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74-597: Gurney Plaza contains 380 shop lots spread out over nine floors which include 2 basement car park and 2 multi-storey car park. The mall has attracted various established international brands, making it one of the major retail and lifestyle hubs in Penang. The mall consists of nine retail floors and 889,859 sq ft (82,670.6 m) of net lettable area, the largest of all shopping malls in George Town . Aside from Parkson , its main anchor tenant, Gurney Plaza contains

148-632: A Toys "R" Us store. George Town, Penang This is an accepted version of this page 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 largest metropolitan economy in the country. The city proper spans an area of 306 km (118 sq mi) encompassing Penang Island and surrounding islets, and had

222-541: A Charter of Justice was granted which mandated the establishment of a "Court of Judicature" composed of the Governor, a recorder and three councillors. The high court was inaugurated at Fort Cornwallis in the following year, with Edmond Stanley as recorder. With the establishment of the court, George Town became the first settlement in British Malaya to possess a modern judicial system. In 1826, George Town

296-457: A brain drain which left it without the expertise to regulate urban development and arrest its decline. In response, George Town's civil societies banded together and galvanised public support for the conservation of historic buildings, and to restore the city to its former glory. Following subsequent heritage conservation efforts, a portion of the city centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. Widespread resentment over

370-510: A city shall continue to be preserved and maintained and shall remain unimpaired by the merger hereby effected". George Town had benefitted from a real estate boom towards the end of the 20th century, but in 2001, the Rent Control Act was repealed, worsening the depopulation of the city's historical core and leaving colonial-era buildings in disrepair. The city also suffered from incoherent urban planning, poor traffic management and

444-746: A fortress before the outbreak of fighting, the British high command led by Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival decided to abandon the island and secretly evacuate George Town's European population, leaving the settlement's Asian residents undefended against the Japanese advance. According to historian Raymond Callahan, "the moral collapse of British rule in Southeast Asia came not at Singapore, but at Penang". The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) seized George Town on 19 December without encountering any resistance. During Japanese occupation , George Town

518-473: A growth in the private sector. George Town's jurisdiction was expanded by the Malaysian federal government to encompass the entirety of Penang Island and the surrounding islets in 2015. This expansion resulted in an enlargement of the city government's manpower and responsibilities, as well as enhancing the regulation of heritage conservation. The jurisdiction of George Town covers an area of approximately 306 km (118 sq mi), encompassing

592-571: A non-European gentry and middle class, which in turn fostered nascent intellectual activities and political movements. George Town, according to historian Mary Turnbull , emerged as "a Mecca for Asian intellectuals", who perceived it to be more intellectually receptive than Singapore. The settlement was a centre for reformist newspapers, and attracted political and intellectual figures such as Rudyard Kipling , W. Somerset Maugham and Sun Yat-sen . However, political turmoil in Qing China and

666-666: A population of 794,313 as of 2020 . Classified as a "Gamma −" city , the second highest in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur , George Town is the commercial centre for northern Malaysia and one of the few high-income economies of the cities outside the Klang Valley . According to Euromonitor International and the Economist Intelligence Unit , George Town has the highest potential for revenue growth among all Malaysian cities and contributed nearly 8 per cent of

740-514: A source of contention between the Penang and federal governments after Pakatan Rakyat (now Pakatan Harapan ) – which included the DAP – gained control of the state in 2008 . Calls by the Penang state government for further expansion of the PIA were ignored, even though passenger traffic quickly surpassed the airport's new capacity of 6.5 million. The then Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng raised concerns that

814-452: A stop at Phuket . However, the airline has no fifth-freedom rights to transport passengers solely between Penang and Phuket. PIA is the third busiest airport in the country in terms of passenger traffic after Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA). The airport experienced its peak passenger traffic of 8.3 million in 2019, surpassing its annual capacity of 6.5 million passengers, before

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888-496: A system in 1792 whereby matters of justice were partially delegated to local leaders. This decision was ratified by Lieutenant-Governor George Leith in 1800. However, further legal disputes meant that under the directives of the Bengal Presidency , this system was replaced by a set of regulations in 1805, drafted by Leith and revised by John Dickens, the presidency's appointed judge and magistrate for Penang. In 1807,

962-863: A tin mining boom in the Malay Peninsula , the Port of Penang became a leading exporter of tin. By the end of the 19th century, George Town emerged as the foremost financial centre of British Malaya, as mercantile firms and international banks were established. Throughout the century, George Town's population grew rapidly in tandem with economic prosperity. Between 1797 and 1830, an influx of immigrants from all over Asia quadrupled its population. A cosmopolitan population emerged, comprising Chinese , Malay , Indian , Peranakan , Siamese and migrants of mixed European-Asian lineage referred to as "Eurasians". The population growth also created social problems, such as inadequate health facilities and rampant crime, with

1036-475: A variety of entertainment options. The most well-known of all is the Golden Screen Cinemas at the top floor, with 12 cineplexes. Opened in 2004, it is Golden Screen Cinemas ' largest multiplex within northern Malaysia. A karaoke joint operated by Red Box is also located at the top floor, adjacent to the aforementioned cinema. Other options include a rock-climbing gym (Project Rock Gurney) and

1110-580: A wide variety of well-known international brands. These include book stores like Popular , fashion names such as Marks & Spencer , Armani , Calvin Klein , Giordano , HLA , Kate Spade , Dockers , Hugo Boss , Tommy Hilfinger , Levi's , and Uniqlo , retail flagship/concept stores such as Padini and Brands Outlet (part of Padini ), accessory firms such as Omega , Rado , Rolex , Tag Heuer , Pandora , Lovisa , and Swarovski , notable British sports fashion retailers JD Sports and Sports Direct , and

1184-402: Is also the second busiest in the country by cargo handled and the highest in terms of export value, with RM365 billion in exports in 2023 . Additionally, the airport is the main hub for local budget airline Firefly and one of AirAsia 's operating bases. The airport, then named Bayan Lepas International Airport , was completed in 1935, when Penang was part of the British crown colony of

1258-471: Is an international airport in George Town , the capital city of the Malaysian state of Penang . The airport is located at the southeastern tip of Penang Island , 16 km (9.9 mi) south of the city centre , and serves the country's second largest conurbation . As the main gateway into northwestern Malaysia, PIA is the third busiest airport in Malaysia in terms of passenger traffic, recording nearly 6.8 million tourist arrivals in 2023 alone. It

1332-464: Is shaped by centuries of intermingling between various cultures and religions. It has also gained a reputation as Malaysia's gastronomical capital for its distinct culinary scene . The preservation of these cultures contributed to the designation of the city centre of George Town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. George Town was named in honour of King George III , the ruler of Great Britain and Ireland between 1760 and 1820. Prior to

1406-463: Is situated. Over the centuries, the built-up area of George Town has expanded in three directions – along the island's northern coast, south down the eastern shoreline and towards Penang Hill to the west. The surrounding islets within George Town's jurisdiction are Jerejak , Andaman , Udini, Tikus , Lovers' , Betong , Betong Kecil, Kendi and Rimau islands. The riverine systems within

1480-692: Is the busiest cruise terminal in the country. Established as an entrepôt by Francis Light in 1786, George Town was the first British settlement in Southeast Asia , and its proximity to maritime routes along the Strait of Malacca attracted an influx of immigrants from various parts of Asia. It became the capital of the Straits Settlements in 1826, only to lose its administrative status to Singapore in 1832. Shortly before Malaya attained independence from Britain in 1957, George Town

1554-444: Is the densest in the country. Batu Lancang has the largest proportion of Chinese residents in any state constituency. Due to George Town's predominantly Chinese population and the longstanding political consciousness, the city has been regarded as a stronghold for the incumbent Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. As of 2023 , non-Malays formed the majority in 15 out of the 19 state constituencies in George Town, particularly around

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1628-560: The Battle of Penang where the Imperial German Navy cruiser SMS Emden sank two Allied warships off the settlement. World War II , on the other hand, caused unprecedented social and political turmoil in George Town. In mid-December 1941, the settlement was subjected to severe Japanese aerial bombardment , forcing inhabitants to flee George Town and take refuge in the jungles. While Penang Island had been designated

1702-587: The British High Commissioner held the power to appoint six more. In 1956, George Town became Malaya's first fully-elected municipality and in the following year, it was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II . This made George Town the first city within the Malayan Federation, and by extension, Malaysia. During the early years of Malaya's independence, George Town retained its free port status, which had been guaranteed by

1776-629: The Köppen climate classification ( Af ). Weather forecast in George Town is served by the Penang Meteorological Office at Bayan Lepas , which acts as the primary weather forecast facility for northwestern Peninsular Malaysia. The city experiences relatively consistent temperatures throughout the course of the year, with an average high of about 32 °C and an average low of 24°C. It sees on average about 2,477 millimetres (97.5 in) of precipitation annually. Its proximity to

1850-570: The Penang Botanic Gardens and the 2,562 ha (25.62 km ) Penang National Park , was inscribed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in recognition of the area's biodiversity. As land scarcity is a pressing issue in George Town, land reclamation has been extensively undertaken at high-demand areas, such as at Tanjong Tokong and Bayan Lepas . Between 1960 and 2015, George Town expanded by more than 9 km (3.5 sq mi) due to land reclamation that altered much of

1924-461: The Penang state government under an extendable one-year term. As of 2023 , one of the 24 councillor positions has been allocated to the city's non-governmental organisations (NGOs), while the remaining 23 are occupied by component parties of the ruling state government. The mayor since 2023 is Rajendran P. Anthony, the second mayor of Indian descent in the city's history after D. S. Ramanathan and

1998-575: The State Assembly Building in Light Street since 1959. George Town is represented by six Members of Parliament and 19 state constituencies . Prior to 2023, state elections had been conducted simultaneously with nationwide general elections every five years. Tanjong is the smallest parliamentary constituency in Malaysia by area. Padang Kota is the least populated state constituency by population, while Pengkalan Kota

2072-556: The Straits Settlements . Governor of the Straits Settlements Cecil Clementi had overseen the nascent aviation development in Malaya . Under his administration, aerodromes were built at Bayan Lepas and Kallang , Singapore . The Bayan Lepas airport was constructed on mudflats , which necessitated the installation of concrete runways to ensure all-weather operational capabilities. Kallang airport

2146-554: The Straits Settlements . A Municipal Commission for George Town came into being the following year. In 1957, prior to Malaya's independence , Queen Elizabeth II granted George Town city status, making it the first city in the new nation. By then, George Town had also become the first municipality in Malaya to have a fully-elected local government. Following the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation , local government elections across

2220-482: The city centre . In the 2023 state election , PH retained 17 of George Town's state constituencies, with the far-right Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition bloc seizing two of the Malay-majority seats at the western edge of the city. Parliamentary constituencies State constituencies Penang International Airport Penang International Airport ( PIA ) ( IATA : PEN , ICAO : WMKP )

2294-513: The outbreak of COVID-19 caused global disruptions in air travel. In 2023, PIA recorded nearly 6.8 million passengers, compared to 4.275 million in 2022. The PIA–KLIA route is one of the busiest air corridors in Malaysia, having flown 2.2 million passengers in 2019. Additionally, the PIA– Changi corridor is estimated to be the third busiest among Malaysia's ASEAN routes, with around 300,000 passengers flown throughout 2022. While it processes

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2368-478: The British to enlarge and reinforce Fort Cornwallis as the garrison for the settlement. Local governance committees were formed from 1796 to resolve specific matters of administration. However, there were no unified legal systems in place to maintain order in the settlement. Light, who believed that feudal laws instituted by the newly-immigrated settlers were incompatible with British law , initially implemented

2442-461: The British. The George Town City Council enjoyed full financial autonomy and by 1965, it was the wealthiest local government in Malaysia, with an annual revenue almost double that of the Penang state government . This financial strength allowed the Labour -led city government to implement progressive policies, and to take control of George Town's infrastructure and public transportation. These included

2516-492: The Central Area Transit (CAT) bus service in collaboration with Rapid Penang . In 2025, MBPP projected its estimated revenue at RM433.3 million and an estimated expenditure of RM466.3 million, which included allocations for smart city projects, economic growth, cleanliness, sustainability and urban mobility. After Pakatan Rakyat (predecessor to the incumbent Pakatan Harapan ) was voted into power in 2008 ,

2590-916: The George Town City Council and the Penang Island Rural District Council were merged to form the Penang Island Municipal Council. This led to a prolonged debate over George Town's city status, in spite of 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 stated that "the status of the City of George Town as

2664-429: The George Town City Council in 1966. Local government elections nationwide were also suspended in the aftermath of the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation , never to be reinstated. The period of relative prosperity vis-à-vis the rest of Malaysia came to an end in 1969, when the Malaysian federal government rescinded George Town's free port status. This sparked massive unemployment, brain drain and urban decay within

2738-506: The Seberang Perai airport. Fearing potential backlash from local civil societies and the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP), Mahathir later relented, stating that the PIA would "still be maintained if investors need it". The PIA was expanded in 1998 to accommodate 3.5 million passengers yearly. The airport was further expanded in 2012, increasing its capacity to 6.5 million passengers per year. Nonetheless, it remained

2812-415: The airport's expansion. In 2024, it was announced that the PIA's expansion will entail the addition of new infrastructure and an upgrade of the main terminal. The expansion aims to increase the aircraft capacity from 16 to 28 at any given time. The Mutiara line , a proposed light rail system expected to be completed by 2030, will also incorporate a station at the airport. : This flight operates with

2886-425: The arrival of the British, the geographical area had been known as Tanjung Penaga , due to the abundance of penaga laut trees ( Calophyllum inophyllum ) found at the cape ( tanjung ) of the city. The city is often mistakenly spelled as "Georgetown", which was never the city's official name. This misspelling may be due to confusion with other places worldwide that share the same name. In common parlance,

2960-465: The cape, it was densely covered in jungle. After the area was cleared, Light oversaw the construction of Fort Cornwallis , the first structure in the newly established settlement. The first roads of George Town – Light , Beach , Chulia and Pitt streets – were created in a grid-like configuration. This urban planning method facilitated the easy division, transaction and assessment of land, as well as efficient military deployment. The grid pattern

3034-458: The city include the Kluang, Dua, Glugor and Pinang rivers. The Pinang River, which is 3.5 km (2.2 mi) long, flows through the city centre. Penang Hill, with a height of 833 m (2,733 ft), is the highest point in Penang, serving as a water catchment area and a green lung for the city. In 2021, the 12,481 ha (124.81 km ) Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve, which includes

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3108-730: The city of George Town is also called " Penang ", which is the name of the larger state. In 1771, Francis Light , a former Royal Navy captain, was instructed by the British East India Company (EIC) to establish trade relations in the Malay Peninsula . He arrived in Kedah , a Siamese vassal state facing threats from the Bugis of Selangor . Kedah's ruler Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin II offered Light Penang Island in exchange for British military protection. Light noted

3182-470: The city's decline also resulted in the then opposition Pakatan Rakyat bloc (now Pakatan Harapan ) wresting power in Penang from the incumbent Barisan Nasional (BN) administration in the 2008 state election . The newly-elected state government took a more inclusive approach to heritage conservation and sustainable urban development, while concurrently pursuing economic diversification . The city has since witnessed an economic rejuvenation, boosted by

3256-403: The city's eastern shoreline. In 2023, a massive reclamation project commenced off Batu Maung to build the 920 ha (9.2 km ) Silicon Island, envisioned as a new hub for high-tech manufacturing and commerce. Reclamation projects to create Gurney Bay and the nearby mixed-use precinct of Andaman Island are also ongoing. George Town features a tropical rainforest climate , under

3330-540: The city. The federal government also began channelling resources towards the development of Kuala Lumpur and Port Klang , leading to George Town's protracted decline. To revive Penang's fortunes, newly-elected Chief Minister Lim Chong Eu launched the Komtar project in 1974 and spearheaded the establishment of the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone (Bayan Lepas FIZ) which, at the time,

3404-460: The country have been suspended since 1965. The Penang Island City Council (MBPP), headquartered in the City Hall , carries out the official administrative and legislative duties of the city. One of the two city governments in Penang, MBPP is led by a mayor , assisted by a secretary and 24 councillors who perform oversight responsibilities over 19 departments. Each councillor is appointed by

3478-405: The country's personal disposable income in 2015, second only to Kuala Lumpur. Its technological sector, anchored by hundreds of multinational companies , has made George Town the top exporter in the country . The Penang International Airport links George Town to several regional cities, while a ferry service and two road bridges connect the city to the rest of Peninsular Malaysia. Swettenham Pier

3552-421: The entirety of Penang Island and nine surrounding islets. George Town is slightly more than two-fifths the size of Singapore . The 295 km (114 sq mi) Penang Island has an uneven terrain with a mountainous topography down the middle. The island's coastal plains are narrow, with the most extensive plain located at the northeastern cape, where the 25.5 km (9.8 sq mi) city centre

3626-536: The event of Penang's absorption into Malaya's customs union, the Penang Secessionist Committee was founded in 1948 and attempted to avert Penang's merger with Malaya. A petition at the time warned that the incorporation of Penang into Malaya would "reduce it to the churn of filth of a fishing village... trade assiduously built up during the last one and a half centuries will be turned to nothing, entailing untold monetary losses and hardship to

3700-592: The federal government lacked urgency regarding the issue, as it was still considering the proposal for a new airport in Kedah. It was not until 2017 when the federal government announced plans to expand the PIA to accommodate 12 million passengers per year by 2028. While the planned expansion met with delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic , in 2023, the federal government approved an allocation of RM93 million to facilitate land acquisition and infrastructure development for

3774-464: The first political election ever held in the settlement. Although the committees were organised ad hoc and lacked regulatory power, these early measures marked the beginning of a systematic approach to municipal governance in Penang. In 1856, the India Board , an administrative body of British India , passed Act No. XXVII, which mandated the appointment of Municipal Commissioners and taxation of

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3848-764: The first settlement in British Malaya to be liberated from the Japanese. After a period of military administration , the British dissolved the Straits Settlements in 1946 and merged the Crown Colony of Penang into the Malayan Union , which was then replaced with the Federation of Malaya in 1948. At first, the impending annexation of the British colony of Penang into the vast Malay heartland proved unpopular among Penangites. Partly due to concerns that George Town's free port status would be at risk in

3922-560: The first since 2015. MBPP's current urban planning strategy is set out in the Penang Island Local Plan 2030 , first published in 2022. The city government is responsible for municipal services including waste management, public maintenance and community service. It is also involved in major infrastructural projects such as the Jalan Bukit Kukus Paired Road . Since 2009, it has operated

3996-467: The independence of Malaya , transportation infrastructure throughout the new federation falls under the purview of the federal government . In 1967, the federal government announced an allocation of $ 2.3 million ( Malaya and British Borneo dollar ) to expand the Bayan Lepas airport. The expansion was carried out in the 1970s, during which a terminal building of Minangkabau architecture was built and

4070-604: The influx of Chinese migrants posed security concerns among the British authorities. Sun chose George Town as the headquarters for revolutionary activities by the Tongmenghui in Southeast Asia that eventually launched the Wuchang Uprising , a precursor to the Xinhai Revolution that ushered in the beginning of Republican China . George Town emerged from World War I relatively unscathed, except for

4144-401: The island of Sumatra makes George Town susceptible to dust particles carried by wind from transient forest fires that cause the perennial Southeast Asian haze . In 1796, a committee was formed to record trade revenue, and another committee responsible for property valuation was established in 1800. The latter committee was assembled through an election of ratepaying representatives, making it

4218-407: The island on 17 July that year. They took formal possession of the island "in the name of King George III of England " on 11 August. Penang Island was renamed Prince of Wales Island after the heir to the British throne . George Town was the first British colonial possession in Southeast Asia and marked the beginning of the gradual British colonisation in Malaya . When Light first landed on

4292-488: The latter culminating in rioting in 1867 . George Town came under direct British rule when the Straits Settlements became a British crown colony in 1867. Law enforcement and immigration control were gradually strengthened to suppress organised crime . More investments were also made on the settlement's health care and public transportation. Advances in education and living standards gave rise to

4366-500: The local population also forced women into sexual slavery . Between 1944 and 1945, Allied bombers based in India targeted naval and administrative buildings in George Town , damaging and destroying several colonial buildings in the process. The Penang Strait was mined to constrict Japanese shipping. Following Japan's surrender , on 3 September 1945, British Royal Marines launched Operation Jurist to retake George Town, making it

4440-526: The maintenance of its own public bus service, as well as the construction of public housing schemes and the Ayer Itam Dam . However, longstanding political differences between the George Town City Council and the Alliance -controlled state government led to allegations of maladministration against the city government. In response, Chief Minister of Penang , Wong Pow Nee , took over the powers of

4514-506: The merchants in Penang". The secessionist movement was ultimately met with British disapproval. To assuage the concerns raised by the secessionists, the British government guaranteed George Town's free port status and promised greater decentralisation. Meanwhile, municipal elections, which had been abolished in 1913, were reintroduced in 1951 , further diminishing the secessionists' commitment to their cause. Nine councillors were to be elected from George Town's three electoral wards, while

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4588-664: The move and the Federal Court later ruled that local government elections are not within the purview of state governments. George Town is the administrative capital of Penang. The offices of the Chief Minister of Penang and the Penang state government are located in Komtar , while the official residence of the Governor of Penang is located in Scotland Road. Penang's legislature has been convened in

4662-559: The newly-elected state government attempted to reinstate local government elections within Penang. Backed by strong support from George Town's NGOs, the Local Government Elections (Penang Island and Province Wellesley) Enactment was passed in 2012, which would have allowed city government elections for the first time since the 1960s. However, the Barisan Nasional -controlled federal government objected to

4736-410: The runway extended to accommodate Boeing 747s , then the largest passenger jet aircraft. Upon the completion of the expansion works in 1979, the airport was renamed Penang International Airport (PIA). The airport's new terminal increased its annual passenger capacity to 1.5 million. The development of the adjacent Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone enhanced the PIA's role as a logistics hub. However,

4810-534: The strategic potential of the island as a "convenient magazine for trade" that could enable the British to check Dutch and French territorial ambitions in Southeast Asia, and tried unsuccessfully to persuade his superiors to accept the Sultan's offer. Light was finally authorised to negotiate the British acquisition of Penang Island in 1786. After the cession was finalised with Muhammad Jiwa's successor Sultan Abdullah Mukarram Shah , Light and his entourage landed on

4884-464: The supermarket chain Mercato (formerly Cold Storage). In addition, several restaurants, cafes, and food stalls can be found inside Gurney Plaza. Some of its restaurants are notably arranged along an outdoor alfresco space . Also, there's a food court owned and operated by the mall itself called Gurney Food Hall, which has varieties of local food options (and some foreign delicacies). Gurney Plaza has

4958-488: The surging cargo tonnage resulting from industrial demand prompted the Penang state government , under Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon , to propose a new, larger airport in Seberang Perai in 1993 to accommodate the increase in air traffic. In 1997, then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad announced plans to build a new airport in neighbouring Kedah and close the PIA, overlooking Koh's earlier proposals for

5032-592: The time, the airport served both civilian air traffic and the Royal Air Force (RAF). At the onset of World War II , the Straits Settlements imposed regulations to manage air traffic in Penang, designating specific corridors for aircraft overflying the colony. The Bayan Lepas airport, along with the Butterworth air base , was subjected to aerial attacks by Japanese forces in December 1941. Following

5106-587: Was also replicated in Singapore following the acquisition of the island by Stamford Raffles in 1819. As Light intended, George Town grew rapidly as a free port and a conduit for spice trade , taking maritime commerce from Dutch posts in the region. The spice trade allowed the EIC to cover the administrative costs of Penang. The threat of French invasion in the midst of the Napoleonic Wars forced

5180-405: Was declared a city by Queen Elizabeth II , making it the first city in the country's history. In 1974, George Town was merged with the rest of the island, throwing its city status into doubt until 2015, when its jurisdiction was reinstated and expanded to cover the entire island and adjacent islets. The city is described by UNESCO as having a " unique architectural and cultural townscape" that

5254-458: Was made the capital of the Straits Settlements , which also comprised Singapore and Malacca . In 1832, the administrative centre was relocated to Singapore, as it surpassed George Town in commercial and strategic prominence. Despite its secondary importance to Singapore, George Town continued to play a crucial role as a British entrepôt. Following the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and

5328-661: Was only lightly garrisoned by the IJA, while the Imperial Japanese Navy converted Swettenham Pier into a major submarine base for the Axis powers . Japanese military police imposed order by massacring Chinese civilians under the Sook Ching policy; the victims were buried in mass graves all over the island, such as at Rifle Range , Bukit Dumbar and Batu Ferringhi . Poverty and wanton Japanese brutality towards

5402-487: Was outside the city. Although these were successful in transforming Penang into a tertiary-based economy , they also led to the decentralisation of the urban population as residents gravitated towards newer suburban townships closer to the Bayan Lepas FIZ. The destruction of hundreds of shophouses and whole streets for the construction of Komtar further exacerbated the hollowing out of George Town. In 1974,

5476-459: Was regarded as the "finest" in the Far East at that time, while the Bayan Lepas airport was perceived as Malaya's "second airport", enjoying advantages such as closer proximity to Indochina and East Asia compared to Kallang. As early as 1938, the Straits Settlements government estimated that an additional 10 acres (4.0 ha) was necessary for the expansion of the Bayan Lepas airport. At

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