South-West District (Penang): Difference between revisions

{{about|a district of Penang Island|the island|Penang Island|the capital city of Penang|George Town, Penang|the state|Penang||}}
{{Infobox settlement

{{Main article|History of Penang}}In 1786, the [[East India Company|British East India Company]] had taken control of [[Penang Island]], establishing the city of [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] at the island's northeastern tip. For several decades since, the island was governed directly from George Town, with no administrative divisions on the island.

In 1888, a District and Land Office was established in [[Balik Pulau]] at the southwest of the island.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dbd.penang.gov.my/index.php/ms/features/2016-05-25-08-09-18/latar-belakang|title=Latar Belakang|website=dbd.penang.gov.my|language=ms-my|access-date=2018-01-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mohd Nasser bin Malim|first=|date=|title=Perubahan Pentadbiran Daerah dan Tanah di Balik Pulau, Pulau Pinang 1888 - 1956|url=http://eprints.usm.my/31804/1/MOHD_NASSER_BIN_MALIM_24(NN).pdf|journal=[[University of Science, Malaysia|Universiti Sains Malaysia]]|volume=|pages=|via=}}</ref> Thus, the Southwest Penang Island District was created, effectively dividing Penang Island into two districts. Both districts first appeared in official maps of [[Penang]] dating back to the 1890s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/maps_building_plans/record-details/f984cb9e-115c-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad|title=Map of Pinang Island and Province Wellesley,1897|website=www.nas.gov.sg|access-date=2018-01-24}}</ref>

The Southwest [[Penang Island]] District covers southern and western [[Penang Island]], as well as parts of the island's central hill ranges. Under the district are the following towns and residential areas.

The Southwest Penang Island District district comprises 16.8% of [[Penang]]'s total land mass.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://penangmonthly.com/an-analysis-of-penang/|title=An analysis of Penang|date=2014-08-22|newspaper=Penang Monthly|access-date=2016-11-01|language=en-US}}</ref> It is further divided into 22 [[Mukim|mukimsmukim]]s.{{my10|2}}

[[File:Southwest Penang Island District and Land Office.jpg|thumb|Southwest Penang Island District and Land Office in [[Balik Pulau]].]]The administrative centre of the Southwest Penang Island District is [[Balik Pulau]], where the District and Land Office is situated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dbd.penang.gov.my/index.php/ms/hidden-menu|title=Hubungi Kami|last=rozita|website=dbd.penang.gov.my|language=ms-my|access-date=2018-01-24}}</ref>

{{Main article|Penang Island City Council}}Although the [[Districts of Malaysia|districts in Malaysia]] were created for the purpose of land administration and revenue, in practice, it is the local government that ensures the provision of basic amenities and maintenance of urban infrastructure.

Notably, both districts on [[Penang Island]] are under the jurisdiction of the [[Penang Island City Council]], which is based in the heart of [[George Town, Penang|George Town]]. With a history dating back to 1800, it is the oldest local government in [[Malaysia]]. The current [[Mayor of Penang Island]] is Yew Tung Seang, who was appointed into the position by the [[Penang State Legislative Assembly|Penang state government]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/yew-tun-seang-new-mayor-of-penang-island|title=Yew Tun Seang new mayor of Penang Island|date=2018-01-17|access-date=2018-01-24}}</ref> The Mayor's term lasts for two years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mbpp.gov.my/en/mbpp/management/organisation-chart|title=Organisation Chart|date=9 October 2015|newspaper=Official Portal of Penang Island City Council (MBPP)|access-date=15 October 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Southwest Penang Island District electoral constituencies.svg|thumb|Federal and [[Penang State Legislative Assembly|State]] electoral constituencies within the Southwest [[Penang Island]] District (in olive).]]

According to data obtained from the census, over 62% of the population within the Southwest Penang Island District were concentrated around [[Bayan Lepas]], making it the largest town within the district.

{{See also|Education in Penang}}Most schools in the district are national schools, which are run under [[Malaysia]]'s [[Ministry of Education (Malaysia)|Ministry of Education]]. In addition, a few international schools, such as the Prince of Wales International School and the Straits International School, have been set up in [[Bayan Lepas]] and [[Balik Pulau]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sisgroup.edu.my/|title=Home {{!}} Straits International School Penang|last=Bhd|first=Tradsure Com Sdn|website=sisgroup.edu.my|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.powiis.edu.my/|title=Prince of Wales Island International School - Penang, Malaysia|website=POWIIS|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref>

The Penang State Library operates a branch in [[Balik Pulau]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.penanglib.gov.my/index.php/en/services/libraries/branch-libraries|title=Penang Library Corporation|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>

The Balik Pulau Hospital is the main hospital within the Southwest Penang Island District. It complements the [[Penang General Hospital]] in providing healthcare to the citizens on [[Penang Island]].

Pantai Mutiara Hospital in [[Bayan Lepas]] is the sole private hospital in the district.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pantai.com.my/penang|title=https://www.pantai.com.my/penang|website=www.pantai.com.my|access-date=2016-11-02}}</ref>

{{Main article|Transport in Penang}}

The Southwest Penang Island District is connected to the rest of [[Peninsular Malaysia]] via the [[Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge|Second Penang Bridge]], which runs between [[Batu Maung]] at the southeastern tip of [[Penang Island]] and [[Batu Kawan]] on the mainland. The bridge, with a length of 24&nbsp;km, is now the longest in [[Southeast Asia]].

[[Malaysia Federal Route 6|Federal Route 6]] is a winding trunk road that serves as the pan-island road, forming a circular loop along the length of [[Penang Island]]'s coastline. The road links [[Bayan Lepas]], [[Balik Pulau]] and [[Teluk Bahang]] with the centre of [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] in the [[Northeast Penang Island District]].

Public transportation throughout [[Penang Island]] is provided by [[Rapid Penang]], which has public bus services between the city centre, [[Bayan Lepas]] (including the [[Penang International Airport]]), [[Balik Pulau]] and [[Teluk Bahang]].

The [[Penang International Airport]] in [[Bayan Lepas]] serves as the major airport within the northern region of [[Peninsular Malaysia]]. Completed in 1935, it is also the oldest civilian airport in the nation.

Today, it is one of the [[List of the busiest airports in Malaysia|busiest airports in Malaysia]] in terms of cargo tonnage and passenger traffic, highlighting the role [[Penang Island]] plays as a tourist destination and a major manufacturing hub. The airport's proximity to the [[Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone]] allows for the easy transportation of goods to and from the factories in [[Bayan Lepas]]. In addition, it connects [[Penang]] with several major regional cities, including [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Singapore]], [[Bangkok]], [[Jakarta]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Guangzhou]], [[Taipei]], [[Ho Chi Minh City]] and [[Yangon]].

The [[Snake Temple]] in [[Bayan Lepas]] is said to be the only Chinese temple to be inhabited by snakes. Built in the 1850s by a Buddhist monk, it has attracted varieties of [[pit vipers]], which are believed to be rendered harmless by the incense. The temple is also a focal point of the annual [[Chinese New Year]] celebrations, during which a flame-watching ceremony is held to predict the fortunes of the next 12 months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/02/13/snake-deity-says-first-four-months-economic-outlook-the-best/|title=First four months look good, snake temple deity says - Nation {{!}} The Star Online|website=www.thestar.com.my|access-date=2016-11-02}}</ref>

The Penang War Museum is located at the southeastern tip of [[Penang Island]]. The sprawling complex was originally Fort Batu Maung, built by the [[British Army]] in the 1930s to defend [[Penang Island]] against amphibious invasion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.travel-penang-malaysia.com/penang-war-museum.html|title=Penang War Museum Batu Maung - Opening Hours, Entrance Fee|newspaper=Travel-Penang-Malaysia.com|access-date=2016-11-02}}</ref> However, during [[World War II]], the [[British Army during the Second World War|British Army]] abandoned the fort to the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] without a fight. Neglected after the war, the fortress was converted into a museum in 2002, and features bunkers, tunnels and other military structures.

[[Balik Pulau]] is famous for its agricultural plantations, which are rarely found elsewhere on [[Penang Island]]. In recent years, agricultural tourism is booming in [[Balik Pulau]], as tourists from other states and abroad flock to the town to sample fresh [[durian]]s and [[nutmeg]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mypenang.gov.my/suggesteditemfull-2652-a_day_in_balik_pulau.pgt|title=myPenang - A Day in Balik Pulau|website=www.mypenang.gov.my|access-date=2016-11-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.visitpenang.gov.my/portal3/what-to-see/attractions/1627-the-back-of-the-island-balik-pulau.html|title=The Back of the Island - Balik Pulau|last=II|first=Administrator|website=www.visitpenang.gov.my|access-date=2016-11-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/eat-drink/article/from-jungle-durians-to-a-tour-our-pick-of-farms-to-visit-in-balik-pulau|title=From jungle durians to a tour, our pick of farms to visit in Balik Pulau|date=2015-06-28|access-date=2016-10-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/travel/forget-d24-and-maoshan-try-kampong-durians-in-penang|title=Forget D24 and Maoshan, try kampong durians in Penang|last=jalmsab@st|date=2015-07-13|newspaper=The Straits Times|access-date=2016-10-21}}</ref>

The [[Penang National Park]], covering 2,562 hectares of rainforests, swamps and beaches at the northwestern tip of [[Penang Island]], is the smallest gazetted national park in [[Malaysia]]. Within the park are some of the most pristine beaches on [[Penang Island]], such as Kerachut Beach and Monkey Beach. A canopy walk also allows visitors an impressive view of the lush rainforest underneath.

In addition, the adjacent town of [[Teluk Bahang]] is home to unique agricultural attractions, such as the Penang Butterfly Farm, Tropical Spice Garden and Tropical Fruit Farm.<ref name="Butterfly-insect.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.butterfly-insect.com/whoweare.php|title=Penang Butterfly Farm – The World's 1st Tropical Live Butterfly Sanctuary, Butterfly, Insects, Nature, Lizards, Tarantullas, Tour, Penang, Malaysia|publisher=Butterfly-insect.com|accessdate=3 January 2011}}</ref><ref name="Home - Tropical Spice Garden">{{Cite web|url=http://tropicalspicegarden.com/|title=Home - Tropical Spice Garden|website=Tropical Spice Garden|language=en-US|access-date=2016-10-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tropicalfruitfarm.com.my/|title=Welcome to Tropical Fruit Farm|website=tropicalfruitfarm.com.my|access-date=2016-10-21}}</ref>