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History of Penang

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Beach Street, George Town,circa. 1910.
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History ofMalaysia
Prehistoric period
Paleolithic
Lenggong Valleyc.2,000,0000 BCE
Mansuli Valley235,000 BCE
Mesolithic
Niah cultures65,000–40,000 BCE
Neolithic
Bewah man/woman16,000 BCE
Perak man/woman11,000–200 BCE
Neolithic Klang500 – 200 BCE
Early kingdoms
Ancient Kedah<100 BCE
Chi Tu100 BCE–642 CE
Langkasuka100 BCE–1474 CE
Gangga Negarac.100 CE–1025
Pan Pan424–775
Old Kedah170–1135
Old Pahang449–1454
Srivijaya700s–1025
Majapahit1300s
Rise of Muslim states
Kedah Sultanate1136–present
Samudera Pasai Sultanate1267–1521
Brunei Sultanate1368–present
Malacca Sultanate1402–1511
Sulu Sultanate1450–1899
Pahang Sultanate1470–1623
Aceh Sultanate1496–1903
Pattani Sultanate1516– 1902
Johor Sultanate1528–present
Sarawak Sultanate1599–1641
Selangor Sultanate1766–present
Besut Kingdom1780–1899
Setul Kingdom1808–1916
Reman Kingdom1810–1902
Kubang Pasu Kingdom1839–1864
Colonial period
Portuguese Malacca1511–1641
Dutch–Portuguese War1601–1661
Acehnese conquest of Perak1620
Dutch Malacca1641–1824
Pahang Kingdom1770–1881
Straits Settlements1786–1946
Siamese invasion of Kedah1821–1826
Anglo-Dutch Treaty1824
Burney Treaty1826
Naning War1831–1832
Kingdom of Sarawak1841–1946
Separation of Perlis from Kedah1843
Crown Colony of Labuan1848–1946
Pahang Civil War1857–1863
Larut Wars1861–1874
Klang War1867–1874
Pangkor Treaty1874
Perak War1875–1876
British Malaya/Borneo1874–1946
Jementah Civil War1879
North Borneo1882–1946
Pahang Uprising1891–1895
Mat Salleh Rebellion1894–1905
Federated Malay States1895–1946
Anglo-Siamese Treaty1909
Unfederated Malay States1909–1946
Battle of Penang1914
Kelantan rebellion1915
World War II

1941–1945
Malayan campaign1941–1942
Bornean Campaign1941–1942
Battle of Muar1942
Parit Sulong Massacre1942
Battle of Singapore1942
Sook Ching1942
Syburi1942
Sandakan Death Marches1942–1945
Si Rat Malai1943–1945
Jesselton revolt1943–1944
Formative period
BMA of Malaya/Borneo1945–1946
Crown Colony of N. Borneo1946–1963
Crown Colony of Sarawak1946–1963
Anti-cession movement1946–1963
Malayan Union1946–1948
Federation of Malaya1948–1963
Sungai Siput incident1948
Malayan Emergency1948–1960
Batang Kali massacre1948
Bukit Kepong incident1950
Baling Talks1955
Independence and Modern periods
Malayan Independence1957
Singapore self-governance1959
ISA 19601960–2012
Communist insurgency in Sarawak1962–1990
North Borneo self-governance1963
Konfrontasi1963–1966
Sarawak self-governance1963
Formation of Malaysia1963
Singapore in Malaysia1963–1965
ASEAN Declaration1967
Second communist insurgency1968–1989
13 May incident1969
National Operations Council1969–1971
Declaration of Rukun Negara1970
New Economic Policy1971–1990
Federal Territory of KL1974
1977 Kelantan Emergency1977
Pedra Branca dispute1979–2008
South China Sea dispute(Spratly)1980–present
Federal Territory of Labuan1984
Memali incident1985
Operation Lalang1987
Constitutional crisis1987–1988
Peace Agreement of Hat Yai1989
Royal Immunity Amendments1993
Asian financial crisis1997–1998
Reformasi Movement1998–2022
H1N1 flu pandemic2009–2010
Sedition Dragnet2014
1MDB scandal2015–present
Pakatan Harapan takeover2018
COVID-19 pandemic2020–2022
Political crisis2020–2022
Bornean Amendment2021–2023
Green Wave2022–present
Incidents
Brunei revolt1962–1966
North Borneo dispute(Philippine militant attacks)1962–present
Singapore race riots1964
Brunei's Limbang claim1967–2009
Penang Hartal riot1967
13 May Incident1969
Ligitan and Sipadan dispute1969–2002
Kuala Lumpur flash floods1971
Malaysian haze crisis1972–present
AIA building hostage crisis1975
National Monument bombing1975
Campbell Shopping Complex fire1976
Sabah Air GAF Nomad crash1976
Japan Airlines Flight 715 incident1977
MH653 incident1977
Dawn Raid1981
1985 Lahad Datu ambush1985
Memali Incident1985
Sabah Emergency1986
Ming Court Affair1987
Penang terminal bridge collapse1988
Taufiqiah Al-Khairiah madrasa fire1989
Bright Sparklers disaster1991
Highland Towers collapse1993
Genting landslide1995
MH2133 incident1995
Pos Dipang mudflow1996
Tropical Storm Greg1996
1998–1999 Malaysia Nipah virus outbreak1998–1999
Al-Ma'unah incident2000
Sauk Siege2000
2001 Kampung Medan riots2001
2002 Taman Hillview landslide2002
Indian Ocean tsunami2004
2006–2007 Southeast Asian floods2006–2007
Bukit Gantang bus crash2007
Bukit Antarabangsa landslide2008
2009 swine flu pandemic in Malaysia2009
Attacks against places of worship2010
Cameron Highlands bus crash2010
Hulu Langat landslide2011
Genting Highlands bus crash2013
MH370 incident2014
MH17 incident2014
2014–15 Malaysia floods2014–2015
Sabah earthquake2015
2015 Plaza Low Yat riot2015
Movida Bar grenade attack2016
Kim Jong-nam's Assassination2017
Darul Quran madrasa fire2017
2018 Subang Temple riot2018
2020-21 Malaysia floods2021
LRT train collision2021
2021-22 Malaysia floods2021–2022
2022 Batang Kali landslide2022
2023 Elmina plane crash2023
2024 Lumut helicopters crash2024
2024 Ulu Tiram police station attack2024
By topic
By region
flagMalaysia portal
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1881190,597—
1891231,224+21.3%
1901247,808+7.2%
1911278,003+12.2%
1921304,335+9.5%
1931359,851+18.2%
1947446,321+24.0%
1957572,100+28.2%
1970776,124+35.7%
1980900,772+16.1%
19911,064,166+18.1%
20001,231,209+15.7%
20101,526,324+24.0%
20201,740,405+14.0%
Source:[1][2][3][4]

TheState of Penang,one of the most developed and urbanisedMalaysian states,is located at the nation's northwest coast along theMalacca Strait.Unlike most Malaysian states, the history of modern Penang was shaped byBritish colonialism,beginning with the acquisition ofPenang Islandfrom theSultanateofKedahby theBritish East India Companyin 1786.[5][6]Developed into a free port, the city state was subsequently governed as part of theStraits Settlements,together withSingaporeandMalacca;the state capital,George Town,briefly became the capital of this political entity between 1826 and 1832.[7][8]By the end of the 19th century, George Town prospered and became one of the majorentrepôtsinSoutheast Asia.

DuringWorld War II,Penang was conquered and occupied by theJapanese Empirefrom 1941 to 1945. At the end of the war, Penang was also the first state in theMalay Peninsulato be liberated by the British, underOperation Jurist.The Straits Settlements was dissolved in the following year and Penang was merged into theFederation of Malaya.In spite of a secessionist movement within Penang, the merger with Malaya went ahead and the federation attained independence from theBritish Empirein 1957.[9][10][11][12]Malaya later evolved into the present-dayMalaysiain 1963.

Following the revocation of George Town's free port status in the 1960s, the state suffered economic decline and massive unemployment.[11][13][14]Thestate governmentat the time led a push to reorient the economy towards hi-tech manufacturing, successfully recovering Penang's economy and lending the state its moniker the Silicon Valley of the East.[11]Growing recognition of George Town as a bustling tourist destination, particularly since the city's inscription as aUNESCOWorld Heritage Sitein 2008, also boosted the state's services sector, and today, both the manufacturing and services sectors are the two strongest economic pillars of Penang.[15][16][17]Moreover, the state enjoys one of the lowest unemployment rates andGini coefficientswithin Malaysia, as well as the second highestgross domestic product (GDP)per capita within the country afterKuala Lumpur.[18][19][20]

Ancient Penang

[edit]

Evidence of prehistoric human settlement in what is now Penang has been discovered in Guar Kepah withinSeberang Perai(formerly Province Wellesley), the mainland half of Penang.[21][22]Human remains, dating back to about 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, have been found at the site south of theMuda River,along with seashells, pottery and hunting tools. These indicate that Seberang Perai had been inhabited by nomadicMelanesiansfrom as early as theNeolithicera.[23]

Seberang Perai also became part of theBujang Valleycivilisation. TheCherok Tok KunmegalithinBukit Mertajam,discovered in 1845, containsPaliinscriptions, indicating that an earlyHindu-Buddhistpolitical entity in what is nowKedahhad established control over parts of Seberang Perai sometime between the 5th and 6th centuries.[24]The entirety of what is now Penang would later form part of theSultanate of Kedahup until the late 18th century.

TheMao Kun mapfromWubei Zhi,derived from the 15th century navigation maps ofZheng He,showingPenang Island(Cau lang đảo)

Meanwhile,Penang Islandwas first documented by Chinese sailors of theMing dynastyin the 15th century. At the time, Ming EmperorYonglewas in the midst of launchingnaval expeditionsthat would eventually reach all the way to easternAfrica.The island, known as Bīnláng Yù (simplified Chinese:Cau lang đảo;traditional Chinese:Cau lang đảo), was mapped by AdmiralZheng He's fleet in the 'Nautical Charts of Zheng He'.[citation needed]

One of the first Englishmen to arrive on Penang Island was the privateerJames Lancasterwho commanded theEdward Bonaventure.He landed in June 1592 and remained on the island until September, pillaging every vessel he encountered.[25]He was aided byOrang Aslihe encountered in Seberang Prai.[26]

Penang Island was also indicated as Pulo Pinaom in Portuguese historianEmanuel Godinho de Eredia's 1613 map of theMalay Peninsula.[27]

In the early 18th century, ethnicMinangkabausfromSumatra,led by Haji Muhammad Salleh (also known as Nakhoda Intan), landed on Penang Island, establishing a seaside settlement atBatu Ubanin 1734.[28]They were followed by theArabs,who subsequently intermarried with the Minangkabau; this gave rise to the Arab-Minangkabau admixture now described asMalay,as they have assimilated into the local Malay community.[citation needed]

Founding of Penang

[edit]

The history of modern Penang only began in earnest in the late 18th century. Up until then, theSultanate of Kedah,which had control over Penang, had maintained turbulent diplomatic relations withSiamto the north. In the 1770s, theBritish East India CompanyinstructedFrancis Lightto establish trade relations in theMalay Peninsula.[5][6]Light subsequently landed in Kedah, which at that point was threatened by both Siam andBurma,as well as an internalBugisrebellion.[5][29]

Fort Cornwallis,in the heart ofGeorge Town,was constructed at the spot whereFrancis Lightfirst set foot onPenang Island.
George Town was named afterKing George III,who ruled theBritish Empirebetween 1760 and 1801.

Aware of this situation, Light formed friendly relations with the then Sultan of Kedah,Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin II,and promised British military protection.[30][31]As part of his promises, Light assisted in the quelling of the Bugis revolt by recapturing a Bugis-held fort for the Sultan.[5]The Sultan reciprocated by offeringPenang Islandto Light.[5][6][32]Light subsequently wrote to his superiors regarding the offer, arguing that Penang Island could serve as a "convenient magazine for trade" and its strategic location would allow the British to check Dutch and French territorial gains inSoutheast Asia.He also made the case that, with the other ports in the region, such asAcehandPhuket,riddled with piracy and despotic governments, the British East India Company could seize the opportunity to establish a tranquil harbour on Penang Island conducive for free trade, noting that if "Malay, Bugis and Chinese will come to reside here, it will become the Exchange of the East if not loaded with impositions and restrictions".[31]

However, nothing transpired until 1786, when by that point the British werefighting the Thirteen American Colonies,which were backed byFranceand theNetherlands.[5]Faced with the Dutch dominance of theEast Indies(nowIndonesia) and a growing French threat, Light, who by then had risen to the rank of captain, was ordered to acquire Penang Island from Kedah.[30][32]The British East India Company sought control of Penang Island as aRoyal Navybase, and a trading post betweenChinaand theIndian subcontinent.[6]

Light negotiated with the new Sultan of Kedah,Sultan Abdullah Mukarram Shah,regarding the cession of Penang Island to the British East India Company in exchange for British military assistance and a lease of 6,000Spanish dollarsto cancel Kedah's debts to Siam.[5][6][31][33]With the agreement between Light and the Kedah Sultan successfully concluded, Light and his entourage sailed on to Penang Island, where they arrived on 17 July 1786.[34][35]Fort Cornwalliswould later be built at the spot where Light first set foot.

The area where Light first landed was originally a mangrove swamp covered in thick jungle.[5][6]Once enough land was cleared, creating what is now theEsplanade,a ceremony was held on 11 August, during which theUnion Jackwas raised for the first time. This signified the formal possession of Penang Island by theBritish East India Companyin the name ofKing George III.[36]The island was renamed the Prince of Wales Island after theheir to the British throne,while the new settlement ofGeorge Townwas established in honour ofKing George III.Thus, George Town became the first British settlement in Southeast Asia and a springboard for future British territorial expansion in the region, while its establishment by the British East India Company marked the start of a period of British imperialism in the Malay Peninsula.[31]

Unbeknownst to the Kedah Sultan, however, Light had acted without the authority or consent of his superiors inIndia.[5][6][33]When Light reneged on his promise of British military protection against Siam, the Kedah Sultan in 1791 assembled an army in what is nowSeberang Peraito retake the Prince of Wales Island. The Sultan's force was also assisted by a fleet of pirates.[5]Fortunately for Light, his garrison on the island was reinforced by two companies fromCalcutta.After failing to persuade the Sultan to disband his forces, the British East India Company launched amphibious assaults at night, destroyingKedah's military installations inPerai,and defeating both the pirates and the Sultan's army.[5][37]

In 1800, the firstLieutenant-Governor of Prince of Wales Island,SirGeorge Leith,gained a 189.3 km2(73.1 sq mi) strip of Seberang Perai from thenew Sultan of Kedah.[6][38]The treaty, negotiated by Leith's First AssistantGeorge Caunter,superseded Light's earlier agreement and gave the British permanent sovereignty over both Prince of Wales Island and the newly ceded mainland territory,[39]which in subsequent years was named Province Wellesley.[40]

The newly acquired land, which included a five-kilometre stretch of coastline[41]south of thePerai River,turned the river into the international border between Province Wellesley and Kedah.[42]At the time, Province Wellesley was heavily forested and sparsely populated, with a total population of only 5,000.[38]The treaty gave Prince of Wales Island the entire command of its harbour for the first time, as well as control of the vulnerable mainland coastline, home to pirates and brigands. It further gave the island a controlled source of food and increased the value of itsopiumand arack farms. It provided for the free flow of food and commodities from Kedah to Prince of Wales Island and Province Wellesley.[43]For Kedah it provided a protective strip against enemy attack from the sea.[44]In exchange for this acquisition, the annual payment to the Kedah Sultan was increased to 10,000 Spanish dollars per annum. To this day, theMalaysian federal governmentstill pays Kedah, on behalf of Penang, RM10,000 annually as a symbolic gesture.[45][46]

Francis Light's grave in theOld Protestant CemeteryinGeorge Town

Following the original acquisition in 1800, Province Wellesley was gradually expanded up to its present-day boundaries in 1874, when thePangkor Treaty,which included the delineation of Province Wellesley's southern borders, was signed between the British and the neighbouringSultanate of Perak.Province Wellesley thus gained the town ofSungai Achehfrom Perak.[47][48][49]

Light died from malaria in 1794 and was buried within theOld Protestant Cemeteryin George Town. To this day, Light is honoured as the founding father ofPenang.

Early growth

[edit]
An 1818 painting depicting George Town andProvince Wellesley(in the horizon), as seen from a hilltop
TheHigh Court of Penang,in George Town, was established in 1808, making it the birthplace of Malaysia's modern-day judiciary.

Francis Lighthad establishedGeorge Townas a free port, thus allowing merchants to trade without having to pay any form of tax or duties. In effect, this measure was intended to entice merchants from the Dutch ports in the region.[7]As a result, the number of incoming vessels increased exponentially from 85 in 1786 to 3,569 in 1802; George Town's population had also risen to 10,000 by 1792.[50][51][52]Immigrants came from various parts ofAsia;in 1801, the thenLieutenant-Governor of the Prince of Wales Island,SirGeorge Leith,remarked that "there is not, probably, any part of the world where, in so small a space, so many different people are assembled together or so great a variety of languages spoken".[31]For example, in May 1787 Light appointedKoh Lay Huanas the colony's firstKapitan Cina,[53]after Koh arrived shortly after Light with several boatloads of Chinese and Malays to develop the island.[54][55]A committee of assessors was also established for George Town in 1800, making it the first local government to be established withinBritish Malaya.[56]

The Prince of Wales Island, together with Province Wellesley, had been administered under theBengal Presidencyuntil 1805, when Penang was made a separate Presidency on par withMadras,Bombayand Bengal.[31]By then,Penangalso served as a penal station; in 1796, 700 Indian convicts were shipped in from theAndaman Islands.[37][57]The practice of employing Indian convicts continued throughout the 19th century as a means to provide the necessary labour for public infrastructure works, such as the construction of roads, drains and public buildings.[37][58]

In 1807, aroyal charterto provide for the establishment of a Supreme Court and a police force in Penang was granted. The Supreme Court of Penang was first opened atFort Cornwallisin George Town in 1808, withEdmond Stanleyassuming office as its first Recorder (Judge).[59][60]In the decades that followed, Penang's judiciary and the police force were progressively applied to theStraits Settlements,and later copied throughout British Malaya.[61][62]Hence, Penang was the birthplace of the present-dayMalaysian judiciary system,as well as theRoyal Malaysian Police.[59][60][61][62]

In the early 19th century, Penang became a centre of spice production and trade withinSoutheast Asia.The cultivation of pepper began soon after the founding of George Town in 1786.[63]The production of spices, includingnutmegandclove,gradually grew more varied and the booming spice trade led to the opening of spice farms all over Penang. The export of spices through thePort of Penangalso enabled the British East India Company to cover the administrative costs of Penang.[58][64]Furthermore, the agricultural plantations would fuel the growth of several villages, such asAir ItamandBalik Pulauon the island, andBukit Mertajamin Province Wellesley.[58][64][65]Malay refugees fleeing the Siamese invasion ofKedahand Chinese immigrants formed the bulk of workers in these agricultural estates. Other areas, such asBayan Lepason the island andKepala Batasin Province Wellesley, were founded as rice-producing estates.

Straits Settlements

[edit]
Edinburgh House, at the site of presentDewan Sri Pinang,was occupied by theDuke of Edinburghon his 1869 visit.[66]
ThePort of PenangatWeld Quay,inGeorge Town,in 1910. Weld Quay was reclaimed from the sea in the 1880s.[67]
Town Hall of Penang, circa. 1910.

In 1826, theBritish East India Companyamalgamated the territories of Penang,Singapore(acquired fromJohorin 1819), andMalacca(acquired from theNetherlandsin 1824) into a single political entity, theStraits Settlements.George Town was made the administrative and judicial capital of the new entity. However, owing to Singapore's more strategic geographical location between theMalacca Straitand theSouth China Sea,thePort of Singaporerapidly surpassed thePort of Penangas the preeminent harbour in the region. Consequently, Singapore replaced George Town as the capital of the Straits Settlements in 1832.[8]

Nonetheless, George Town continued to retain its importance as a vital Britishentrepôtby funneling the exports meant for global shipping lines which had bypassed other regional harbours.[68][69]In the latter half of the 19th century, thetin miningboom within the neighbouringSultanate of PerakandSiambrought more prosperity to Penang. Tin produced from within theKinta Valleyand southern Siam were transported to George Town for smelting, before being exported via the Port of Penang to European and American industries.[68]The Port of Penang subsequently became a major tin-exporting harbour withinBritish Malaya,directly challenging the Port of Singapore.[70][67]The opening of theSuez Canalin 1869 and the advent of steamships further cemented the Port of Penang's importance as a major entrepôt within British Malaya.[68]By the end of the 19th century, George Town also evolved into a leading financial centre of British Malaya, as mercantile firms and international banks, includingStandard CharteredandHSBC,flocked into the city.[35][67]

By then, Penang became home to a myriad of ethnicities and religious affinities. Aside from the sizeableChinese,Malay,Indian,Peranakan,Eurasian, andSiamesecommunities, the colony's multi-ethnic and multi-religious society included significant minorities ofBurmese,British,Javanese,Japanese,Sinhalese,Jewish,German,andArmenianorigin.[37][68][67][71]

At the time, each ethnic community had a tendency to specialise in specific trades and economic sectors.[37]While the Europeans predominated in the various professional fields, as well as occupying managerial positions in mercantile and shipping firms, the Peranakans and the Eurasians tended to enter the nascent civil service as lawyers, engineers, architects and clerks. Some of the newer Chinese arrivals, labelled condescendingly by the Peranakans as Sinkheh (Chinese:Tân khách; meaning new guests), were coolies and agricultural farmers, although many eventually entered into commercial, trading and real estate enterprises within the city; certain dialect communities, such as theCantoneseand theHakka,predominated as artisans, blacksmiths, carpenters and cooks. The Indians, who were first brought in as convict workers for public works, also began competing with the Chinese in commercial, trading and shipping stevedore activities.[37][58]Ethnic Malays, meanwhile, were primarily engaged in agricultural occupations, including rice farming and fishing. Other ethnic communities, such as the Jews and the Armenians, were mainly engaged in mercantile and commercial ventures; the latter community was notable for the establishment of theEastern & Oriental Hotel,for instance.

The rapid population growth that resulted from the booming economy led to several social problems, chiefly the inadequate sanitation and public health facilities, as well as rampant crime. The latter was brought about by an influx of Chinese immigrants, which led to the formation of feuding triads and secret societies.[68][72]Turf wars between the triads worsened, and when the Straits Settlements authorities attempted to put a stop to the triad activities in 1857, the Chinese triads came into conflict against the British-led police force as well. This culminated in thePenang Riotsof 1867 in the streets of George Town, when the Kean Teik Tong, led byKhoo Thean Teikand the Red Flag, clashed against the alliance of theGhee Hin Kongsiand the White Flag.[73][74]The resulting civil unrest lasted for 10 days, before the turf war was eventually quelled by the Straits Settlements authorities under newly appointed Lieutenant-GovernorEdward Anson,who were assisted by European residents and reinforcements from Singapore.[75][76]

Also in the same year, the Straits Settlements was made aBritish crown colony,thereby placing the administration of Penang, Singapore and Malacca directly under theColonial OfficeinLondon.[77][78]DirectBritishrule meant better enforcement of the rule of law, as Penang's police force was vastly beefed up and the secret societies that had plagued George Town during the preceding decades were gradually outlawed.[68][72]

Meanwhile, in Province Wellesley, new railway lines were being constructed, with the first railroad being theBukit Mertajam-Perailine in 1899.[79]The town ofButterworthwas also established in the mid-19th century as the transportation hub within Province Wellesley. In 1894, the first cross-strait ferry service between George Town and Butterworth commenced operations, and would eventually evolve into the present-dayRapid Ferry.[80]

With improved access to education and rising living standards, Penang soon enjoyed substantial press freedom and there was a greater degree of participation in municipal affairs by its Asian residents.[13][31][68]Penang's representatives in theStraits Settlements Legislative Councilgained a reputation for their assertive contestation of the policies made by the Singapore-based British authorities, which sometimes went against Penang's interests.

On top of that, George Town, perceived as being more intellectually receptive than Singapore, also served as a magnet for well known English authors, Asian intellectuals and reformists.[13][31][68][81]For instance, the Chinese revolutionary leader,Sun Yat-sen,chose to relocate his Southeast Asian base from Singapore to George Town, where he continued his efforts to reorganise and raise funds for the Chinese revolutionary movement against theQing dynasty.[31][68][82]These efforts culminated in the famous1910 Penang conference,which paved the way to the ultimately triumphantWuchang uprisingthat overthrew theManchuimperial government of China.[58][83]

World wars

[edit]

World War I

[edit]
Main article:Battle of Penang
A 1914 map fromThe New York Timesdepicting the Battle of Penang

On 28 October 1914, theBattle of Penangoccurred, during which anImperial German Navycruiser,SMSEmden,covertly sailed intoGeorge Townand sank theImperial Russian Navycruiser,Zhemchug.TheFrench Navydestroyer,Mousquet,set off in pursuit, before being sunk by SMSEmdenas well off the northwestern tip ofPenang Island.147 French and Russian sailors perished, while the survivors were rescued by local Malay fishermen.[84]

Aside from the naval battle,Penang,as well as theStraits Settlements,was largely unaffected by the events ofWorld War I.

World War II

[edit]
See also:Operation Jurist
AnImperial Japanese Navysubmarine at thePort of PenanginGeorge Townin 1942

World War II,on the other hand, unleashed unprecedented social and political upheaval to Penang. The swift British retreat, coupled with the brutal massacres ofPenang's Chinese residents,would severely dent British sense of prestige and dominance in the eyes of the locals.

From 9 until 18 December 1941, Japanese warplanes indiscriminately strafed and bombed George Town, in the process eliminating the obsoleteRoyal Air ForceandRoyal Australian Air Forcesquadrons based inRAF Butterworthand the Bayan Lepas Aerodrome (nowPenang International Airport).[85][86]It was estimated that 600 civilians were killed as a result of the Japanese bombardment, with an additional 1,100 wounded.

Notwithstanding the fact that theBritish Armyhad earlier designatedPenang Islandas a fortress, Lieutenant-GeneralArthur Percivalthen ordered a withdrawal from Penang. Not only did the British Army abandon theBatu MaungFort on the island, they also surreptitiously evacuated Penang's European population, leaving the colony's Asian populace to the mercy of the impending Japanese occupation.[87]To this day, it has been agreed that the withdrawal and the covert evacuation of Europeans led to the loss of the British sense of invincibility, and that "the moral collapse of British rule inSoutheast Asiacame not inSingapore,but in Penang ".[88]

Penang fell to theImperial Japanese Armyon 19 December 1941, marking the start of a period ofJapanese occupation.[85][89]Penang Island was renamed Tojo-to, after theJapanese Prime Ministerat the time,Hideki Tojo.[88]George Town's harbour facilities were also put to use as a majorAxissubmarine base in Southeast Asia.[90][91][92][93]

The Japanese enacted dissimilar policies with each ethnic community. Ethnic Chinese residents arguably suffered the most brutal treatment, as the Imperial Japanese Army massacred thousands of Chinese as part of theSook Chingcampaign to rid what was perceived as anti-Japanese elements in the society.[94]Penang's womenfolk were also coerced to work ascomfort womenby the Imperial Japanese Army.[95][96]

Royal Marinesliberating George Town on 3 September 1945
Japaneseprisoners of warbeing marched through the streets ofGeorge Townby their British captors on 3 September 1945

Penang's residents also had to endure economic hardship during the Japanese occupation, withhyperinflationcaused by the oversupply of theJapanese-issued 'banana' dollars,and the acute shortage of food and raw materials, due to a combination of Japanese wartime rationing and an Allied blockade of Japanese shipping.[97][98][99]Households were forced to turn to secondary crops such as sweet potatoes, yam and tapioca for their own subsistence. Beginning in 1942, a standardised Japanese curricula was enforced in all schools throughout Penang, withJapaneseas the official language. In fact, social lifestyles were also greatly impacted, as it became compulsory to bow to Japanese soldiers on guard duty and to sing theJapanese national anthem,whilst whole streets and shops were renamed in Japanese.[100]

Between 1944 and 1945, Royal Air Force andUnited States Army Air Forcebomber squadrons based inIndiarepeatedly launchedbombing raids on George Town,seeking to destroy naval and administrative facilities.[85]The destruction of the Penang Secretariat building by the Allied bombardment caused the loss of a large part of the British and Japanese records concerning Penang Island, complicating post-war efforts to compile a comprehensive history of Penang.[101]ThePenang Straitwas also mined as part of efforts to constrict Japanese shipping.[102]

Following theJapanese surrenderon 15 August 1945, thePenang Shimbun,a Japanese newspaper, published the proclamation of surrender issued by theEmperor of Japan.UnderOperation Jurist,aBritish Royal Navyfleet accepted the surrender of the Japanese garrison in Penang on 2 September 1945. ABritish Royal Marinescontingent recaptured Penang Island on the following day, making George Town the first city inMalayato be liberated at the end of the war.

Post-war

[edit]

Penangwas placed under amilitary administrationuntil 1946, as the British sought to restore order in the face of anemerging Communist insurgency.[85]The British also dissolved theStraits Settlementsin April 1946, with SirShenton Thomasbeing its lastGovernor;PenangandMalaccawere then merged with theFederated Malay Statesand theUnfederated Malay Statesto form theMalayan Union(the newColony of Singapore,excluded from this union, was to remain firmly under British rule). The Malayan Union was replaced by theFederation of Malayain 1948. As the gradual withdrawal of the Western colonial powers inSoutheast Asiacontinued taking shape, the independence of Malaya as a united political entity seemed a foregone conclusion.

However, the merger of the British crown colony of Penang into the vast Malay heartland alarmed some quarters of Penang's population. Questions were raised over economic and ethnic issues, such as the citizenship of non-Malays, greater trade regulations imposed on Penang by the central government inKuala Lumpurand the introduction of exportdutiesfor trade with the rest of Malaya.[9]Consequently, the Penang Secession Committee, formed in 1948, proposed to exclude Penang from the Federation of Malaya, which would allow Penang to either retain its links with theBritish Empireor form a political union with Singapore.[9][10][12]The movement was led by D.A. Mackay, then the chairman of the Penang Chamber of Commerce, and included the Penang Muslim Chamber of Commerce, the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the Penang Straits Chinese Association, the Penang Eurasian Association and the Penang Indian Chamber of Commerce.[9][10][11][103][104]

Ultimately, the Penang Secession Committee failed to attain its goals and petered out. A secession motion tabled in the Penang Settlement Council in 1949 was narrowly dismissed by British official votes, while another petition sent toLondonin 1951 also met with British disapproval.[9][10][11][12]While some British and American observers were sympathetic to the secessionists' cause, the British administrators were reluctant to jeopardise their own plans to gradually grant independence to a united Malayan polity. Moreover, the British government allayed the fears raised by the secessionists by guaranteeingGeorge Town's free port status and by reintroducing municipal elections for the city in 1951.[10]

On 1 January 1957, George Town, the capital of Penang, was granted city status byQueen Elizabeth IIin 1957, becoming the first city within the Federation of Malaya, and by extension,Malaysia.George Town continued to be the only city within Malaysia (other thanSingaporebetween 1963 and its Separation in 1965) until 1972, when Kuala Lumpur was also conferred city status.

Penang, as part of the Federation of Malaya, gained independence from the British Empire on 31 August 1957, and subsequently became a member state of Malaysia in 1963.

Post-independence

[edit]

1957–1969

[edit]

Penang's political landscape immediately after the independence ofMalayabecame relatively fractured. The newPenang state governmentwas dominated by theAlliance coalition(now succeeded byBarisan Nasional), the same ruling coalition that controlled the Malayan federal government.Wong Pow Neeof theMalaysian Chinese Association(MCA), one of the major component parties of the Alliance, became Penang's firstChief Minister,a position that he held until 1969. On the other hand, theLabour Party,a left-wing opposition party, took control of the George Town City Council soon after the Malayan independence.[69]Penang's voters tended to leave the control of the state government in the hands of the Alliance, while consistently electing the Labour Party to run the city council.

At the time, the George Town City Council was the only fully elected local authority in Malaya, as well as the country's richest, with an annual revenue that was double that of the Penang state government by 1965.[105]This solidified the financial autonomy of the city council, with its revenue going into social welfare projects withinGeorge Town.[69][106]Meanwhile, the Penang state government attempted to boost the state's manufacturing sector by opening new industrial estates inSeberang Perai,such as inPeraiandMak Mandin.[69][42]Exacerbated by the opposing political affinities and ideologies, conflicts frequently arose between the state government and the city council over differences in policies and budget allocations.[69][106][107]

As previously guaranteed by the British authorities, George Town's free port status was untouched in the years immediately after the Malayan independence. The earlier fears by the secessionists eventually came true, however, when in 1969, the free port status was suddenly revoked by theMalaysian federal government.[11][13][14]Consequently, 16.4% of Penang's working population became unemployed as thePort of Penang's trade volume plummeted, adversely affecting George Town's services sector.[108][109]In the long run, this also marked the beginning of George Town's slow, decades-long decline, which was only recently reversed.[110]

The revocation of George Town's free port status, coupled with an unsuccessful, bloody strike by Penang's unions in 1967, led to a loss of popular support for the Alliance amongst Penangites.[111]During the1969 State Elections,Gerakan,then an opposition party, was voted into power in Penang, replacing the Alliance. The party's founder,Lim Chong Eu,succeeded Wong Pow Nee as the Chief Minister of Penang. However, theviolent race riots in Kuala Lumpurfollowing the concurrentMalaysian General Electionsled to the nationwide imposition of martial law and the functions of the Penang state government were taken over by the National Operations Council until 1971.

1970–1990

[edit]
Constructed in 1974, theKomtar TowerinGeorge TownisPenang's tallest skyscraper.
The township ofBayan Baruwas first developed by the Penang Development Corporation in the 1970s, following the establishment of the adjacentBayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone.[112][113][114]

In 1973,GerakanjoinedBarisan Nasional,thus returning thePenang state governmentback into the hands of the ruling coalition.[108][115]

To revivePenang's economy,Lim Chong Eucreated theBayan Lepas Free Industrial Zoneand courted foreignmultinational corporationsfor investments.[108][115][116]Pioneer tax status was granted to multinational firms seeking to establish assembly plants within Bayan Lepas, which was formerly the rice bowl of Penang.[108]Major electronic and engineering firms, includingMotorola,Bosch,Hewlett-PackardandHitachi,flocked in, setting up assembly plants within the area. Complemented by cheap labour, the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone, one of the major electronics manufacturing zones inAsia,grew to become the Silicon Valley of the East and was instrumental in pulling Penang out from its economic slump, greatly propelling the state's economy as one of the main economic powerhouses withinMalaysia.[108][115][116]To this day, manufacturing remains one of Penang's two largest economic sectors, contributing as much as 47.4% of Penang'sGDPas of 2015.[16]

During Lim's tenure, several major infrastructure projects were completed. ThePenang Bridge,then the longest bridge inSoutheast Asia,was completed in 1985, thus providing for the first time a road link betweenPenang Islandand theMalay Peninsula.More controversial was the 250 m (820 ft)-tallKomtarinGeorge Town,to this day thetallest skyscraper in Penang.Launched in 1974 as part of his vision to reverse George Town's declining fortunes, Komtar was constructed in the expense of hundreds of shophouses, schools and temples, as well as whole streets, which were bulldozed for the project.[13]However, instead of arresting George Town's decline, Komtar itself became a white elephant by the early 2000s.[117][118][119]

Meanwhile, in 1974, thePort of Penangwas relocated from George Town to the town ofButterworth,directly across thePenang Strait,to allow for the berthing of larger container and cargo vessels.[120]By then, the maritime traffic through Penang had been greatly diminished since the revocation of George Town's free port status, with increasing volumes of maritime trade being directed towardsPort KlangnearKuala Lumpurinstead.[121][122]

Throughout the 1970s and 80s, theMalaysian federal governmentproceeded with the rapid development of Kuala Lumpur and nearby Port Klang, by controlling investments in communication, transport, education and health.[13]Kuala Lumpur soon outstripped George Town as Malaysia's largest city and financial centre, while Port Klang quickly became the country's busiest seaport. Consequently, Penang began to suffer considerable brain drain as younger Penangites started emigrating for better employment opportunities.[109][123][124][125]

In 1974, the George Town City Council was merged with the Penang Island Rural District Council to form the Penang Island Municipal Council, while the five local authorities withinSeberang Perai,including the Butterworth andBukit Mertajamtown councils, were merged into theSeberang Perai Municipal Council.[126]By then, local elections, suspended since 1965, became a thing of the past, with the municipal councillors being appointed by the Penang state government ever since.[106]The merger of the local governments on Penang Island also led to a decades-long dispute over George Town's city status.[127][128]

In the1990 State Elections,Lim Chong Eu as the incumbent lost thePadang Kotaconstituency toLim Kit Siangof theDemocratic Action Party(DAP), forcing him into retirement. Although Barisan Nasional remained in power, Lim Chong Eu was succeeded byKoh Tsu Koonas theChief Minister of Penang.

1991–2008

[edit]

Koh Tsu Koon's tenure as theChief Minister of Penangwas marked by inept development and urban planning policies, rampant pollution, and the deteriorating general state of affairs withinPenang.Political tussles complicated development policies, while simmering discontent from Penang's vocalnon-governmental organisations(NGOs) and residents over the state's decline would eventually lead to an unprecedented political change within the state.[13][33]

In the early 1990s, plans for the development ofPenang Hillwere drawn up by thePenang state government,drawing considerable backlash from Penang's civil societies over the potential environmental degradation of the forested hill.[13]The plan was eventually axed. Meanwhile, the Rent Control Act, which until then had protected the low-income residents within theGeorge Towncity centre from eviction by preventing any arbitrary hike in rents, was repealed by 2001.[13][129]This consequently led to the further hollowing out of the city centre, as residents, andsmaller businesses,were unable to cope with the rental hikes and moved out. Unscrupulous private developers began demolishing several pre-war heritage buildings within the city centre for redevelopment, while other historic buildings fell under disrepair. Concerned over the impending loss of George Town's heritage architecture, NGOs based within the city started to mobilise public support for the conservation of these historic buildings.

By the early 2000s, Penang's economic growth began to lose steam, with the city-state recording the lowest monthly household income growth rate amongst theMalaysian states.[112]The decades of brain drain also took its toll. For instance, whileKuala Lumpurwas granted several mega-projects, including thePetronas Towersand theKuala Lumpur International Airport,Penang suffered a shortage of qualified engineers and architects as professionals continued gravitating towards theGreater Kuala Lumpurarea.[114][33]Moreover, the lack of a coherent urban planning policy and poor traffic management meant that little was done to curb the worsening traffic congestion within Penang.[130]Even the state's reputation for cleanliness was not spared, as reports of coastal pollution and dirty streets within Penang made headline news.[130]As early as 1996, the thenMalaysian Prime Mninister,Mahathir Mohamad,had even labelled Penang a "garbage state".[131][132]

Widespread dissatisfaction over Penang's decline and neglect sparked a media campaign to restore Penang to its former glory in 2004.[130][133][134][135][136]It has since been speculated that the public outcry over the neglect of the city once known as the Pearl of the Orient, combined with Penang's relatively lively political scene, contributed to the defeat of Barisan Nasional in the2008 State Electionby the federal opposition pact,Pakatan Rakyat.[69][33][137]The opposition coalition, led by theDAP,subsequently took over the Penang state government, withLim Guan Engsucceeding Koh as the Chief Minister of Penang.

In late 2004, Penang was hit by the massiveIndian Ocean tsunami.Out of the 68 deaths withinMalaysia,52 were in Penang.[130]Northern coastal areas, such asBatu FerringhiandGurney Drivein George Town, were among the worst hit places within the state. In the aftermath of the tsunami, a network of sirens has been installed throughout Penang as part of a national tsunami warning system designed to alert the public of such calamities in the future.[138]

2008

[edit]
The historic city centre of George Town has been gazetted as aUNESCOWorld Heritage Sitesince 2008.

The swearing in of the newPenang state government,now led byPakatan Rakyat,in 2008, heralded various positive policy changes. During that year, theGeorge Towncity centre, along withMalacca,was inscribed as aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site,as a result of years of conservation efforts led by the city'sNGOs.The new state government subsequently spearheaded efforts to improve hygiene, cleanliness andpedestrianisation,as well as the use of public transportation and the promotion of the city's cultural diversity.[139][140][141]By 2010, George Town was ranked the most liveable city inMalaysiabyECA International,coming in at eighth place withinAsiaas well.[142]Moreover, in 2017, the city was also ranked the second cleanest within Malaysia, behind onlyIpoh.[143]

In the economic front, the present state government has emphasised efforts to attractforeign direct investmentsand to push Penang up the economic value chain, as well as policies to root out corruption.[144][145][146][147]In 2010, Penang recorded the highest amount of capital investments within Malaysia, attracting RM12.2 billion, or 26%, of the nation's total investments.[148]Penang's stunning economic recovery, particularly since 2008, was described byBloombergas Malaysia's "biggest economic success" despite theMalaysian federal government's focus on other states such asJohorandSarawak.[149]On top of that, thePenang state governmentwas able to decrease Penang's public debt by 95%, from RM630 million in 2008 to RM30 million by late 2011.[150]In addition, in 2016, George Town was rated as the most attractive destination for commercial property investment within Malaysia byKnight Frank,surpassing evenKuala Lumpur.[151]

In 2015, the Malaysian federal government elevated the Penang Island Municipal Council into the present-dayPenang Island City Council,thereby expanding the jurisdiction of George Town to encompass the entire Penang Island, as well as five of the surrounding islets.[152]This also made George Town the only Malaysian city to have been conferred its city status twice.

TheSecond Penang Bridge,currently the longest bridge inSoutheast Asia,was opened in 2013. Straddling a length of 24 km (15 mi), it provides a second road link between Penang Island andSeberang Perai,and has spurred the development of new industrial areas such asBatu Kawan.

See also

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Further reading

[edit]
  • Sandhu, Kernial Singh (1969),Indians in Malaya-immigration and settlement,Cambridge University Press, p. 29
  • Sinnappah, Anasanatnam (1979),Indians in Malaysia and Singapore,Kulala Lumpur: Oxford University Press, p. 19
  • Snider, Nancy (1968), "What Happened in Penang",Asian Survey,8(12): 960–975,doi:10.2307/2642150,JSTOR2642150
  • Woodcock, George. "Penang: Britain's First Settlement In Malaya"History Today(Dec 1969), Vol. 19 Issue 12, p832-839; online
[edit]

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