George Town Conurbation | |
---|---|
Country | Malaysia |
States | Penang Kedah Perak |
Core city | George Town |
Largest city | Seberang Perai |
Other major towns | |
Area | |
• Total | 3,765 km2 (1,454 sq mi) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 2,843,344 |
• Density | 756/km2 (1,960/sq mi) |
GDP (2020) | |
• Total | $30.2 billion |
• Per capita | $10,618 |
Time zone | UTC+8 (Malaysian Standard Time) |
Postcode | 09xxx, 10xxx, 11xxx, 12xxx, 13xxx, 14xxx, 32xxx |
Area codes | +604 (-2, -4, -5, -6 and -8) +605 (-7 and -8) |
The Greater Penang Conurbation, also known as the George Town Conurbation, [1] [2] is the urban area within and surrounding the Malaysian state of Penang, including parts of neighbouring Kedah and Perak. It was home to over 2.84 million people as of 2020 [update] , the second largest metropolitan area in Malaysia after the Klang Valley. The conurbation is also the second largest economy in the country after the Klang Valley, with an estimated gross domestic product (GDP) of US$30.2 billion in 2020. [3] [4] [5]
As the capital city of Penang, George Town also forms the core city of the conurbation, which spans Seberang Perai, Sungai Petani, Kulim, Bandar Baharu, Yan, Alor Pongsu, Bagan Serai, Bukit Merah, Parit Buntar and Selama. [6]
Originally founded as an entrepôt, George Town's diversified economy is powered by the twin major sectors of manufacturing and services. Penang's path to industrialisation began in the 1970s with the establishment of free industrial zones at Bayan Lepas and Perai. As Penang's industries rapidly scaled up the value chain, the border towns in neighbouring Kedah, specifically Sungai Petani and Kulim, also started to witness economic spillover resulting from agglomeration effects and the rise in the standard of living within the former. [7] In 1996, the Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP) was opened as an extension of Penang's electronics manufacturing industry. [8]
However, interstate coordination in urban development was lacking, causing development policies to be disjointed while an urban sprawl radiated out of Penang's borders into Kedah and Perak. In the early 2000s, the Malaysian federal government began drafting the National Urbanisation Policy (NUP) and the National Physical Plan (NPP), in which the concept of a George Town Conurbation was borne out of the desire by policy planners to decentralise urban development in Peninsular Malaysia to four major metropolitan areas. [9] [10]
In the first NUP, formulated in 2006, the George Town Conurbation was defined as spanning all of Penang, Sungai Petani, Kulim, Parit Buntar and Bagan Serai. [11] The Second National Physical Plan (NPP-2), endorsed in 2010, demarcated the George Town Conurbation as stretching from Sungai Petani in the north to Parit Buntar in the south. [2] [10]
In 2011, the then Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, announced plans to intensify infrastructure investment in Penang as part of a "Greater Penang Masterplan". [12] However, by 2013, there had been no further developments on the proposal, prompting then Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to question the federal government's lack of progress. [13] The strained federal-state ties following the 2013 general election resulted in the Barisan Nasional-controlled federal government cutting development expenditures for Penang, then an opposition state held by Pakatan Rakyat (predecessor to Pakatan Harapan). This situation persisted until the 2018 general election, which led to both the federal and Penang governments being helmed by the same coalition for the first time since 2008. [14]
In 2021, the Fourth National Physical Plan (NPP-4) provided a revised definition of the George Town Conurbation, which now includes Yan and Selama. [6]
The George Town Conurbation spans the entirety of Penang, Kedah's southernmost municipalities of Sungai Petani, Kulim, Bandar Baharu and Yan, and towns in northern Perak, namely Alor Pongsu, Bagan Serai, Bukit Merah, Parit Buntar and Selama. This metropolitan area cumulatively covers 3,758.8 km2 (1,451.3 sq mi) of the three states. [6]
The following is based on official censuses for the local government areas within the George Town Conurbation since 2000.
City or town | Local government | Population | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
2000 [15] | 2010 [16] | 2020 [17] | ||
George Town | Penang Island City Council | 575,498 | 708,127 | 794,313 |
Seberang Perai | Seberang Perai City Council | 655,711 | 818,197 | 946,092 |
Sungai Petani | Sungai Petani Municipal Council | 339,898 | 443,488 | 545,053 |
Kulim | Kulim Municipal Council | 190,952 | 281,260 | 319,056 |
Kulim Hi-Tech Industrial Park Local Authority | 18,679 | |||
Bandar Baharu [note 1] | Bandar Baharu District Council | N/A | 41,352 | 44,412 |
Yan [note 2] | Yan District Council | N/A | N/A | 73,384 |
Bagan Serai [note 3] | Kerian District Council | 34,161 | N/A | 40,336 |
Beriah [note 4] | N/A | N/A | 11,808 | |
Bukit Merah [note 5] | N/A | N/A | 130 | |
Parit Buntar | 31,116 | 38,756 | 37,300 | |
Selama [note 6] | Selama District Council | N/A | N/A | 12,781 |
George Town Conurbation | 1,827,336 | 2,331,180 | 2,843,344 |
As the core of the George Town Conurbation, Penang has a diversified tertiary sector that generated three-quarters of the conurbation's estimated gross domestic product (GDP) by 2020. [3] Economic spillover effects have benefited neighbouring towns such as Sungai Petani and Kulim, resulting in economies of agglomeration and the formation of a high-tech industrial cluster stretching from the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone (Bayan Lepas FIZ) to the Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP). [18] [19] By 2005, both the Bayan Lepas FIZ and KHTP were accorded Multimedia Super Corridor Cyber City status. [19] This has fostered extensive ecosystems that include research and development (R&D), human capital development and various forms of business support, driven by private sector investment. [18] [19] Additionally, industrial growth has accelerated the urbanisation of Sungai Petani and Kulim since the 1990s. [20]
The NPP-4 outlines plans for ongoing economic diversification in Sungai Petani and Kulim, the two largest economies within Kedah by GDP. [5] [6] Manufacturing remains the main economic driver in the two towns, while the southern fringes of the conurbation, spanning Bandar Baharu and northern Perak, are primarily focused on agriculture. [6]
City or town | Local government | GDP (RM million) | GDP (US$ million) | GDP per capita (RM) |
---|---|---|---|---|
George Town | Penang Island City Council | 51,935 | 12,464 | 65,383 |
Seberang Perai | Seberang Perai City Council | 45,149 | 10,836 | 47,722 |
Sungai Petani | Sungai Petani Municipal Council | 11,746 | 2,819 | 21,553 |
Kulim | Kulim Municipal Council | 11,301 | 2,712 | 33,466 |
Kulim Hi-Tech Industrial Park Local Authority | ||||
Bandar Baharu | Bandar Baharu District Council | 688 | 165 | 15,480 |
Yan | Yan District Council | 762 | 183 | 10,382 |
Bagan Serai | Kerian District Council | 3,610 | 866 | 21,700 |
Beriah | ||||
Bukit Merah | ||||
Parit Buntar | ||||
Selama | Selama District Council | 648 | 155 | 18,802 |
George Town Conurbation | 125,839 | 30,201 | 44,244 |
George Town is connected to mainland Seberang Perai by two bridges – the 13.5 km (8.4 mi) Penang Bridge and the 24 km (15 mi) long Second Penang Bridge. [21] The North-South Expressway, a 966 km (600 mi) expressway that stretches along the western part of Peninsular Malaysia, provides a direct link from Seberang Perai to Sungai Petani in the north and Bukit Merah in the south. [6] The Butterworth-Kulim Expressway connects the Port of Penang with the industrial town of Kulim to the east, facilitating logistical access for industries in Kulim. [22]
Within George Town, the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway is a highway along the city's eastern coastline, connecting the city centre with the two bridges. [23] Federal Route 6 is a pan-island trunk road encircling the city, while the George Town Inner Ring Road is a major thoroughfare within the city centre. [24] [25]
Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) operates the West Coast line, connecting the conurbation to other regions of western Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. [26] [27] The Butterworth railway station is the primary rail terminal within the conurbation. [28] Aside from regular KTM services, Butterworth is one of the major stops of the Eastern and Oriental Express service between Bangkok and Singapore. [29] Other KTM stations within the conurbation include Sungai Petani, Tasek Gelugor, Bukit Tengah, Bukit Mertajam, Simpang Ampat, Nibong Tebal, Parit Buntar and Bagan Serai. [26] [27]
Public bus services are primarily provided by Rapid Penang, which operates 46 routes throughout the conurbation as of 2024 [update] , including interstate routes into Kedah and Perak. [30] Penang Sentral in Seberang Perai serves as the main intermodal transport hub of the conurbation. [31] Opened in 2018, the hub integrates Rapid Penang and interstate bus services, linking to the adjacent Butterworth railway station and the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal. [32] [33]
The Penang Hill Railway is the only rail-based transportation system in the conurbation. As of 2024 [update] , a cable car system is being built to complement the funicular railway. [34] [35] Additionally, the Penang Transport Master Plan envisages the introduction of urban rail throughout the state. [36] [37] Construction of the 28 km (17 mi) Mutiara LRT line is expected to begin in 2025 and will be completed by 2030. [38] [39]
To further promote urban mobility, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure throughout George Town are also being upgraded. [40] [41] In 2016, George Town became the first city in Malaysia to have a public bicycle-sharing service with the launch of LinkBike. [42]
The Penang International Airport (PIA) lies 16 km (9.9 mi) south of downtown George Town. It is the main airport within the conurbation, with services to major regional cities including Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong, Xiamen, Shanghai, Doha and Dubai. [43] [44] PIA is the third busiest in Malaysia for passenger traffic after Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu airports, recording close to 6.8 million passengers in 2023. [45] It is also Malaysia's second busiest in terms of cargo tonnage, handling nearly 120,000 t (120,000 long tons; 130,000 short tons) within the same year, and managed the highest export value of all entry points nationwide. [45] [46]
The Port of Penang serves as the main harbour for northwestern Malaysia and southern Thailand. [47] In 2023, it handled more than 1.4 million TEUs of cargo, the third highest of all Malaysian ports. [48] Swettenham Pier, located within downtown George Town, accommodates cruise ships and is one of the main entry points into the city. In 2017 it recorded 125 port calls, surpassing Port Klang as the busiest cruise shipping terminal in the country. [49]
The cross-strait Penang ferry service connects downtown George Town and Seberang Perai, and was formerly the only transportation link between the island city and the mainland until the completion of the Penang Bridge in 1985. [50] At present, four ferries ply the Penang Strait between both cities daily. [51]
Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. These two halves are physically connected by the Penang Bridge and the Second Penang Bridge. The state shares borders with Kedah to the north and east, and Perak to the south.
Butterworth is the city centre of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It lies about 3 km (1.9 mi) east of George Town, the capital city of Penang, across the Penang Strait. As of 2020, Butterworth had a total population of 80,378 residents.
The Kerian District is an administrative district in Perak, Malaysia. It covers the northwestern corner of Perak, bordering the states of Penang and Kedah to the north; the main town of Parit Buntar is located a mere 37 km (23 mi) southeast of George Town, Penang's capital city. The district is well known for Bukit Merah, a popular tourist destination.
Seberang Perai is a city in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located on the Malay Peninsula and separated from Penang Island by the Penang Strait, it shares borders with Kedah to the north and east and Perak to the south. The city spans an area of 748 km2 (289 sq mi) and had a population of 946,092 as of 2020, making it the third largest city in Malaysia.
The North–South Expressway Northern Route is an interstate controlled-access highway running parallel to the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The 460-kilometre (290-mile) expressway forms the north section of the North–South Expressway, passing through the northwestern states of Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor. The expressway begins at the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint in Kedah, where the Malaysia–Thailand border lies, and ends at Bukit Lanjan in Selangor state where the expressway interchanges with the New Klang Valley Expressway. The expressway is operated by PLUS Expressways.
Bukit Mertajam is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It also serves as the seat of the Central Seberang Perai District. As of 2020, Bukit Mertajam had a population of 12,079.
Nibong Tebal is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located at the northern bank of the Kerian River within the Southern Seberang Perai District, it is the southernmost populated place of Penang. Nibong Tebal contained a population of 1,425 as of 2020.
Perai is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It lies at the southern bank of the Perai River and borders Butterworth to the north.
The Bandar Baharu District is a district containing a town of the same name and a state assembly constituency at the southernmost end of Kedah, Malaysia. The Bandar Baharu District is located along the Kedah-Penang-Perak border tripoint, 37 km (23 mi) southeast of George Town, Penang's capital city.
Seberang Jaya is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located at the southern bank of the Perai River and east of Perai proper, the area was developed in the 1970s. Since then, Seberang Jaya has evolved into a booming area, with various commercial and retail developments.
Bagan Serai is a mukim in Kerian District, Perak, Malaysia. It is located 52 km (32 mi) southeast of George Town, the capital city of the neighbouring state of Penang. As such, the town is also part of Greater Penang, Malaysia's second largest conurbation, with the town's logistical needs being served by Penang's well-developed transportation infrastructure. There is the birthplace of the No.1 badminton player, Lee Chong Wei.
As the core of Malaysia's second largest conurbation, Penang has a relatively developed transport infrastructure. The state is well-connected by land, air and sea. The Penang International Airport is Malaysia's third busiest by passenger traffic and the busiest by export volume, while the Port of Penang is the main transshipment hub of northern Malaysia. The island city of George Town is physically connected to mainland Seberang Perai by two road bridges and the oldest ferry service in the country. The North–South Expressway and Keretapi Tanah Melayu's west coast line – two major arteries along western Peninsular Malaysia – run through the state.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Penang is situated in the northern as well as the east coast region of Peninsular Malaysia covering 4 northern states, namely Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak as well as the east coast state of Kelantan. It was created on 25 February 1955 together with the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. It is under the ecclesiastical province of Kuala Lumpur.
The Seberang Perai City Council is the local government that administers the city of Seberang Perai, which encompasses the mainland half of the Malaysian state of Penang. The city council, which has jurisdiction over an area of 748 km2 (289 sq mi), falls under the purview of the Penang state government.
Tasek Gelugor is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. Within its vicinity it is the town closest to the North–South Expressway. The expressway sign for the Ipoh-George Town link can be seen in this town.
Mengkuang Titi is a village within the city of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It is located not too far from the Mengkuang Dam. The village has a population of about 800, and still retains the rustic feel ideal for the development of agricultural and cottage industries.
Capital FM was a radio station launched in 2011 by a team led by Jamal Hassim, a Malaysia-based media entrepreneur, together with a group of influential investors. The stations' headquarters and studios were uniquely located in the Concord Hotel Atrium in downtown Kuala Lumpur. The station was a radio network that pitched programming for listeners in the Klang Valley, the first Malaysian urban focused station. The station merged with the Rediffusion Group and the network was repositioned to address urban female listeners and marketed as the destination of choice for stylish, thinking women, targeted 25–34 years old's living in cities and other urban areas in Malaysia.