Seberang Perai
Encyclopedia
Hinterland
The hinterland is the land or district behind a coast or the shoreline of a river. Specifically, by the doctrine of the hinterland, the word is applied to the inland region lying behind a port, claimed by the state that owns the coast. The area from which products are delivered to a port for...
opposite 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...
island on the Malay Peninsula
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...
, which together with the island forms the Malaysian 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...
. Its principal town is Butterworth
Butterworth, Penang
Butterworth is the principal town of Seberang Perai in the state of Penang in Malaysia. Named after William John Butterworth, Governor of the Straits Settlements , Butterworth was established in the mid-19th century as a landing place across the channel from the capital of Penang, George Town...
. From the 2010 National Census, Seberang Perai has a population of 815,767.
History
Seberang Perai was originally named after Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess WellesleyRichard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley
Richard Colley Wesley, later Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley, KG, PC, PC , styled Viscount Wellesley from birth until 1781, was an Anglo-Irish politician and colonial administrator....
, Governor of Madras and Governor-General of Bengal (1797–1805).
It was originally part of the state of Kedah. It was ceded to the British East India Company
British 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...
by the Sultan of Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
in 1798, and has been part of the settlement and state of Penang ever since.
Geography
The chief town is ButterworthButterworth, Penang
Butterworth is the principal town of Seberang Perai in the state of Penang in Malaysia. Named after William John Butterworth, Governor of the Straits Settlements , Butterworth was established in the mid-19th century as a landing place across the channel from the capital of Penang, George Town...
. Other towns in Seberang Perai include Bukit Mertajam
Bukit Mertajam
Bukit Mertajam is the capital of Central Seberang Perai, Penang, Malaysia. It is commonly known as BM among its locals. It is located nearby Kulim, Kedah.-About:...
, Seberang Jaya
Seberang Jaya
Seberang Jaya is a new township near Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. The state Immigration office and Malaysian Road Transport Department is situated here. This township is served by two hypermarkets, Carrefour and TESCO Extra...
, Sungai Puyu, Prai, Nibong Tebal
Nibong Tebal
Nibong Tebal 高淵 is a town under parliamentary constituency P047. It is situated in Seberang Perai on the mainland side of Penang, Malaysia, bordered by Parit Buntar in Perak and Bandar Baharu in Kedah....
and Kepala Batas
Kepala Batas
The following towns are named Kepala Batas:*Kepala Batas, Penang, in Penang*Kepala Batas, Kedah, in Kedah...
.
Seberang Perai is connected to Penang island by the 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...
and by ferry services. There is a Keretapi Tanah Melayu
Keretapi Tanah Melayu
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad or Malayan Railways Limited is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The railway system dates back to the British colonial era, when it was first built to transport tin...
(KTM) train station and a container terminal at Butterworth.
Administration
The local authority in Seberang Perai is the Majlis Perbandaran Seberang PeraiMajlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai
Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai or Municipal Council of Province Wellesley is a local authority which administers Seberang Perai and other areas. This agency is under Penang state government...
(MPSP) or Municipal Council of Seberang Perai, while the Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) or Municipal Council of Penang Island is the local authority for Penang island. Seberang Perai is also divided into three administrative districts—North Seberang Perai
North Seberang Perai
North Seberang Perai , is an administrative district on the mainland part of Penang State, Malaysia. It covers an area of 269 square kilometres, and had a population of 288,148 at the 2010 Census . The district capital is Kepala Batas, and the largest town is Butterworth...
, Central Seberang Perai
Central Seberang Perai
Central Seberang Perai or Central of Province Wellesley , is a district in the state of Penang, Malaysia. It covers an area of 2391 square kilometres, and had a population of 361,791 at the 2010 Census . The capital of this district is Bukit Mertajam...
, and South Seberang Perai
South Seberang Perai
South Seberang Perai is an administrative district in the mainland part of Penang State, in Malaysia. It covers an area of 243 square kilometres, and had a population of 165,828 at the 2010 Census . The capital of this district is Sungai Jawi....
. Each district has its own District and Land Office which deals with land matters and other matters not dealt with the Municipal Council of Seberang Perai. The municipal council is one of the few local councils in Malaysia which governs more than one districts
Districts of Malaysia
Districts in Malaysia are known as Daerah or Jajahan . A district governed directly by the federal government is known as a Federal Territory, and they are Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan....
.
Transport
Two large projects are 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 :...
(BORR) and the recently approved RM2.6bil Penang Second Bridge
Penang Second Bridge
The Penang Second Bridge is a new bridge under construction in Penang, Malaysia. It will connect Batu Kawan on the mainland Seberang Perai and Batu Maung on Penang Island. It will be the second bridge to link the island to the mainland after Penang Bridge...
connecting Batu Maung
Batu Maung
Batu Maung is a small town in Penang, Malaysia. It is located in the southeastern part of Penang Island. It consists of several smaller villages namely Kampung Seronok , Kampung Binjai, Permatang Damar Laut, Kampung Batu Maung, Kampung Teluk Tempoyak and Kampung Jalan Baru.Around 20 years ago, Batu...
on the island and Batu Kawan
Batu Kawan
Batu Kawan is an island with a small town in the area of Penang, Malaysia. The island is situated off Seberang Perai, which is on the mainland. One of the ends of the future Penang Second Bridge is in Batu Kawan...
on the mainland. Scheduled for completion by 2011, the second link spanning 22.5 km will help reduce the traffic volume at 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...
by half. The new link will bring much relief to Penangites who have to bear with horrendous traffic jams on the existing bridge. The RM500mil BORR is another much awaited development as it provides an alternative road for motorists to get to their destinations in Prai and Butterworth faster. A majestic and vital feature of BORR is the Prai Bridge, connecting Old Prai Town to Bagan Dalam.
Shopping
- AEONAEON Groupis a group of retail and financial services companies based in Chiba, Japan, which is centered on Æon Co., Ltd. It has sister companies in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, and also trades under the JUSCO name. It claims to be Japan's largest retail group in terms of sales...
Seberang Prai City is located at Bandar Perda. It is the latest and largest shopping centre in Seberang Prai. It opened on 22 August 2008. - Sunway Carnival MallSunway Carnival MallSunway Carnival Mall is a shopping mall located at the center of the Seberang Jaya area in Penang, Malaysia.The four story mall opened in June 2007. It is located beside the Sunway Hotel within the town center of Seberang Jaya, a township initiated by the Government to boost the administrative,...
is located at Seberang Jaya. It is the first shopping mall in Malaysia to have an IT information provider. It also houses a cinema and retail shops. - Megamal is located at Prai and is one of the largest shopping arcades. It houses a hypermarket, cineplex, and many retail shops.
- CarrefourCarrefourCarrefour S.A. is an international hypermarket chain headquartered in Levallois-Perret, France. It is one of the largest hypermarket chains in the world...
is a hypermarket for the locals located in Seberang Jaya. - Giant HypermarketGiant HypermarketGiant Hypermarket is a major supermarket and retailer chain in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and UAE. It is a subsidiary of Dairy Farm International Holdings .-History:...
is a major supermarket and retailer chain in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. It is located in the roadside of the Butterworth Outering Bridge and inside Sunway Carnival MallSunway Carnival MallSunway Carnival Mall is a shopping mall located at the center of the Seberang Jaya area in Penang, Malaysia.The four story mall opened in June 2007. It is located beside the Sunway Hotel within the town center of Seberang Jaya, a township initiated by the Government to boost the administrative,...
. - TescoTescoTesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
Extra Seberang Perai (formally known as Makro), it is one of the hypermarkets in Seberang Perai which is located in the area of the residence living quarter.
Economy
Seberang Perai has come a long way from a sleepy cowboy town to what it is today - a bustling and developing giant. Many major developments are now focused in Seberang Prai which has been touted as Penang's catalyst for growth in the 21st century.Divided into three districts of northern, central and southern, Seberang Prai is strategically located near neighbouring industrial estates like the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone and Kulim High Tech Park. It is without doubt that Seberang Prai will become an important industrial and commercial hub for it houses the country's largest industrial base.
The mainland is also where a string of mega commercial and residential projects have mushroomed over the years especially in the thriving business and commercial townships of Butterworth
Butterworth, Penang
Butterworth is the principal town of Seberang Perai in the state of Penang in Malaysia. Named after William John Butterworth, Governor of the Straits Settlements , Butterworth was established in the mid-19th century as a landing place across the channel from the capital of Penang, George Town...
and Seberang Jaya
Seberang Jaya
Seberang Jaya is a new township near Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. The state Immigration office and Malaysian Road Transport Department is situated here. This township is served by two hypermarkets, Carrefour and TESCO Extra...
. Penang has 1.4 million people and at least 54% live on the mainland. New townships like Batu Kawan are also taking shape. Plans are afoot to transform Batu Kawan into the third satellite town in Penang after Bayan Baru and Seberang Jaya. The first phase of eco-tourism projects in Batu Kawan, which involves the Batu Musang jetty has been completed. The second phase will see the construction of a seafood centre, gallery and chalets. Penang has everything to offer visitors as a leisure destination from heritage buildings and culture to good food and eco-tourism.
Naza Corp Sdn Bhd recently announced it had chosen Bertam to site its new RM1.2bil plant in which the manufacturing operations will create some 6,000 jobs. It was reported that over 10,000 landed residential properties will be developed in Bertam, the new growth centre in the northern region, until 2020 to cater to the needs of its rising population that is expected to hit 100,000 by then.
On the housing front, notable projects like Taman Tambun Indah, Juru Heights, Harbour Place and Bandar Perda have given new meaning to luxury living. Bandar Perda, the proposed RM3bil integrated regional centre for Penang is shaping up nicely to emerge as the "mini Putrajaya" of the northern region. An imposing address here is the RM83mil Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) headquarters.
Seberang Prai has also carved its niche as a shopping haven with shopping complex such as Megamall Pinang, Carrefour Seberang Jaya and Makro. The Giant chain of hypermarkets have an outlet in Taman Inderawasih, Prai and Sunway Carnival Mall in Bandar Sunway. Aeon Co (M) Bhd is also planning for a Jusco store (AEON Seberang Prai City) in Bandar Perda. The very successful Auto City in Juru has become the talk of the town with its impressive list of food and entertainment outlets including Subway, Swensens, Tao Asian Cuisine and the Manhattan Fish Market.
Education
There are several higher learning institutions located in Seberang Perai but the most prominent are Universiti Sains Malaysia Engineering Campus located in Nibong Tebal; Universiti Teknologi MARAUniversiti Teknologi MARA
Universiti Teknologi MARA is a coeducational public university with its main campus located in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.It is the flagship institution of the Universiti Teknologi MARA...
(UiTM), 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...
branch and Politeknik Seberang Perai (PSP). Both are situated in the district of Permatang Pauh
Permatang Pauh
Permatang Pauh is a town in Seberang Perai, the hinterland portion of the island-state of Penang, Malaysia. Permatang Pauh is now led by Anwar Ibrahim who is the Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh....
.