler, is the official title of the constitutional head of state of the federation of Malaysia. ... Forecastle with figurehead Grand Turk Figurehead is a carved wooden decoration, often female or bestiary, found at the prow of ships of the 16th to the 19th century. ...

The current Chief Minister of Penang, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon is from the Gerakan party whose representatives have held the chief-ministership since 1969. It is the only state chief-ministership in Malaysia which has been continuously held by an ethnic Chinese since independence, reflecting the state's ethnic majority. The Chief Minister heads the State Executive Council, the highest administrative body in the state, which answers to the Legislative Assembly. The state Secretariat and other state or federal government departments assist the Executive Council in the state administration. Most of the government offices are housed in the 65-storey Tun Abdul Razak Complex (KOMTAR) in the heart of George Town. The title of Chief Minister of Penang holds the responsibility as the head of government in the state level. ... Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon (born 1949) is a Malaysian politican and currently is Penangs Chief Minister. ... Parti Gerakan Logo The Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Malaysian Peoples Movement Party in English) formed on 24th March 1968, is a liberal party in Malaysia. ...