Butterworth, Penang
Encyclopedia
Butterworth is the principal town of Seberang Perai
Seberang Perai
Seberang Perai / Beseran Darul Hidayah, formerly Province Wellesley, is a narrow hinterland opposite Penang island on the Malay Peninsula, which together with the island forms the Malaysian state of Penang. Its principal town is Butterworth...
in the state of Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
in Malaysia. Named after William John Butterworth, Governor of the Straits Settlements
Straits Settlements
The Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia.Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony on 1 April 1867...
(1843–1855), Butterworth was established in the mid-19th century as a landing place across the channel from the capital of Penang, George Town
George Town, Penang
George Town was voted as one of the best cities in Asia by Asiaweek, ranked 6th in 1998 and 9th in 2000. More recently, George Town has improved a notch to rank as the 9th most liveable city in Asia in a survey of 254 cities worldwide according to an international location ratings survey by , an...
. The town has a population of 107,591 and it is also known unofficially in Malay as Bagan, meaning "jetty". Butterworth is the site of the Malayan Railway station for Penang, and is linked to the island by the Penang Ferry Service
Penang Ferry Service
Penang Ferry Service is the oldest ferry service in Malaysia. Located in the state of Penang, this famous ferry service connects Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal in Butterworth to Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal at Weld Quay in George Town in Penang Island....
and by the 13.5 km Penang Bridge
Penang Bridge
Penang Bridge is a dual carriageway toll bridge connects Gelugor on the island of Penang and Seberang Prai on the mainland of Malaysia on the Malay Peninsula. The bridge is also linked to the North-South Expressway in Prai and Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway in Penang. It was officially opened to...
.
The Penang Bird Park, a landscaped park with over 300 species of birds from all over Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, is situated in this town. Butterworth is also the location of a Royal Malaysian Air Force station, RMAF Butterworth
RAAF Base Butterworth
RMAF Butterworth is an Air Force Station of the Royal Malaysian Air Force situated near the town of Butterworth in the state of Penang, directly opposite the island itself.-RAF Butterworth:...
, formerly operated by the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
, and is now the Headquarters of the Integrated Area Defence System (HQIADS) of the Five Power Defence Arrangements
Five Power Defence Arrangements
The Five Power Defence Arrangements are a series of defence relationships established by a series of bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore signed in 1971, whereby the five states will consult each other in the event of external aggression...
.
Butterworth will be the site of an integrated transport hub called Penang Sentral
Penang Sentral
Penang Sentral is a future inter-modal transportation hub and a commercial development currently under construction in Penang. Construction of the transportation hub will start in Q1 2009 and expected to complete by 2011. Meanwhile, it is expected that the whole commercial development will conclude...
, which will integrate rail, ferry and bus transport. It is the parliamentary seat of Bagan and its Member of Parliament is the current Chief Minister of Penang
Chief Minister of Penang
The Chief Minister of the State of Penang is the head of the executive branch of the government in the Malaysian state of Penang. The Chief Minister is appointed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, from the State Legislative Assembly.-List of Chief Ministers:...
, Lim Guan Eng
Lim Guan Eng
Lim Guan Eng is the 4th Chief Minister of the State of Penang and Secretary-General of the Malaysian Democratic Action Party . He is the son of Lim Kit Siang, Leader of the Opposition in the Dewan Rakyat from 1973 to 1999 and 2004 to 2008....
.
History
When the British East India CompanyBritish East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
acquired Province Wellesley (Seberang Perai) in 1798, Butterworth did not exist as a settlement. It was later developed by the British. A railway station was constructed in Butterworth to transport tin ore from Taiping
Taiping, Perak
Taiping is a town located in northern Perak, Malaysia. With a population of 191,104 , it is the second largest town in Perak after Ipoh, the state capital. Taiping took over Kuala Kangsar's role as the state capital from 1876 to 1937, but was then replaced by Ipoh...
(then known as Larut), which was then loaded onto steam ships docked at Butterworth's wharves. The name of this town is derived from British Colonel V.T. Butterworth.
Railway passengers from George Town
George Town, Penang
George Town was voted as one of the best cities in Asia by Asiaweek, ranked 6th in 1998 and 9th in 2000. More recently, George Town has improved a notch to rank as the 9th most liveable city in Asia in a survey of 254 cities worldwide according to an international location ratings survey by , an...
were transferred to the railway ferry which took them to the train.
Transportation
Butterworth is a major transportation hub in the state for railway lines and bus routes that do not serve Penang IslandPenang Island
Penang Island is part of the state of Penang, on the west coat of Peninsular Malaysia. It was named Prince of Wales Island when it was occupied by the British East India Company on 12 August 1786, in honour of the birthday of the Prince of Wales, later King George IV...
. The railway station, bus terminal and ferry terminal are all located within walking distance of each other.
Rail
The Butterworth railway stationButterworth railway station
The Butterworth railway station is a Malaysian train station located at and named after the town of Butterworth, Penang. It is the only railway station in Penang and it is one of the stops along the Eastern and Oriental Express route....
is the main railway station in Penang as it connects to George Town
George Town, Penang
George Town was voted as one of the best cities in Asia by Asiaweek, ranked 6th in 1998 and 9th in 2000. More recently, George Town has improved a notch to rank as the 9th most liveable city in Asia in a survey of 254 cities worldwide according to an international location ratings survey by , an...
via the ferry service. This station is served by the Malayan Railway service via the Eastern and Oriental Express
Eastern and Oriental Express
The Eastern & Oriental Express carries passengers in luxury between Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. The train travels through dense rainforests and towering mountains past golden temples; rubber plantations and fields of frangiapani, tapioca, sunflowers and mango orchards; and remote towns and...
, which connects Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
to Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
in the north and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in the south, as well as the State Railway of Thailand
State Railway of Thailand
The State Railway of Thailand is the state-owned rail operator in Thailand. The network sees around 50 million passengers per annum.-History:SRT was founded as the Royal State Railways of Siam in 1890...
via the International Express
International Express
The International Express is an express train between Bangkok, Thailand and Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia.This train's passenger cars include 1st- and 2nd-class air-conditioned sleepers, and an air-conditioned dining car...
.
Road
In terms of road connectivity, Butterworth is accessible by the Butterworth Outer Ring RoadButterworth Outer Ring Road
Butterworth Outer Ring Road or BORR is an expressway in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. This expressway connects Sungai Dua in the north until Perai in the south.- History :...
and the Butterworth–Kulim Expressway, the latter of which is part of the North–South Expressway. The Rapid Penang
Rapid Penang
Rapid Penang, an abbreviation for Rapid Penang Sendirian Berhad, is a government-owned company set up to operate bus services in Penang state in Malaysia. Rapid Penang began operations on 31 July 2007....
bus network, which operates exclusively in the state, has one stop in Butterworth at the Megamall Pinang Bus Terminal.
Sea
The Penang Ferry ServicePenang Ferry Service
Penang Ferry Service is the oldest ferry service in Malaysia. Located in the state of Penang, this famous ferry service connects Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal in Butterworth to Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal at Weld Quay in George Town in Penang Island....
connects Butterworth to George Town. The Pengkalan Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal is located to the north of The Deepwater Wharves.
Air
There are no public airports in Butterworth, although a Royal Malaysian Air Force station is located north of the town. The town is served by the Penang International Airport in Bayan LepasBayan Lepas
Bayan Lepas is a town in Penang, Malaysia being home to the Penang International Airport. It has a population of about 141,000 people. Bayan Lepas is the main industrial hub of Penang, being home to the Free Industrial Zone, where factories of many multinational companies are located...
.