Penang more than an island
PENANGITES living on the mainland have called on the authorities to correct the misconception that the state comprises only an island, excluding the mainland part of the state.
Health counsellor Sanjay C.S, 38, and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) doctorate student Shamsher Singh Thind, 34, said it was disappointing that the state and federal authorities and even the private sector like Pos Malaysia and PLUS Expressway, commonly referred to Penang as either an island or city.
Both Sanjay and Shamsher Singh are from Seberang Prai on the mainland.
“Penang is a state comprising both island and mainland yet you see billboards and road signs all over the place that indicate otherwise,” said Shamsher Singh in an interview yesterday.
“This misconception can be easily cleared up and it’s important that we do so,” he added.
Using one example, Shamsher Singh said the Penang Port’s signboard on the free crossing ‘from Penang to Butterworth’ at the ferry terminal in Weld Quay should read ‘from George Town to Butterworth’.
Another example is the ‘Selamat Datang ke Pulau Pinang’ (Welcome to Penang) sign after the Penang bridge toll booth heading towards the island. He feels it should be ‘Welcome to the Penang Bridge’.
“Also, road signs in George Town have the postcode followed by Penang instead of the district which is George Town.
“Why are we not using the proper address which is George Town? The only time you hear the name being used is during the annual George Town Festival and George Town City Day on Jan 1.
“Stop referring to the island as Penang or George Town because it’s so much more than that,” he said.
He said that on the PLUS highway, arrows point to Butterworth and Penang when the latter actually refers to George Town.
“This gives the impression that Butterworth is not part of Penang but a state by itself,” Shamsher Singh said.
He said many did not consider Seberang Prai or Butterworth as part of the state and something should be done to correct the general perception.
He called on the state government to unite all Penangites on the island and the mainland by abolishing the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP).
“The Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) should take over the duties of the MPSP.
“If this is not feasible, then the MPPP should be renamed the Northeast and Southwest Municipal Council.
“Stop making those of us who live in Seberang Prai feel like the state’s stepchildren,” he said.
He added that an official letter had been sent to several quarters including state exco members.
In an immediate response, State Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the official name for the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ according to the State Constitution is ‘The State of Penang’.
He said that conventionally, the island was known as Pulau Pinang, which in English means Penang Island, while the mainland was called Seberang Prai.
“So using the name Pulau Pinang to refer to the island is not technically wrong.
“That said, even the Mandarin-speaking community has raised similar concerns about the use of the state’s name,” he said.
Commenting on the suggestion to change the name of the MPPP, Chow said the state government had applied to the Housing and Local Government Ministry for Penang island to be accorded city status.
If approved, the MPPP would be named ‘Penang Island City Council’ and there would not be a need for the abolishment of the MPSP.
Source: The Star
its hard to change already. Not to be a jerk here but, island ppl always feels they are a class higher than the mainland ppl…just almost 15km seperated by the Straits of Malacca, they already feel that way..i wonder how the US ppl would look at them is they, the US ppl, have the same mindset as them…maggot perhaps? **sarcasm**
what took you people so long to realize this…. trust me i realized this ignorance since i was a kid….i used to emphasis my arrival at Penang right at the kedah-Penang border so that the people whoa were travelling with me will not have the notion that penang starts only after the bridge toll….. malaysians are too ignorant and too slow… but at least now u people realize…. thanks for heads-up… i always pity Province Wellesley…. it’s like no one cares bout the place… ‘Welcome to penang’ signboard shud be placed right at the Kedah-Parit Buntar-Penang border….not on the bridge… the moment ur in Penang u will see a factory and industries on ur left which explains the ‘industrial’ness and development of Penang… it makes me proud… i always hated it when mainland gets singled out… a similar absurdity also happens in kl-selangor…. it’s malaysian attitude…. the people of klang valley never uses the word selangor…. even if they live in pj or subang… they always say that they are from kl…. they keep saying ‘i’m frm kl’…. i hated it always…. it’s so third world attitude of malaysians
Goppal:” … i always pity Province Wellesley…. it’s like no one cares bout the place… ‘Welcome to penang’ signboard shud be placed right at the Kedah-Parit Buntar-Penang border….not on the bridge… …..”
Totally agree friend. Why only Pg Island been develop well, why only Pg Island more class than mainland? It is fair? Hope ‘Lim’ can make it to ‘EQUAL CLASS’ & ‘EQUAL SUCCESS’!
A lot of places in mainland can be develope well like BM Town, Butterworth, Prai, Bandar Perda, Alma and etc. Please look at this places and do something for our ‘Penang’. Thanks
Negeri Pulau Pinang should be changed to Negeri Pinang, ie Pinang = Pulau Pinang + Seberang Perai. Butterwoth people: “Lets go island this weekend” instead of “Lets go Penang this weekend”. Other state people: “Jom pi Pinang holiday ini”. Haha…
It is all in your mind…. hehe… everywhere sure got class people and not so class people one lar… it is not about where… it is about who… hehe…
So… show others you are class people by your class act lar… not by relying on where you stay… hehe…
Penang is special as it’s the only state in Malaysia which has different name in Malay & English. Should we make it into a common name to reduce the confusion among foreigners?
Pulau Pinang is still a Pulau. What a big deal? Like New York City, ppl only know Manhattan as the New York City! Who really care actually NYC consist of few islands like Brooklyn, etc.
I was born in Petaling Jaya,just 14km away from KL city. Why I call myself KL people? Cz I born in KL hospital.Very close to KL yes just 15 mins driving but PJ citizens is well-known as the best education breed in Msia. One from PJ sent to Harvard sch recently. But now I married a Penangsite,stay in Penang Island. Pulau Pinang means Penang Island (pulau=Island) yes but British colony 1785 adopted Bworth for transport facilities then from there born Prai district under Penang name too. So don’t feel low-esteem if you from the mainland, we are equal lah…
This guy who wrote this article has nothing better to do,
who cares about this? people have been living in Butterworth or Penang for more than 50 years after independent.
No one cares about it, but i wonder why status is so important for this guy
We know Penang is a state and Georgetown is the capital. Like everything else, each place has a nickname. You just know it when it is called by the nickname. Nickname for Penang Island is Penang. Nickname for Seberang Prai or Province Wellesley is Butterworth. There is no confusion lah!
@BD
You know this or not……Malacca in English, Melaka in Malay.
How about Johore vs Johor?
@jen8
Yes we all Penang ppl is equal but if we compare on development mainland will be slower. Penang Island is Tourism place and why mainland cannot be tourism too? Do u have some Penang Holiday Package go to mainland? Like Seberang Jaya Bird Park why not so popular as compare to Butterfly farm in tanjung bungah? Actually I’m not trying to say somthing bad, just hope ‘Pulau Pinang’ is one of the well known state in Malaysia.
Still confused why people who enjoys big big house in Butterworth still want to complain about slow development compared to island… Don’t know whether they will complain or not when they no longer can afford to own a house later… hehe…
@wbk
Yes agree with you. If one day mainland house price same like island. Then it will be another topic arrise.
I heard why Penang Island so popular than the mainland…they said Chinese, you know what it means. See Langkawi so beautiful, but not well developed. Where chinese sit,it become popular like Spore,HK,Taiwan. The world knows too. But I say here, the islander and mainlander both samelah stop complainlah we are Penangsite…
If one day lar… But hor, you might not want that to happen lar… Even the propability is close to zero lor…
Everything starts from the focal point…Penang Island. High activity at the centre and spreading out from the centre. This is a natural phenomenon when the state enjoys progressive growth. Other examples you can see…….Shen Zhen next to Hong Kong or closer home is Johore Baru next to Singapore. The key difference here is that both island and mainland belong to the same state of Penang. All kaki nang !