Balik Pulauis a suburb ofGeorge Townwithin theMalaysian stateofPenang.Located 12.7 km (7.9 mi) southwest of thecity centre,it lies near the southwestern corner ofPenang Islandand is also the administrative seat of the island'sSouthwest district.
Balik Pulau | |
|---|---|
Suburb ofGeorge Townanddistrict capital | |
| Other transcription(s) | |
| •Mandarin | Phù la sơn bối(Simplified) Phù la sơn bối(Traditional) Fú luó shān bèi(Pinyin) |
| •Hokkien | Phù la Phû-lô(Tâi-lô) |
| •Tamil | பாலிக் புலாவ் Pālik pulāv(Transliteration) |
 | |
 | |
  Balik Pulau | |
| Coordinates:5°21′N100°14′E/ 5.350°N 100.233°E | |
| Country |  Malaysia |
| State |  Penang |
| City |  George Town |
| Founded | 1794 |
| Government | |
| •Local government | Penang Island City Council |
| •Mayor of Penang Island | Rajendran P. Anthony |
| •Pulau Betong State Assemblyman | Mohamad Shukor Zakariah (PAS) |
| •Balik Pulau Member of Parliament | Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik(PKR) |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.1 km2(0.04 sq mi) |
| Population (2020)[1] | |
• Total | 109 |
| • Density | 1,100/km2(2,800/sq mi) |
| Demographics | |
| • Ethnic groups |
|
| Time zone | UTC+8(MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | Not observed |
| Postal code | 11000 |
| Area code(s) | +6048 |
| Website | www |
Balik Pulau was established in 1794 as an agricultural village by theBritish East India Company.To this day, the economy of Balik Pulau still relies heavily on agriculture; Penang's most famous produce, includingnutmegs,clovesanddurians,are grown and harvested around the suburb.[2][3]While Balik Pulau is generally seen as quieter in comparison to the bustling city centre on the other side of the island, urbanisation has also reached the suburb in recent years, with more residential developments being planned within the area.[4]
Etymology
editBalik Pulau means 'the back of the island' inMalay.[2]It refers to the suburb's location at the western side ofPenang Island,geographically separated from thecity centreby the island's central hills.
History
edit
The firstcloveandnutmegplantations in Balik Pulau were set up by theBritish East India Companyin 1794. During the early years ofCompanyrule onPenang Island(then thePrince of Wales Island), spice cultivation was encouraged as a means to cover the administrative costs of the island.[5][6]The British also intended to turn thePrince of Wales Islandinto a centre for spice production inSoutheast Asiain order to break the Dutch monopoly of the spice trade at the time.
During the first half of the 19th century, the clove and nutmeg farms of Balik Pulau attracted Malay refugees fleeing theSiameseinvasion ofKedah,as well as Chinese immigrants who were then employed at the farms.[7]
The centre of Balik Pulau, also known colloquially as 'Kongsi' (meaning 'to share' inMalay), was apparently named after the communal wooden longhouses that once existed within the area.[8]Residents of various ethnicities, who worked at the plantations surrounding Balik Pulau, resided in these longhouses, hence the name. Balik Pulau developed towards the late 19th century with the addition of banks, schools, shops and a colonial fountain, which was erected in the late 19th century by a local Chinese businessman, Koh Seang Tat.[9]
For much of its history, Balik Pulau has been a quiet agricultural town, in stark contrast to the bustlingcity centreat the eastern side of Penang Island. As agriculture does not feature prominently in Penang's economy, Balik Pulau is said to have the last remainingpaddy fieldsin all of George Town.[8]On the other hand, the spillover of urbanisation from the eastern seaboard of the city is also gathering pace in Balik Pulau, with residential properties are being planned for the suburb in recent years.[4]
Geography
edit
Demographics
editAs of 2020[update],Balik Pulau was home to a population of 109.[1]Ethnic Chinesecomprised more than three-quarters of the population, followed byIndiansat almost 12% andMalaysat 11%.
Transportation
edit
Balik Pulau is served by three major roads which intersect within the centre of the suburb. Jalan Balik Pulau connects the suburb with the fishing village ofGertak Sanggulnear the southwestern tip ofPenang Island.As the road is also part of the pan-islandFederal Route 6which loops around Penang Island, it also links Balik Pulau with the other major urban centres on the island.
The eastboundJalan Tun Sardonstretches through the island's central hills, providing a more direct link towardsPaya TerubongandBukit Jambul,while the north-bound Jalan Sungai Pinang leads towardsTeluk Bahangnear the northwestern tip of Penang Island.
In addition, sixRapid Penangbus routes include stops within Balik Pulau - 401, 401E, 403, 404, 501 and 502.[10][11][12][13][14][15]These bus routes link Balik Pulau with thecity centre,thePenang International Airport,Queensbay Mall,Bayan BaruandTeluk Bahang.Aside from these routes, in 2018, Rapid Penang launched a free-of-charge transit service within Balik Pulau, known as the Congestion Alleviation Transport (CAT).[16]
Health care
editThe basic health care needs of Balik Pulau's residents are served by the Balik Pulau Hospital, a public hospital located within the suburb. Run byMalaysia'sMinistry of Health,it is one of the six public hospitals within Penang.[17]The hospital is equipped with 71 beds and provides, among others, haemodialysis, emergency and infectious disease control services.
Tourist attractions
edit
Balik Pulau's attractions are more agricultural, alluding to the huge role agriculture has played in the suburb's economy and its laid-back pace of life. The suburb is famous for some of Penang's most well-known products -nutmegs,duriansandcloves.In recent years, agricultural tourism is booming in Balik Pulau, as tourists from other states and abroad flock to the suburb to sample fresh durians and nutmegs.[2][3][18][19][20]For instance, Balik Pulau's durian orchards, which produce a wide variety of durian cultivars, are best visited during the durian harvesting season between May and August each year. Balik Pulau's nutmeg farms and shops also offer samples of nutmeg fruits and products, including nutmeg juice.[19][21]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcd"MyCensus 2020: Mukim/Town/Pekan".Department of Statistics Malaysia.Putrajaya:174–175. February 2024.ISBN9789672537069.
- ^abcII, Administrator."The Back of the Island - Balik Pulau".www.visitpenang.gov.my.Archived fromthe originalon 2017-04-20.Retrieved2017-03-15.
- ^ab"myPenang - A Day in Balik Pulau".mypenang.gov.my.Archived fromthe originalon 2017-03-15.Retrieved2017-03-15.
- ^ab"RM20bil projects in Penang S-W district - Business News | The Star Online".www.thestar.com.my.Retrieved2017-03-15.
- ^"When Penang became a Spice Island".Penang Monthly.21 January 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 18 October 2016.Retrieved15 October2016.
- ^Khoo, Su Nin (2007).Streets of George Town, Penang.Penang: Areca Books.ISBN9789839886009.
- ^Administrator."History Of Balik Pulau".www.istaybalikpulau.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2016-10-20.Retrieved2016-10-20.
- ^abII, Administrator."The Back of the Island - Balik Pulau".www.visitpenang.gov.my.Archived fromthe originalon 2017-04-20.Retrieved2018-02-02.
- ^Administrator."History Of Balik Pulau".www.istaybalikpulau.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2017-12-01.Retrieved2018-02-02.
- ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-07-02.Retrieved2018-02-02.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-07-02.Retrieved2018-02-02.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-07-02.Retrieved2018-02-02.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-07-02.Retrieved2018-02-02.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-07-02.Retrieved2018-02-02.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-07-02.Retrieved2018-02-02.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"Buletin Mutiara".www.facebook.com.Retrieved2018-04-01.
- ^"Balik Pulau Hospital".Penang Trails.2016-05-30. Archived fromthe originalon 2018-06-22.Retrieved2018-02-02.
- ^jalmsab@st (2015-07-13)."Forget D24 and Maoshan, try kampong durians in Penang".The Straits Times.Retrieved2017-03-15.
- ^abMarco Ferrarese."9 reasons Penang will rock your socks off".CNN.Retrieved2017-03-15.
- ^"From jungle durians to a tour, our pick of farms to visit in Balik Pulau".2015-06-28.Retrieved2017-03-15.
- ^"A chance to experience Penang through smells and tastes | Malaysia | Malay Mail Online".www.themalaymailonline.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2018-03-01.Retrieved2018-03-01.
External links
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