Batu Maung

Batu Maung is a residential neighbourhood in the Malaysian state of Penang.[1] It is located within the Southwest Penang Island District, near the southeastern tip of Penang Island, and adjacent to the town of Bayan Lepas and the Penang International Airport. Batu Maung is home to the island terminus of the Second Penang Bridge and the southern end of the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway. It is also surrounded by fishing villages such as Permatang Damar Laut and Teluk Tempoyak.

Batu Maung
Neighbourhood
Other transcription(s)
 • Jawiباتو ماوڠ‎
 • Chinese峇都茅
Batu Maung
Location within    George Town in    Penang
Coordinates: 5°17′5.0994″N 100°17′14.9″E
Country Malaysia
State Penang
DistrictSouthwest Penang Island
City George Town
Government
 • Local governmentPenang Island City Council
 • Mayor of Penang IslandYew Tung Seang
 • Batu Maung State AssemblymanAbdul Halim Hussain (PKR)
 • Bayan Baru Member of ParliamentSim Tze Tzin (PKR)
Time zoneUTC+8 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)Not observed
Postal code
11960
Websitembpp.gov.my

Formerly an agricultural village, the development of Batu Maung into a residential neighbourhood began in the late 20th century.[2] Part of the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone actually lies within the township, which also houses the headquarters of WorldFish Center and a deepwater fishing port.[2][3][4][5]

Transportation
Panoramic view of Batu Maung and the Second Penang Bridge.

Batu Maung is linked to Penang's capital city, George Town, to the north via the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, which has its southern end within Batu Maung itself. In addition, the Second Penang Bridge connects the neighbourhood with Seberang Perai, the mainland half of the State of Penang. Opened in 2014, the 24 km (15 mi) long bridge is currently the longest in Southeast Asia.

The major roads within Batu Maung are Jalan Batu Maung and Jalan Permatang Damar Laut. Due to the worsening traffic congestion, road-widening projects have commenced along stretches of these roads.[6]

Rapid Penang bus routes 302, 305 and 307 include stops within Batu Maung, linking the neighbourhood with Bayan Baru, SPICE Arena, Sungai Nibong and George Town.[7][8][9]

Education

Batu Maung is served by two primary schools and a high school.

Primary school

  • SRK Batu Maung[10]
  • SRJK (C) Wen Khai[11]

High school

Infrastructure
Southbay residential complex under construction

Batu Maung is home to an active fisheries industry and a deepwater fishing port.[3][4][12] As a hub for the fisheries industry, Batu Maung contains the headquarters of WorldFish Center, an international, non-profit fisheries research organisation, as well as the Fisheries Research Institute of Malaysia's Fisheries Development Authority.[5][13]

Plans have been mooted by the Malaysian federal government to develop Batu Maung into an international tuna fishing port.[3][12][14] However, the construction of the tuna port eventually stalled in 2011 and has never been completed to this day.[3][12][14][15]

Following the completion of the Second Penang Bridge in 2014, land prices at Batu Maung have increased tremendously, luring property developers to launch more residential projects within the neighbourhood.[16][17]

Tourist attractions

Located at Batu Maung, the Penang War Museum was originally a British Army fort built in the 1930s.[18] However, when the Imperial Japanese Army invaded Penang in December 1941, the Commonwealth forces, led by Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival, evacuated Penang Island without a shot being fired.[19][20] The abandoned fort was subsequently captured and put to use by the Japanese during the war. Following the war's end, the fort was left forgotten until its eventual conversion into a war museum in 2002.[18]

The Penang War Museum still retains the original military structures and equipment left behind by the British forces, such as bunkers, tunnels and machine-gun emplacements. The museum also serves as a venue for paintball activities.[21]

See also

References
  1. "George Town meliputi 'pulau', jelas Datuk Bandar" (PDF). Buletin Mutiara. 1 May 2015.
  2. "Batu Maung Local Property & Real Estate Trends, News & Guides | PropertyGuru Malaysia". www.propertyguru.com.my. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  3. "Fishing for the right answers - Business News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  4. Lonely Planet: Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei. Lonely Planet. 2016. ISBN 9781760341626.
  5. "WorldFish Headquarters | Penang, Malaysia". www.worldfishcenter.org. Archived from the original on 2018-02-12. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  6. "Widening of Bayan Lepas-Teluk Kumbar stretch ready in December - Metro News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  7. http://www.rapidpg.com.my/journey-planner/route-maps/details/302.gif
  8. http://www.rapidpg.com.my/journey-planner/route-maps/details/305.gif
  9. http://www.rapidpg.com.my/journey-planner/route-maps/details/307.gif
  10. "SK BATU MAUNG - PULAU PINANG - Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  11. "SJK(C) WEN KHAI - PULAU PINANG - Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2018-02-04.
  12. "Corporate: Tuna port project all at sea". The Edge Markets. 2010-07-18. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  13. "Main page". Fisheries Research Institute Malaysia.
  14. "Penang fishermen keen to revive failed tuna port". 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  15. "DAP: Explain status of tuna port - Metro News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  16. "Penang's second bridge boosts land prices - Business News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  17. "Investors from Kedah, Melaka and Ipoh on the hunt for properties in Penang - Metro News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  18. "Penang War Museum - Bayan Lepas Attractions". penang.ws. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
  19. "Penang Evacuated - British Garrison Withdrawn NEW JAP THRUSTS IN MALAYA London, December 19 - Northern Times (Carnarvon, WA : 1905–1952) - 20 Dec 1941". Trove. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  20. Barber, Andrew (2010). Penang At War : A History of Penang During and Between the First and Second World Wars 1914–1945. AB&B.
  21. "Best things to do outdoors in Penang". Time Out Penang. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
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