Batu Uban

Batu Uban
Neighbourhood ofGeorge Town
Other transcription(s)
•Mandarin	Khạp đô man(Simplified) Khạp đô man(Traditional) Bā dōu mán(Pinyin)
•Hokkien	Bâ-to͘-bân(Tâi-lô)
•Tamil	பத்து உபான்
Batu Uban Location withinGeorge TowninPenang
Coordinates:5°21′25.5522″N100°18′37.5906″E
Country	Malaysia
State	Penang
City	George Town
Government
•Local government	Penang Island City Council
•Mayor of Penang Island	Rajendran P. Anthony
•Batu Uban State Assemblyman	Kumaresan Aramugam(PKR)
•Bayan Baru Member of Parliament	Sim Tze Tzin(PKR)
Time zone	UTC+8(MST)
• Summer (DST)	Not observed
Postal code	11700
Website	mbpp.gov.my

Batu Ubanis a residentialneighbourhoodwithin the city ofGeorge Townin theMalaysian stateofPenang,about 6.7 km (4.2 mi) south of thecity centre.Founded by ethnicMinangkabausin the early 18th century, Batu Uban is regarded as the oldest Malay settlement on Penang Island.

Since the late 20th century, Batu Uban has been significantly urbanised, with residential high-rises now dotting the neighbourhood.

Etymology

Batu Uban means grey hair rock inMalay.The area was said to have been named after a sea boulder, which was covered in dried grass, off the coast of what is now Batu Uban; this grassy rock resembled white hair from afar.

History

The establishment of Batu Uban is credited to two ethnicMinangkabausfromSumatra– Haji Muhammad Salleh (also known as Nakhoda intan) and Jenaton Raha Labu. In 1734, Haji Muhammad Salleh and his followers landed at the area and built a mosque named Masjid Jamek; this also makes the mosque the oldest inPenang.The fishing village they founded was also centred around the mosque.

In 1749, Dato' Jenaton Raja Labu from Pagarruyung was granted a 100-acre (40 ha) site at Batu Uban by theSultan of Kedah,as a reward for his assistance in thwarting aSiameseinvasion ofKedah;Penang Islandwas part ofKedahat the time.Jenaton and about 90 followers then travelled to Batu Uban, and cultivated the land intococonutandsugar caneplantations. Jenaton was also said to have contributed to the propagation ofIslamwithin this new settlement.

The founding of Batu Uban between 1734 and 1749 by theMinangkabausmakes it the oldest Malay settlement onPenang Island,predating CaptainFrancis Light's arrival on the island in 1786. However, it was only in the late 20th century when Batu Uban began to witness significant development. The completion of thePenang Bridgeimmediately north of Batu Uban in the 1980s and subsequently, theTun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expresswayalong the coast of Batu Uban, heralded the development of Batu Uban as an affluent residential neighbourhood.

Transportation

ThePenang Bridgeexit bypass within Batu Uban

Rapid Penangbus routes 301, 302, 303 and 304 include stops alongJalan Sultan Azlan Shah,which forms the western limits of the Batu Uban neighbourhood.These routes link Batu Uban with thecity centreto the north and various other destinations such asBukit Jambul,Bayan Baru,Bayan LepasandBatu Maung.

In addition, Batu Uban, situated immediately south of the cross-straitPenang Bridge,is easily accessible for motorists from the mainlandMalay Peninsulaas well.

Education

Penang Island's sole public university,Universiti Sains Malaysia,is located immediately northwest of the Batu Uban neighbourhood. The university was ranked fifth withinMalaysiaby theQS World University Rankingsas of 2016.