View source for Penang

{{Short description|State in Malaysia}}
{{About|the Malaysian state|the island|Penang Island|other uses|Penang (disambiguation)}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox political division
| name                = Penang
| native_name         = {{lang|ms|Pulau Pinang}}
| official_name       = State of Penang<br /><div style="padding-top:0.25em;">{{nobold|{{native name|ms|Negeri Pulau Pinang}}}}</div>
| settlement_type     = [[States and federal territories of Malaysia|State]]
| image_flag          = Flag of Penang (Malaysia).svg
| flag_size           =
| image_shield        = Coat of arms of Penang.svg
| shield_size         = 40px
| shield_type         =
| shield_link         = Coat of arms of Penang
| etymology           = [[Areca nut]]
| nickname            = "{{lang|ms|Pulau Mutiara}}"<br>"{{small|Pearl of the Orient}}"
| motto               = "{{lang|ms|Bersatu dan Setia}}"<br />"{{small|United and Loyal}}"
| anthem              = "[[Untuk Negeri Kita]]"<br />"{{small|For Our State}}"<br /><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">{{center|[[File:Untuk Negeri Kita.ogg]]}}</div>
| image_map           = Penang in Malaysia.svg
| map_caption         = {{Legend inline|#C41E3A|outline=silver}} '''Penang''' in {{Legend inline|#FDF9D2|outline=silver}} '''[[Malaysia]]'''
| coordinates         = {{coord|05|24|52|N|100|19|45|E|region:MY|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type    = [[Country]]
| subdivision_name    = {{MYS}}
| established_title   = Founded by the [[East India Company|British East India Company]]
| established_date    = 11 August 1786
| established_title1  = [[Straits Settlements]]
| established_date1   = 1 April 1867 – 1 April 1946
| established_title2  = [[Japanese occupation of Malaya|Japanese occupation]]
| established_date2   = 19 December 1941 – 3 September 1945
| established_title3  = [[Malayan Union]]
| established_date3   = 1 April 1946
| established_title4  = [[Federation of Malaya]]
| established_date4   = 31 August 1957
| established_title5  = [[Proclamation of Malaysia]]
| established_date5   = 16 September 1963
| capital             = [[George Town, Penang|George Town]]
| largest_settlement  = [[Seberang Perai]]
| ethnic_groups_year  = 2020
| ethnic_groups_ref   = {{my10|2020kf}}
| ethnic_groups       = {{tree list}}
* 41.3% [[Penangite Chinese|Chinese]]
* 41.1% [[Bumiputera (Malaysia)|Bumiputera]]
** 40.7% [[Malaysian Malays|Malay]]
** 0.5% [[Orang Asal|indigenous groups]] from [[Sabah]] and [[Sarawak]]
* 8.9% [[Malaysians of Indian descent in Penang|Indian]]
* 0.6% Other ethnicities
* 8.1% Non-citizens
{{tree list/end}}
| religion_year       = 2020
| religion_ref        = {{my10|2020kf}}
| religion            = {{ubl|45.5% [[Islam in Malaysia|Sunni Islam]] ([[State religion|official]])<ref name="Penang State Gov" />|37.6% [[Buddhism in Malaysia|Buddhism]]|8.4% [[Hinduism in Malaysia|Hinduism]]|4.3% [[Christianity in Malaysia|Christianity]]|2.4% Other religions|1.7% [[Irreligion|No religion]]}}
| demonym             = Penangite
| government_type     = [[Parliamentary system|Parliamentary]]
| leader_title1       = [[List of governors of Penang|Governor]]
| leader_name1        = [[Ramli Ngah Talib]]
| leader_title2       = [[Chief Minister of Penang|Chief Minister]]
| leader_name2        = [[Chow Kon Yeow]] <br> ([[Pakatan Harapan|PH]]–[[Democratic Action Party|DAP]])
| legislature         = [[Penang State Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]]
| area_km2            = 1049
| area_rank           = 12th
| area_rank_link      = States and federal territories of Malaysia#States
| elevation_max_point = [[Penang Hill]]
| elevation_max_m     = 833
| elevation_m         = 24
| population_census   = 1,740,405
| population_census_year = 2020
| population_density_km2 = 1659.11
| population_density_sq_mi = <!-- Do not remove as per WP:MOSNUM -->
| population_density_rank = 3rd
| population_density_rank_link = Demographics of Malaysia#Demographic trends and key rate
| GDP_PPP             = $97,779 million
| GDP_PPP_year        = 2024
| GDP_PPP_rank        = 5th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita  = $54,309
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 3rd
| GDP_nominal         = $29,889 million
| GDP_nominal_year    = 2024
| GDP_nominal_rank    = 5th
| GDP_nominal_rank_link = List of Malaysian states by GDP#Gross Domestic Product by state
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $16,601
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 3rd
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank_link = List of Malaysian states by GDP#Gross Domestic Product per capita by state
| Gini                = 0.371
| Gini_year           = 2022
| Gini_change         = increase
| Gini_ref            = <ref name="dosm2024">{{Cite journal |date=Aug 2024 |title=Laporan Sosioekonomi Negeri Pulau Pinang 2023 |journal=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |language=ms |issn=2600-9854 }}</ref>
| HDI                 = 0.849
| HDI_year            = 2024
| HDI_change          = increase
| HDI_ref             = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://statistics.gov.my/portal-main/release-content/malaysia-human-development-index-2024/|title=Malaysia Human Development Index (MHDI), 2024 |website=dosm.gov.my|language=en|access-date=12 November 2025}}</ref>
| HDI_rank            = 4th
| HDI_rank_link       = List of Malaysian states by Human Development Index
| currency            = [[Malaysian ringgit]] (RM/MYR)
| currency_code       =
| timezone            = [[Time in Malaysia|Malaysian Time]]
| utc_offset          = +8
| date_format         = dd-mm-yyyy
| electricity         =
| drives_on           = Left
| iso_code            = [[ISO 3166-2:MY#Current codes|MY-07]]
| postal_code_type    = [[List of postal codes in Malaysia|Postal code]]
| postal_code         = 10xxx–11xxx ([[George Town, Penang|George Town]])<br />12xxx-14xxx ([[Seberang Perai]])
| calling_code        = +604-2, +604-6, +604-8 ([[George Town, Penang|George Town]])<br />+604-3, +604-5 ([[Seberang Perai]])
| website             = {{URL|https://www.penang.gov.my}}
|blank_name=[[Public Transport]]|blank_info=[[File:Rapid Penang Logo.svg|120px|link=Rapid Penang]]}}

'''Penang'''{{efn|{{langx|ms|Pulau Pinang}}; {{IPA|ms|pi.naŋ}}}} is a [[States and federal territories of Malaysia|Malaysian state]] located on the northwest coast of [[Peninsular Malaysia]]. It is divided into two parts by the [[Strait of Malacca]]: [[Penang Island]] to the west, where the capital city [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] is located, and [[Seberang Perai]] on the [[Malay Peninsula]] to the east. These two halves are physically connected by the [[Penang Bridge]] and the [[Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge|Second Penang Bridge]]. The state shares borders with [[Kedah]] to the north and east, and [[Perak]] to the south.

Penang is one of [[Malaysia]]'s most [[World Bank high-income economy|developed]] economic powerhouses, with the [[List of Malaysian states by GDP#Gross Domestic Product per capita by state|highest GDP per capita]] and [[List of Malaysian states by Human Development Index|Human Development Index of all states]]. It also ranks [[List of Malaysian states by mean wage and median wage#Mean salary map|second among the states in terms of average wages]]. Penang is [[List of Malaysian states and municipalities by exports#Exports by state and federal territory|Malaysia's leading exporter]] with nearly RM495 billion (US${{To USD|495|MYS|year=2021}} billion) in exports in 2024, primarily through the [[Penang International Airport]] which is also the [[List of the busiest airports in Malaysia#Aircraft movements|nation's second busiest]] by aircraft movements.

Established by [[Francis Light]] in 1786, Penang became part of the [[Straits Settlements]], a [[Crown colony|British crown colony]] also comprising [[Malacca]] and [[Singapore]]. During [[World War II]], Japan occupied Penang, but the [[Operation Jurist|British regained control]] in 1945. Penang was later merged with the [[Federation of Malaya]] (now Malaysia), which gained independence in 1957. [[Economy of Penang|Penang's economy]] shifted from [[entrepôt]] trade to electronics manufacturing and the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|tertiary sector]] throughout the late 20th century.

With 1.74 million residents and a population density of {{cvt|1,659|/km2|}} {{As of|2020|lc=y}}, Penang is one of Malaysia's most densely populated and urbanised states.<ref name="Malay Mail-2022">{{Cite news |date=23 December 2022 |title=Statistics Dept: Malaysia's Urbanisation Rate Tripled over Five Decades |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2022/12/23/statistics-dept-malaysias-urbanisation-rate-tripled-over-five-decades/46783 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=[[Malay Mail]]}}</ref> Seberang Perai is [[List of cities and towns in Malaysia by population#Within defined boundaries|Malaysia's third largest city by population]]. Penang is culturally diverse with a population that includes [[Penangite Chinese|Chinese]], [[Malaysian Malays|Malays]], [[Malaysians of Indian descent in Penang|Indians]], [[Kristang people|Eurasians]], [[Malaysian Siamese|Siamese]] and expatriates.

== Etymology ==
The name Penang comes from the modern [[Malay language|Malay]] name ''Pulau Pinang'' which means '[[areca nut]] island'.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Heritage Trees of Penang |last=Gardner |first=Simon |publisher=Areca Books |year=2011 |isbn=978-967-5719-06-6 |location=Penang }}</ref> Penang is also colloquially referred to as the "Pearl of the Orient" and "The Island of Pearls" ({{langx|ms|Pulau Mutiara}}).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Abe |first=Burhanuddin |date=29 December 2009 |title=Penang: Pearl of the Orient |work=[[The Jakarta Post]] |url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/12/29/penang-pearl-orient.html |access-date=13 December 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mari Kenali Bendera Negeri-Negeri di Malaysia |url=https://dbook.penerangan.gov.my/dbook/dmdocuments/mari_kenali_bendera/files/basic-html/page24.html |access-date=13 December 2023 |website=Department of Information Malaysia |language=MS }}</ref>

Over the course of history, [[Penang Island]] had been known by different names by seafarers from various regions. The locals named it ''Pulo Ka Satu'', meaning "The First Island", as it was the largest island on the maritime route between [[Lingga Regency|Lingga]] and [[Kedah]].<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Pulo Ka Satu : Warisan Sejarah Awal Persuratan Melayu Pulau Pinang |url=https://www.pnm.gov.my/pnm/resources/UploadFile/Penerbitan/jualan%20buku/PuloKaSatu.pdf |journal=[[National Library of Malaysia]] }}</ref> The [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|Siamese]], who were the overlords of Kedah, called it ''Ko Mak'' ({{Langx|th|เกาะหมาก}}).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Larry |first=Sternstein |title=The London Company's Envoys Plot Siam |url=https://thesiamsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/1993/03/JSS_081_2b_Sternstein_LondonCompanysEnvoysPlotSiam.pdf |journal=[[Siam Society]] |pages=37 }}</ref>

Maritime explorers also took note of the island's abundance of areca nut. During the 15th century, [[Zheng He|Admiral Zheng He]] of [[Ming dynasty|Ming China]] referred to the island as ''Bīngláng Yǔ'' ({{zh|s={{linktext|槟榔屿}}|first=t|poj=Pin-nn̂g-sū|t={{linktext|檳榔嶼}}|l=areca nut island}}) in his navigational charts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ooi |first=Kee Beng |date=September 2012 |title=Penang before Francis Light (As the English Saw It in 1905) |url=http://penangmonthly.com/article.aspx?pageid=7083&name=penang_before_francis_light_as_the_english_saw_it_in_1905 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203182540/https://penangmonthly.com/article.aspx?pageid=7083&name=penang_before_francis_light_as_the_english_saw_it_in_1905 |archive-date=3 December 2019 |access-date=2 March 2018 |website=Penang Monthly }}</ref> In the ''Description of Malacca'', Portuguese cartographer [[Manuel Godinho de Erédia]] named it ''Pulo Pinaom''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Haji Endut |first=Esmawee |date=November 1993 |title=Traditional Malaysian Built Forms: A Study on the Origins, Main Building Types, Development of Building Formd, Design Principles and the Application of Traditional Concepts in Modern Buildings |url=https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/14839/1/389486_vol1.pdf |journal=[[University of Sheffield]] }}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of Penang}}
{{Quote box
| title = Historical affiliations
| quote = {{flagdeco|East India Company}} [[East India Company|British East India Company]] 1786–1858<br>
{{flagdeco|United Kingdom}} [[British Raj]] 1858–1867<br>
{{flag|Straits Settlements}} 1826–1941; 1945–1946<br>
{{flagdeco|Empire of Japan|1870}} [[Empire of Japan]] 1941–1945<br>
{{flag|Malayan Union}} 1946–1948<br>
{{flag|Malaya|name=Federation of Malaya}} 1948–1963<br>
{{flag|Malaysia}} 1963–present
| align = left
| width = 23em
| fontsize = 90%
| bgcolor = #FFE0AF
}}
=== Early history ===
Archaeologists have discovered human remains such as the "Penang Woman", along with seashells, pottery and stone tools, in [[Seberang Perai]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Liew |first=Jia Xian |date=12 August 2022 |title=5,000-Year-Old 'Penang Woman' Now Has a Face |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/08/12/5000-year-old-penang-woman-now-has-a-face |access-date=11 March 2024 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref> The artefacts indicate that around 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, Penang was inhabited by nomadic [[Melanesians]] during the [[Neolithic]] era.<ref name="TODAY-2017">{{Cite news |date=19 April 2017 |title=Prehistoric Human Skeleton Found at Penang Neolithic Site |url=http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/prehistoric-human-skeleton-found-penang-neolithic-site |access-date=29 April 2017 |work=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|TODAY]] }}</ref><ref name="The Star-2017c">{{Cite news |date=26 April 2017 |title=Penang to Seek UNESCO Heritage Status for Guar Kepah Neolithic Site |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/04/26/penang-to-seek-unesco-heritage-status-for-guar-kepah-neolithic-site/ |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Freedman Leonard |first=Rousham Emily |title=Perspectives in Human Biology: Humans in the Australasian Region |publisher=World Scientific |year=1996 |isbn=978-981-4497-86-2 }}</ref>

[[Pali]] inscriptions on the [[Cherok Tok Kun]] [[megalith]] suggest the [[Hindus|Hindu]]-[[Buddhism|Buddhist]] [[Bujang Valley]] civilisation, based in present-day [[Kedah]], held authority over parts of [[Seberang Perai]] by the 6th century.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Habibu |first=Sira |date=9 December 2013 |title=Lembah Bujang Covers a Larger Area |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2013/12/09/lembah-bujang-covers-a-larger-area-it-is-not-practical-to-gazette-the-entire-enclave-says-historian/ |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref> The entirety of Penang later formed part of [[Kedah Sultanate|Kedah]], which came under [[Rattanakosin Kingdom (1782–1932)|Siamese]] [[suzerainty]] by the late 18th century.<ref name="Bisalputra-2020">{{Cite journal |last1=Bisalputra |first1=Pimpraphai |last2=Sng |first2=Jeffery |date=2020 |title=The Hokkien Rayas of Songkhla |url=https://so06.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/pub_jss/article/view/241796 |journal=[[Siam Society]] |volume=108 |issue=1 }}</ref>

=== Establishment and British rule ===
{{see also|History of George Town, Penang}}
[[File:Penang.gif|thumb|British acquisition and expansion of Penang (in yellow) occurred between 1786 and 1874, when the final alterations to Penang's boundaries were enacted.<ref name="nas.gov.sg">{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=Ronald David |date=23 November 1839 |others=Ms copy by Poon Puay Kee |title=Plan of Prince of Wales Island and Province Wellesley |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/maps_building_plans/record-details/fbc7d2ca-115c-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016153437/https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/maps_building_plans/record-details/fbc7d2ca-115c-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad |archive-date=16 October 2022 |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=[[National Archives of Singapore]] }}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web |last=Moniot |first=Jules Michael |date=1860 |title=Map of Prince of Wales Island, or Pulo Penang and Province Wellesley including a Careful Survey of the South Channel |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/maps_building_plans/record-details/f96da40d-115c-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018071434/https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/maps_building_plans/record-details/f96da40d-115c-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad |archive-date=18 October 2022 |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=[[National Archives of Singapore]] }}</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web |last=Stanford |first=Edward |date=1870 |others=Revised by Major J.F.A.McNair |title=Map of Prince of Wales Island and Province Wellesley, Straits Settlements |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/maps_building_plans/record-details/f97bad5c-115c-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018145240/https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/maps_building_plans/record-details/f97bad5c-115c-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad |archive-date=18 October 2022 |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=[[National Archives of Singapore]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Allen |first1=J. De V. |last2=Stockwell |first2=A. J. |last3=Wright |first3=L. R. |date=1981 |others=Annotated by Aloysius Ng |title=Documents Archive - Pangkor Engagement of 1874 |url=http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/hist/eia/documents_archive/pangkor-treaty.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125221607/http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/hist/eia/documents_archive/pangkor-treaty.php |archive-date=25 November 2016 |access-date=30 January 2023 |website=Empire in Asia |publisher=[[National University of Singapore]] }}</ref>|left]]

Penang's modern history began in 1786 when [[Francis Light]], a representative of the British [[East India Company]] (EIC), obtained [[Penang Island]] from Sultan [[Abdullah Mukarram Shah of Kedah|Abdullah Mukarram Shah]] of [[Kedah Sultanate|Kedah]] in exchange for military aid. Light had been sent to the [[Malay Peninsula]] by the EIC to build trade relations in the region, where he saw the strategic potential of Penang Island as a "convenient magazine for trade" that could enable the British to check Dutch and French territorial ambitions in [[Southeast Asia]].<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Lewis Su|2016|p=34 }}</ref>

After negotiating an agreement with the Sultan, Light and his entourage landed on Penang Island on 17 July that year and took formal possession of the island "in the name of King [[George III]] of England" on 11 August.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Merican |first=Ahmad Murad |date=29 October 2021 |title=The 1786 Acquisition of Pulau Pinang: Unveiling the Light Letters, Revisiting Legal History Case Materials and R. Bonney's Kedah 1771–1821 |url=http://web.usm.my/kajh/vol28_2_2021/kajh28022021_08.pdf |journal=The Asian Journal of Humanities |publisher=[[Universiti Sains Malaysia]] |volume=28 |issue=2 }}</ref> The island was renamed Prince of Wales Island after the [[George IV|heir to the British throne]] and the new settlement of [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] was established in honour of King George III.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ooi |first=Keat Gin |title=The A to Z of Malaysia |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-8108-7641-5 |page=105 }}</ref>

Unbeknownst to Sultan Abdullah, Light had acted without the authority or the consent of his superiors in [[British Raj|India]]. When the EIC reneged on military protection, the Sultan launched an attempt to recapture the Prince of Wales Island in 1791. However, the attempt was defeated by EIC forces and the Sultan sued for peace.<ref name="Ooi-2015">{{Cite journal |last=Ooi |first=Keat Gin |date=2015 |title=Disparate Identities: Penang from a Historical Perspective, 1780–1941 |url=http://web.usm.my/km/33(Supp.2)2015/km33s22015_03.pdf |journal=Kajian Malaysia |volume=33 |issue=Supp. 2 |pages=27–52 |issn=0127-4082 |access-date=7 March 2023 }}</ref> An annual payment of 6,000 Spanish dollars was agreed in exchange for British sovereignty over the island.<ref name="Jenkins-2008">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Jenkins|2008|p=32 }}</ref>

In 1800, [[George Alexander William Leith|Lieutenant-Governor George Leith]] secured a strip of [[hinterland]] across the [[Penang Strait]], which was subsequently named Province Wellesley (now [[Seberang Perai]]).<ref name="Jenkins-2008" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Blackledge |first=J.P. |date=6 July 1950 |title=Province Wellesley Looks Back |pages=2 |work=The Singapore Free Press |location=Singapore |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/freepress19500706-1.2.28 |access-date=18 April 2021 }}</ref> The EIC gained permanent sovereignty over both Prince of Wales Island and the new mainland territory, while the annual payment to the Sultan of Kedah was increased to 10,000 Spanish dollars.<ref>{{cite book |author=Marcus Langdon |title=Penang: The Fourth Presidency of India. 1805-1830. Volume One: Ships, Men and Mansions |publisher=Areca Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-967-5719-07-3 |pages=219, 222 }}</ref> The British government and, subsequently, the Malaysian government maintained the annual payments to Kedah until 2018, when the [[Government of Malaysia|Malaysian federal government]] increased the amount by RM10 million yearly.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 February 2017 |title=Unconstitutional to Wipe Penang off Malaysia's map, Kedah Told |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2017/02/11/unconstitutional-to-wipe-penang-off-malaysias-map-kedah-told/1312549 |access-date=4 March 2017 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ida Lim |date=7 June 2023 |title=Report: Kedah MB Denies Asking for Return of Penang, Just Wants Higher Lease Payment |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/06/07/report-kedah-mb-denies-asking-for-return-of-penang-just-wants-higher-lease-payment/73108 |access-date=15 March 2024 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref>

[[File:KITLV - 80020 - Kleingrothe, C.J. - Medan - Quay in Penang - circa 1910.tif|thumb|The [[Port of Penang]] in [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] {{Circa|1910}}. Port functions were eventually relocated to [[Seberang Perai]] in 1974.<ref name="Jou-2014">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Jou|Michael Hsiao|Aveline-Dubach|2014|p=188 }}</ref>]]
George Town grew rapidly as a [[Free economic zone|free port]] and a conduit for [[spice trade]], diverting maritime commerce away from [[Dutch East Indies|Dutch]] outposts in the region.<ref name="Jackson20132">{{cite book |author=Jackson |first=Ashley |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Rv7AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA7 |title=Buildings of Empire |date=Nov 2013 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-958938-8 |pages=7 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ooi |first=Kee Beng |date=2014 |title=When Penang Became a Spice Island |url=http://penangmonthly.com/article.aspx?pageid=4394&name=when_penang_became_a_spice_island |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529215436/http://penangmonthly.com/article.aspx?pageid=4394&name=when_penang_became_a_spice_island |archive-date=29 May 2017 |access-date=25 May 2017 |website=Penang Monthly }}</ref><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Khoo|2007|p=5 }}</ref> In 1805, Penang became a separate [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|presidency]] of [[British Raj|British India]], sharing similar status with [[Bombay Presidency|Bombay]] and [[Madras Presidency|Madras]].<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Lewis Su|2016|p=35 }}</ref> By 1808, George Town had established its local government, while the founding of the [[Penang High Court|Supreme Court of Penang]] marked the birth of Malaysia's modern judiciary.<ref name="Koay-2014">{{Cite web |last=Koay Su Lin |first=Steven Sim |date=2014 |title=A History of Local Elections in Penang Part I: Democracy Comes Early |url=http://penangmonthly.com/article.aspx?pageid=4390&name=a_history_of_local_elections_in_penangpart_i_democracy_comes_early |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918154421/http://penangmonthly.com/article.aspx?pageid=4390&name=a_history_of_local_elections_in_penangpart_i_democracy_comes_early |archive-date=18 September 2017 |access-date=25 May 2017 |website=Penang Monthly }}</ref> In 1826, George Town was made the capital of the [[Straits Settlements]] which included [[Singapore in the Straits Settlements|Singapore]] and [[Malacca]]. As Singapore soon supplanted George Town as the region's premier [[entrepôt]], Singapore became the capital instead in 1832.<ref name="NLB-2024">{{Cite web |title=Singapore Becomes Admin Centre of the Straits Settlements |url=https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=e9600931-19db-4a18-8366-8ae5aea35464 |access-date=13 January 2024 |website=[[National Library Board]] }}</ref>

Despite its secondary importance to Singapore, George Town retained its importance as a vital British entrepôt.<ref name="Turnbull-2012">{{Cite journal |last=Turnbull |first=C. M. |author-link=Mary Turnbull |title=The Penang Story |url=https://tsnra.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/the-pg-story.pdf |journal=Penang's Changing Role in the Straits Settlements, 1826–1946 }}</ref> Towards the end of the 19th century, it became a major tin exporter and [[British Malaya|Malaya]]'s primary financial centre.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Hockton|2012|p=95 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Wong |first=Yee Tuan |title=Penang Chinese Commerce in the 19th Century: The Rise and Fall of the Big Five |publisher=[[ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute]] |year=2015 |isbn=978-981-4515-02-3 |location= |page=26 }}</ref><ref name="Langdon-2014">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Langdon|2014|pages=3, 4, 6 }}</ref> Penang's prosperity attracted a cosmopolitan population comprising [[Penangite Chinese|Chinese]], [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay]], [[Malaysians of Indian descent in Penang|Indian]], [[Peranakan Chinese|Peranakan]], [[Malaysian Siamese|Siamese]] and migrants of mixed European-Asian lineage referred to as "[[Kristang people|Eurasians]]", and led to the development of hitherto rural areas such as [[Butterworth, Seberang Perai|Butterworth]] and [[Bukit Mertajam]].<ref name="Chan">{{Cite journal |last=Chan |first=Wai Yeap |title=The History of Bukit Mertajam (1800-1957): From Agrarian Town to Central Hub of Northern Malaya |url=https://www.academia.edu/25915163 |journal=Penang Institute |via=[[Academia.edu]] }}</ref> However, the population growth created social problems such as inadequate sanitation, health facilities and rampant crime, culminating in [[1867 Penang riots|street violence and rioting in 1867]].<ref name="Ooi-19912">{{Cite journal |last=Ooi |first=Giok Ling |date=2 September 1991 |title=British Colonial Health Care Development and the Persistence of Ethnic Medicine in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore |url=https://kyoto-seas.org/pdf/29/2/290202.pdf |journal=[[National University of Singapore]] |via=[[Kyoto University]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=16 September 1867 |title=The Disturbances at Penang |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28607543 |access-date=25 May 2017 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |via=Trove }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wong |first=Chun Wai |date=20 April 2013 |title=A cowboy town that was old Penang |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2013/04/20/a-cowboy-town-that-was-old-penang_1/ |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref>

The Straits Settlements [[Transfer of the Straits Settlements|became a British crown colony]] within the same year.<ref name="Koh-2024">{{Cite web |last=Jaime Koh |title=Straits Settlements |url=https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=b0d91ecc-3de3-4e79-a132-b2d0d886bb98#:~:text=The%20Straits%20Settlements%2C%20comprising%20Penang,East%20India%20Company%20in%20India. |access-date=13 January 2024 |website=[[National Library Board]] }}</ref> Direct British rule led to improved law enforcement, and investments in health care and public transportation in Penang.<ref name="Turnbull-2012" /><ref name="Ooi-19912" /><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Lewis Su|2016|p=79 }}</ref> Owing to enhanced access to education, active participation of Asian residents in municipal affairs and substantial press freedom, George Town was perceived as being more intellectually receptive than Singapore.<ref name="Turnbull-2012" /><ref name="Goh-2014" /><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Lewis Su|2016|pages=145–147 }}</ref> The settlement attracted intellectuals and revolutionaries, including [[Rudyard Kipling]], [[W. Somerset Maugham|Somerset Maugham]] and [[Sun Yat-sen]].<ref name="Turnbull-2012" /><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Langdon|2014|p=54 }}</ref><ref name="Reuters-2007">{{Cite news |date=21 January 2007 |title=Chinese Hero's Memory Burns Bright in Penang House |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malaysia-china-revolutionary-idUSKLR3439920070103 |access-date=13 October 2023 |work=[[Reuters]] |language=en }}</ref> In 1910, Sun selected George Town as the centre for the [[Tongmenghui]]'s political activities in Southeast Asia, aimed at overthrowing the [[Qing dynasty]].<ref name="Reuters-2007" />

=== World wars ===
[[File:Royal_Marines_Parade_in_Penang_(5316034010).jpg|thumb|[[Royal Marines|British Royal Marines]] liberating [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] on 3 September 1945.|left]]Penang emerged from [[World War I]] relatively unscathed, apart from the [[Battle of Penang]] during which the [[Imperial German Navy]] cruiser [[SMS Emden (1908)|SMS ''Emden'']] sank two [[Allies of World War I|Allied]] warships off George Town.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Barber|2010|pages=26–28 }}</ref> During the [[Interwar period|interwar years]], the British had acknowledged the need to fortify their armed forces in northern Malaya. However, complacency and lack of resources left British forces ill-prepared to confront the Japanese invasion at the onset of the [[Pacific War]]. Although Penang Island had been designated as a fortress, Penang fell without struggle to the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] on 19 December 1941 after daily aerial attacks.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Barber|2010|p=81 }}</ref> The British covertly evacuated Penang's European populace; historian Raymond Callahan since contended that "the moral collapse of British rule in Southeast Asia came not at Singapore, but at Penang".<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bayly|2004|p=119 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=B. Frank |first=Richard |author-link=Richard B. Frank |title=Tower of Skulls: A History of the Asia-Pacific War: July 1937-May 1942 |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-324-00211-6 }}</ref>

Penang Island was subsequently renamed ''Tojo-to'' after [[Hideki Tojo|Prime Minister Hideki Tojo]].<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bayly|2004|p=220 }}</ref> [[Kempeitai|Japanese military police]] imposed order by massacring [[Penangite Chinese|Chinese civilians]] under the [[Sook Ching]] policy, while women were forced into [[Comfort women|sexual slavery]].<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Barber|2010|pages=93–99 }}</ref> [[Swettenham Pier]] was converted into a major submarine base by the [[Axis powers|Axis Powers]].<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Barber|2010|pages=99–102 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=David |title=German U-Boat Operations in Australian Waters |url=https://seapower.navy.gov.au/history/feature-histories/german-u-boat-operations-australian-waters |access-date=19 December 2023 |website=[[Royal Australian Navy]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eugene Quah |date=December 2023 |title=When Penang Was an Axis Submarine Base |url=https://penangmonthly.com/article/21056/when-penang-was-an-axis-submarine-base |access-date=27 December 2023 |website=Penang Monthly |language=en }}</ref>

Between 1944 and 1945, Allied bombers from India [[Air raids on Penang|targeted naval and administrative buildings in George Town]], damaging and destroying several colonial buildings in the process.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Langdon|2014|pages=4, 8 }}</ref><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Barber|2010|pages=111–112 }}</ref> The [[Penang Strait]] was mined to restrict Japanese shipping.<ref>{{cite book |author=H. Kratoska |first=Paul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bePxcx7BFLEC&pg=PA296 |title=The Japanese Occupation of Malaya: A Social and Economic History |publisher=C. Hurst & Co. Publishers |year=1998 |isbn=978-1-85065-284-7 |pages=296 }}</ref> Following [[Surrender of Japan|Japan's surrender]], George Town was the first Malayan settlement liberated by [[Royal Marines|British marines]] through [[Operation Jurist]] on 3 September 1945.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Barber|2010|pages=113–120 }}</ref>

===Post-war years===
Penang was placed under [[British Military Administration (Malaya)|British military administration]] until 1946, after which the [[Straits Settlements]] was abolished. The British sought to consolidate the various political entities in [[British Malaya]], including the [[Crown Colony of Penang]], under a single polity known as the [[Malayan Union]]. Initially, the impending annexation of Penang into the vast Malay heartland proved unpopular among Penangites.<ref name="Koay-2016b">{{Cite web |url=http://penangmonthly.com/article.aspx?pageid=2370&name=penang_the_rebel_state_part_one |title=Penang: The Rebel State (Part One) |last=Koay |first=Su Lin |date=September 2016 |website=Penang Monthly |access-date=26 November 2017 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201034025/http://penangmonthly.com/article.aspx?pageid=2370&name=penang_the_rebel_state_part_one |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Penang secessionist movement|Penang Secessionist Committee]] was formed in 1948 due to economic and ethnic concerns, but their attempt to avert Penang's merger with Malaya was unsuccessful due to British disapproval.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Barber|2010|p=136 }}</ref><ref name="Christie-1998">{{Cite book |last=Christie |first=Clive |title=A Modern History of Southeast Asia: Decolonization, Nationalism and Separatism |publisher=Tauris Academic Studies |year=1996 |isbn=978-1-85043-997-4 |pages=47–48 }}</ref><ref name="Koay-2016a">{{Cite news |url=http://penangmonthly.com/article.aspx?pageid=1287&name=penang_the_rebel_state_part_two |title=Penang: The Rebel State (Part Two) |last=Koay |first=Su Lin |date=1 October 2016 |newspaper=Penang Monthly |access-date=15 October 2016 |language=en-US |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031555/http://penangmonthly.com/article.aspx?pageid=1287&name=penang_the_rebel_state_part_two |url-status=dead }}</ref>

To relieve the concerns raised by the secessionists, the British government guaranteed George Town's free port status and [[1951 Malayan local elections#Municipal election|reintroduced municipal elections]] in 1951.<ref name="Koay-2014" /><ref name="Koay-2016a" /> George Town became the first fully-elected municipality in Malaya by 1956 and was granted city status by Queen [[Elizabeth II]] in the following year. This made George Town the first city within the Federation of Malaya, and by extension, Malaysia.<ref name="Wong-2013">{{Cite news |last=Wong |first=Chun Wai |date=5 October 2013 |title=George Town's First Mayor Ramanathan was a Fiery Man, Politician, Educationist and Unionist |url=http://www.starproperty.my/index.php/articles/property-news/george-towns-first-mayor-ramanathan-was-a-fiery-man-politician-educationist-and-unionist/?search=Penang |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219210847/http://www.starproperty.my/index.php/articles/property-news/george-towns-first-mayor-ramanathan-was-a-fiery-man-politician-educationist-and-unionist/?search=Penang |archive-date=19 February 2018 |access-date=19 February 2018 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref>

=== Post-independence era ===
[[George Town, Penang|George Town]]'s status as a free port was rescinded by the [[Government of Malaysia|Malaysian federal government]] in 1969.<ref name="Goh-2014">{{Cite journal |last=Daniel Goh |first=P. S. |date=2014 |title=Between History and Heritage: Post-Colonialism, Globalisation, and the Remaking of Malacca, Penang and Singapore |url=http://profile.nus.edu.sg/fass/socgohd/trans_2.1.pdf |journal=Trans-Regional and -National Studies of Southeast Asia |pages=89–93 |archive-date=21 October 2016 |access-date=4 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021051627/http://profile.nus.edu.sg/fass/socgohd/trans_2.1.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> This led to a loss of maritime trade, causing massive unemployment and [[Human capital flight|brain drain]].<ref name="Goh-2014" /><ref name="Ooi-2009">{{Cite web |url=http://penangmonthly.com/article.aspx?pageid=7680&name=tun_lim_chong_eu_the_past_is_not_pass |title=Tun Lim Chong Eu: The past is not passé |last=Ooi |first=Kee Beng |date=December 2009 |website=Penang Monthly |access-date=30 November 2017 |archive-date=8 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808051103/https://penangmonthly.com/article.aspx?pageid=7680&name=tun_lim_chong_eu_the_past_is_not_pass |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Chet |title=From Free Port to Modern Economy: Economic Development and Social Change in Penang, 1969 to 1990 |last2=Rasiah |first2=Rajah |last3=Wong |first3=Yee Tuan |publisher=Penang Institute |year=2019 |isbn=978-981-4843-96-6 }}</ref> To revive the economy, [[Chief Minister of Penang|Chief Minister]] [[Lim Chong Eu]] established the [[Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone]] in 1972.<ref name="Athukorala-2012" /> Massive industrialisation proved instrumental in reversing Penang's economic slump and led to the state's rapid economic growth until the late 1990s.<ref name="Athukorala-2012" /><ref name="Teh-2016">{{Cite web |last=Evelyn Teh |date=July 2016 |title=Where the Sea Meets the City is Where the World Meets Penang |url=https://penangmonthly.com/article/2568/where-the-sea-meets-the-city-is-where-the-world-meets-penang-1 |access-date=19 December 2023 |website=Penang Monthly |language=en }}</ref><ref name="Ooi-2010">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Ooi|Goh|2010|pages=245–246 }}</ref> Under Lim's tenure, the [[Penang Bridge]], the first road link between Penang Island and the [[Malay Peninsula]], was built.

Persistent brain drain, aggravated by federal policies prioritising the growth of Kuala Lumpur, resulted in Penang losing its leading position in the national economy by the 21st century.<ref name="Goh-2014" /><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Ooi|Goh|2010|p=94 }}</ref> This decline, compounded by various issues including incoherent urban planning, poor traffic management and the dilapidation of George Town's heritage enclave following the repeal of the Rent Control Act in 2001, contributed to growing dissatisfaction within Penang's society.<ref name="Jou-2014" /><ref name="Jayaratnam-2008" /><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Jenkins|2008|pages=133–137 }}</ref>

In response, civil societies in George Town mobilised public support to rejuvenate the city.<ref name="Goh-2014" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ng |first=Su-Ann |date=7 November 2004 |title=Penang losing its tourism lustre |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2004/11/07/penang-losing-its-tourism-lustre/ |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref><ref name="Li-2011">{{Cite journal |last=Li |first=Ho Fai |date=September 2011 |title=The Politics of Heritage Conservation in a Southeast Asian Postcolonial City: The Case of Georgetown in Penang, Malaysia |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/48550279.pdf |journal=[[Chinese University of Hong Kong]] }}</ref> Resentment against the [[Barisan Nasional]] (BN) administration led to the [[Pakatan Rakyat]] bloc (now [[Pakatan Harapan]]) rising to power through the [[2008 Penang state election|2008 state election]].<ref name="Jayaratnam-2008">{{Cite book |last=Saravanamuttu Jayaratnam, Lee Hock Guan |first=Ooi Kee Beng |title=March 8: Eclipsing May 13 |publisher=[[Institute of Southeast Asian Studies]] |year=2008 |isbn=978-981-230-896-2 |page=19 }}</ref> Efforts to preserve George Town's heritage architecture led to the city's historical core being designated as a [[UNESCO]] [[Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca#George Town|World Heritage Site]] that year.<ref name="Li-2011" /><ref name="UNESCO-2008">{{cite news |date=7 July 2008 |title=Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1223/#:~:text=Featuring%20residential%20and%20commercial%20buildings,in%20East%20and%20Southeast%20Asia. |access-date=7 July 2008 |publisher=[[UNESCO]] }}</ref>

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==Governance and politics==
{{Main|Government of Penang}}
{{See also|Constitution of the State of Penang}}

{{Multiple image
| image1            = Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib (cropped).jpg
| caption1          = [[Ramli Ngah Talib]]<br />{{small|[[List of governors of Penang|Governor]]}}
| image2            = Chow Kon Yeow 2019.jpg
| caption2          = [[Chow Kon Yeow]]<br /><br />{{small|[[Chief Minister of Penang|Chief Minister]]}}
| header            = Current leaders
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[[File:Seri Mutiara in George Town, Penang 2025.jpg|thumb|[[The Residency, Penang|Seri Mutiara]], the [[official residence]] of the [[List of governors of Penang|Governor of Penang]]]]
Penang, a former [[Crown colony|British crown colony]], is one of the four [[States and federal territories of Malaysia|Malaysian states]] without hereditary monarchies. The [[Constitution of the State of Penang|Constitution of Penang]], codified in 1957, is the state's highest law, consisting of 42 articles that govern the proceedings and powers of the state government.<ref name="Penang State Gov">{{Cite journal |title=Constitution of the State of Penang |url=https://dun.penang.gov.my/images/v25/Perlembagaan%20Negeri_VERSI%20BM_BI.pdf |journal=[[Government of Penang|Penang state government]] |archive-date=9 March 2024 |access-date=5 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309171727/https://dun.penang.gov.my/images/v25/Perlembagaan%20Negeri_VERSI%20BM_BI.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The head of state is the [[List of governors of Penang|Governor]] ({{langx|ms|Yang di-Pertua Negeri}}), who is appointed by the [[King of Malaysia]]. [[Ramli Ngah Talib]] is the current Governor of Penang, having assumed office in 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dermawan |first=Audrey |date=29 April 2025 |title=Chief Minister Leads Ceremonial Welcome for Penang's 9th Yang di-Pertua Negeri |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/04/1209186/chief-minister-leads-ceremonial-welcome-penangs-9th-yang-di-pertua |access-date=1 May 2025 |work=[[New Straits Times]]}}</ref> In practice, the Governor's role is largely symbolic and ceremonial. This includes the authority to appoint the [[Chief Minister of Penang|head of government]] and approve legislation that has been passed by the state's legislature.<ref name="Penang State Gov-2023">{{Cite web |title=Pejabat Tuan Yang Terutama (TYT) |url=https://www.penang.gov.my/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=52&Itemid=1684&lang=en |access-date=4 December 2023 |website=[[Government of Penang|Penang State Government]] | date=19 July 2022 |language=MS }}</ref>

The [[Government of Penang|Penang state government]] has its own executive body and legislature, but their powers are limited compared to the [[Government of Malaysia|Malaysian federal government]]. According to the [[Constitution of Malaysia|Federal Constitution]], the state can legislate on matters pertaining to Malay customs, land, agriculture and forestry, local government, civil and water works, and state administration. Matters falling under the joint purview of state and federal authorities include social welfare, wildlife protection and national parks, scholarships, husbandry, town planning, drainage and irrigation, and public health regulations.<ref name="Constitution">{{cite web |url=http://confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/malaysia.pdf |title=Constitution of Malaysia |access-date=11 June 2011 |archive-date=14 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514094615/http://confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/malaysia.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The 40-member [[Penang State Legislative Assembly]] forms the state's legislature and is elected for a maximum term of five years from single-member constituencies through [[Elections in Penang|state elections]]. Compared to the rest of [[Peninsular Malaysia]], Penang's electoral landscape is perceived as being more liberal and distinct due to the state's ethnic diversity and socio-economic development.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Darrelle Ng |date=21 November 2022 |title=Parti Islam Se-Malaysia's rise in GE15: Is Malaysia Becoming More Conservative? |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-ge15-elections-islamic-party-pas-conservative-3089301 |access-date=3 December 2023 |work=[[CNA (TV network)|Channel NewsAsia]]}}</ref><ref name="Chew-2008">{{Cite journal |last=Chew |first=Huat Hock |date=28 November 2008 |title=Some Observations on Coalition Politics in Penang |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/modern-asian-studies/article/abs/some-observations-on-coalition-politics-in-penang/2C625CEBDFDBDED8922BE431BE96230B |journal=[[Cambridge University Press]] |volume=19 |pages=125–146 |doi=10.1017/S0026749X00014578 |s2cid=145155171 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Unlike other Peninsular states, [[Penangite Chinese|ethnic Chinese]] have formed the plurality in Penang for decades, and the state's economic infrastructure is based primarily on commerce and trade rather than agriculture.<ref name="Chew-2008" /> {{As of|2023}}, non-Malays formed the majority in 25 of the [[List of electoral districts in Penang|40 state constituencies]].<ref name="Hutchinson-2023">{{Cite journal |last=Hutchinson |first=Francis |date=23 November 2023 |title=The August Poll in Penang: A Perspective on Pakatan, its Partners and its Prospects |url=https://www.iseas.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ISEAS_Perspective_2023_93.pdf |journal=[[ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute]] |issue=93 |issn=2335-6677 }}</ref> Thus, non-Malay electoral support is crucial to any political coalition aiming for power in Penang.<ref name="Chew-2008" /><ref name="Hutchinson-2023" />

===Executive===
[[File:Komtar at dusk, George Town, Penang.jpg|thumb|The 68-storey [[Komtar|Komtar Tower]] in [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] also houses the Office of the [[List of Chief Ministers of Penang|Chief Minister of Penang]].]]
{{Main|Penang State Executive Council}}{{See also|Chief Minister of Penang}}
The [[Penang State Executive Council]] is the executive authority of the [[Government of Penang|Penang state government]], similar in function to the [[Cabinet of Malaysia|federal Cabinet]]. It is led by the [[Chief Minister of Penang|Chief Minister]], who serves as the head of government in Penang. To this day, Penang remains the only Malaysian state where the position of the head of government has been continuously held by an [[Malaysian Chinese|ethnic Chinese]] since the nation's independence.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Goh |first=Beng-Lan |title=Modern Dreams: An Inquiry Into Power, Cultural Production, and the Cityscape in Contemporary Urban Penang, Malaysia |publisher=[[Cornell University Press]] |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-5017-1919-6 |page=149 }}</ref> Additionally, Penang was the first state to impose a two-term limit for the head of government's tenure.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 November 2018 |title=Penang Passes Bill to Cap CM's Tenure to Two Terms |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/452252 |access-date=3 December 2023 |work=[[Malaysiakini]] }}</ref> The current Chief Minister of Penang is [[Chow Kon Yeow]] of the [[Democratic Action Party]] (DAP), having assumed office after the [[2018 Penang state election|2018 state election]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/05/12/chow-kon-yeow-to-be-penang-cm/ |title=Chow Kon Yeow to be Penang CM |date=12 May 2018 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] |access-date=12 May 2018 }}</ref>
===Legislature===
{{Main|Penang State Legislative Assembly}}
{{See also|List of electoral districts in Penang}}

The unicameral 40-seat [[Penang State Legislative Assembly]], whose members are called State Assemblymen, convenes at the [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] [[Penang State Assembly Building|State Assembly Building]] in [[George Town, Penang|George Town]]. Penang practises the [[Westminster system]] whereby the [[Penang State Executive Council|State Executive Council]] members are appointed from the elected State Assemblymen. Any amendment to [[Constitution of the State of Penang|Penang's Constitution]] requires the support of at least two-thirds of the State Legislative Assembly.<ref name="Penang State Gov" /> Prior to a state election, it is customary to dissolve the legislature, which necessitates the consent of the [[List of governors of Penang|Governor]].<ref name="Penang State Gov-2023" />

The [[2023 Penang state election|2023 state election]] witnessed an unprecedented alliance between [[Pakatan Harapan]] (PH) and its erstwhile adversaries [[Barisan Nasional]] (BN).<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 August 2023 |title=State Elections like No Other |url=https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/677640 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=[[The Edge (Malaysia)|The Edge]] }}</ref> The PH–BN alliance currently commands a [[supermajority]] in the State Legislative Assembly, controlling 29 out of the 40 seats. However, the election also saw the [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] [[Perikatan Nasional]] (PN) opposition bloc gaining ground in the rural Malay-majority constituencies, occupying the remaining 11 seats in the legislature.<ref name="Hutchinson-2023" />

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
| colspan=6 | [[File:DUN Penang 2023.svg]]
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Affiliation
! rowspan="2" |Coalition/Party Leader
! rowspan="2" |Status
! colspan="2" |Seats
|-
![[2023 Penang state election|2023 election]]
!Current
|-
|{{Color box|#CC2200|border=darkgray}}<br />{{Color box|#000080|border=darkgray}}
|[[Pakatan Harapan]]<br />[[Barisan Nasional]]
|[[Chow Kon Yeow]]
|Government
|29
|29
|-
|{{Color box|#031e61|border=darkgray}}
|[[Perikatan Nasional]]
|Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff<ref>{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=17 November 2023 |title=Penang PAS Chief Fauzi Yusof is New State Opposition Leader |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/11/17/penang-pas-chief-fauzi-yusof-is-new-state-opposition-leader/102553 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref>
|[[Opposition (Malaysia)#State Legislative Assemblies|Opposition]]
|11
|11
|-
! colspan="4" |Total
!40
!40
|-
! colspan="4" |Government majority
!18
!18
|}

=== Local governments ===
Penang is further divided into two city-level municipalities, each administered by a [[Local government in Malaysia|local government]]. The local governments exercise power in areas such as planning and development control, public housing, public spaces, waste disposal, business licensing, markets, local transport, and municipal roads.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Harding |first=Andrew |date=Sep 2022 |title=A Baseline Study of Local Government in West Malaysia |url=https://law.nus.edu.sg/cals/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/09/CALS-WPS-2201.pdf |journal=[[National University of Singapore]] }}</ref>
* The [[Penang Island City Council]] (MBPP) administers the city of [[George Town, Penang|George Town]], which includes the entirety of [[Penang Island]]. It is made up of a [[Mayor of Penang Island|mayor]], a city secretary and 24 councillors.
* The [[Seberang Perai City Council]] (MBSP) is in charge of [[Seberang Perai]]. Similar in structure to the MBPP, it also consists of a mayor, a city secretary and 24 councillors.

Penang is also divided into five administrative districts {{Ndash}} two in George Town and three in Seberang Perai. Each district is headed by a district officer. The lands and district office in each district deals with land taxation, thus differing from local governments that manage urban administration and maintenance of infrastructure.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ganason |first=Anesh |title=Land Administration System in Malaysia: Building Institutional and Organisational Capacity for Coordinating Land Administration between the Federal and State Authorities |url=https://ifolio.ukm.my/Scripts/tinymce/plugins/filemanager/files/2596/LAND_ADMINISTRATION_SYSTEM_IN_MALAYSIA_ANESH_AJMedit250320101.pdf |journal=[[National University of Malaysia|Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia]] |access-date=5 March 2018 |archive-date=4 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204000732/https://ifolio.ukm.my/Scripts/tinymce/plugins/filemanager/files/2596/LAND_ADMINISTRATION_SYSTEM_IN_MALAYSIA_ANESH_AJMedit250320101.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Adnan |first1=M. Z. |last2=Suratman |first2=R. Suratman |last3=Samsudin |first3=S. |year=2019 |title=Key Geographical Features on Malaysia's Land Tax System: A Comparison Study in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia |url=https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/683/1/012095/pdf |journal=International Geography Seminar 2019 |volume=683 |issue=683 |page=2 |doi=10.1088/1755-1315/683/1/012095 |via=[[IOP Publishing]]|doi-access=free }}</ref>

After [[Pakatan Rakyat]] was [[2008 Penang state election|voted into power in 2008]], the newly-elected state government attempted to reinstate local government elections within Penang, which have been suspended since the 1960s.<ref name="Gooi-2022">{{Cite journal |last=[[Gooi Hsiao Leung]] |title=Enabling Decentralisation and Improving Federal-State Relations in the Federation of Malaysia |url=https://penanginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/web_version_final.pdf |journal=Penang Institute }}</ref><ref name="Abdullah-2023">{{Cite web |last=Abdullah |first=Saifuddin |title=George Town: Malaysia's First Local Democracy |url=https://penanginstitute.org/happenings/in-the-mass-media/913-george-town-malaysia-s-first-local-democracy/ |access-date=19 December 2023 |website=Penang Institute }}</ref> At the time, the [[Barisan Nasional]]-controlled [[Government of Malaysia|federal government]] objected to the move, which eventually led to the [[Federal Court of Malaysia|Federal Court]]'s decision that local government elections do not fall under the jurisdiction of state governments.<ref name="Gooi-2022" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=13 June 2012 |title=Chor: Penang Local Govt Polls Act Not Valid |url=https://theedgemalaysia.com/article/chor-penang-local-govt-polls-act-not-valid |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=[[The Edge (Malaysia)|The Edge]] }}</ref>

=== Judiciary ===
[[File:Penang High Court (I).jpg|thumb|The [[Penang High Court]] building in [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] was built in 1903.<ref name="Hockton-2012">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Hockton|2012|p=85 }}</ref><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Langdon|2014|p=45 }}</ref>]]
The present-day [[Judiciary of Malaysia|Malaysian judicial system]] traces its roots to 19th-century [[George Town, Penang|George Town]].<ref name="Federal Court Malaysia-2016">{{Cite book |url=https://www.kehakiman.gov.my/sites/default/files/documents/Laporan_Tahunan/YearBook2016.pdf |title=The Malaysian Judiciary: Yearbook 2016 |publisher=[[Federal Court of Malaysia]] |year=2016 |page=XV }}</ref> In 1807, Penang was granted a [[Royal charter|Royal Charter]] which paved the way for the establishment of a Supreme Court.<ref name="Ooi-2015" /> In the following year, the Supreme Court of Penang (now [[Penang High Court]]) was inaugurated at [[Fort Cornwallis]] with the appointment of [[Edmond Stanley]] as the first Recorder.

The Penang High Court serves as the highest court in the state. Notable lawyers who served the high court include [[Tunku Abdul Rahman]], [[Cecil Rajendra]] and [[Karpal Singh]].<ref name="Hockton-2012" /><ref name="Borneo Post-2014">{{Cite news |date=21 April 2014 |title=Thousands Pay Last Respects to Karpal Singh |url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2014/04/21/thousands-pay-last-respects-to-karpal-singh/ |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=[[The Borneo Post]] }}</ref> There are also four Magistrates Courts and two Sessions Courts throughout Penang.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 January 2018 |title=Court Directory |url=http://penangbar.org/court-directory/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203002653/http://penangbar.org/court-directory/ |archive-date=3 December 2016 |access-date=22 June 2018 |website=penangbar.org |publisher=Penang Bar Committee }}</ref>

=== Foreign relations ===
Penang is home to the largest contingent of foreign diplomatic missions among [[States and federal territories of Malaysia|Malaysian states]]. {{As of|2023}}, a total of 27 countries have either established consulates or appointed honorary consuls within Penang.<ref name="Okt">{{Cite journal |title=Diplomatic and Consular List November 2023 |url=https://www.kln.gov.my/documents/8390448/8439172/Diplomatic+and+Consular+List/609dd90b-5710-4de9-9764-0c7adf145caa |journal=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Malaysia)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia]] }}</ref> The [[Government of Penang|Penang state government]] has also inked a sister state agreement with Japan's [[Kanagawa Prefecture]] and a friendship state partnership with China's [[Hainan|Hainan Province]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 November 2011 |title=Penang-Kanagawa Twin City Ties Renewed to Mark 20th Anniversary |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2011/11/22/penangkanagawa-twin-city-ties-renewed-to-mark-20th-anniversary/ |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Christopher Tan |date=31 May 2019 |title=Malaysia-China Celebrate 45-year Strong Diplomatic Ties |url=https://www.buletinmutiara.com/malaysia-china-celebrate-45-year-strong-diplomatic-ties/ |access-date=13 January 2024 |work=Buletin Mutiara }}</ref>

==== Consulates ====
This list is based on information from the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Malaysia)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]], unless otherwise cited.<ref name="Okt" />
{{Div col|colwidth=20em|content=* {{flag|Australia}}
* {{flag|Austria}}
* {{flag|Bangladesh}}
* {{flag|Belgium}}
* {{flag|Brazil}}
* {{flag|Canada}}
* {{flag|Chile}}
* {{flag|China}}
* {{flag|Denmark}}
* {{flag|Fiji}}
* {{flag|Finland}}
* {{flag|France}}
* {{flag|Germany}}
* {{flag|Hungary}}
* {{flag|Indonesia}}
* {{flag|Japan}}
* {{flag|Nepal}}
* {{flag|Pakistan}}
* {{flag|Poland}}
* {{flag|Russia}}
* {{flag|South Africa}}
* {{flag|Sweden}}
* {{flag|Thailand}}
* {{flag|Tunisia}}
* {{flag|United Kingdom}}
* {{flag|Ukraine}}}}

=== Security ===
[[File:Cope Taufan 140618-F-XT249-549.jpg|thumb|Fighter jets from the [[Royal Malaysian Air Force]] (RMAF) and the [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) over [[RMAF Butterworth Air Base]]]]
In 1861, the [[Penang and Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps]] (P&PWVC) was established as the second [[Volunteer military|volunteer military force]] in [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]] after the [[Singapore Volunteer Corps]]. Initially, the unit was exclusively formed by Europeans, with other races being barred until 1899.<ref name="Beckett-2005">{{Cite book |last=Beckett |first=Ian Frederick William |title=Citizen Soldiers and the British Empire, 1837–1902 Warfare, Society and Culture |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-317-32218-4 |location=New York |pages=14–15 }}</ref> Over time, the P&PWVC transformed into the 3rd Battalion of the [[Straits Settlements Volunteer Force]] (SSVF) and by 1937, the unit also contained a European machine gun platoon, a Malay rifle company, a medical section and headquarters reserve. Although enlistment increased prior to the [[Malayan campaign|Japanese invasion of Malaya]], 3rd Battalion SSVF was eventually evacuated from Penang without engaging in any combat.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Barber|2010|pages=54, 73 }}</ref>

Since independence, the [[Government of Malaysia|Malaysian federal government]] assumes sole responsibility for the country's defence.<ref name="Constitution" /> Penang houses the [[Malaysian Army]]'s 2nd Battalion of the [[Royal Malay Regiment]] and [[Rejimen Askar Wataniah|Rejimen 509 Askar Wataniah]], which traces its lineage back to the P&PWVC.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 August 2023 |title=Early Voting Process for Six State Polls Run Smoothly |url=https://thesun.my/local_news/early-voting-process-for-six-state-polls-runs-smoothly-OH11341539 |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=[[The Sun (Malaysia)|The Sun]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rejimen 509 |url=http://aw.army.mil.my/index.php/penubuhan-siri-500/501/49-rejimen-509 |access-date=16 March 2024 |website=[[Rejimen Askar Wataniah]] |language=MS }}</ref> The [[Royal Malaysian Navy]] maintains a volunteer reserve base in [[George Town, Penang|George Town]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=KD Sri Pinang |url=https://www.navy.mil.my/ms/virtual-galeri/396-pasukan-simpanan-reserve-force/507-kd-sri-pinang |access-date=16 March 2024 |website=[[Royal Malaysian Navy]] |language=MS }}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> [[RMAF Butterworth Air Base]] also serves as the headquarters of the [[Five Power Defence Arrangements]] Integrated Area Defence System (HQIADS).<ref>{{Cite web |title=RMAF Base Butterworth |url=https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/bases/rmaf-base-butterworth |access-date=16 March 2024 |website=[[Royal Australian Air Force]] }}</ref> The air base continues to host Australian air force and army units on a rotational basis, including [[Rifle Company Butterworth]].<ref>{{Cite journal |date=May 2007 |title=Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth, Malaysia: Australian Defence Force Facilities Rationalisation |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/parliamentary_business/committees/house_of_representatives_committees?url=pwc/butterworth/subs/sub1.pdf |journal=[[Department of Defence (Australia)]] }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Calflier001_George_Town_Penang_aerial.jpg|thumb|[[George Town, Penang|George Town]] is physically separated from [[Butterworth, Penang|Butterworth]] (bottom) by the [[Penang Strait]].|200x200px]]
With a land area of only {{cvt|1049|km2}}, Penang is the second smallest [[States and federal territories of Malaysia|state in Malaysia]] after [[Perlis]].<ref name="Penang Institute-2020">{{Cite journal |title=Penang Statistics: Quarter 2, 2020 |url=https://penanginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/jml/files/quarterly_penang_statistics/2020/PQS-Q22020.pdf |journal=Penang Institute |page=5 }}</ref> It is located on the northwestern coastline of Peninsular Malaysia, lying between latitudes 5.59° and 5.12°N, and longitudes 100.17° and 100.56°E. The state is divided into two major halves by the [[Penang Strait]], which is only {{cvt|3|km|adj=on}} wide at the narrowest point and {{cvt|13|km|adj=on}} at its widest.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goh |first=Ban Lee |date=25 February 2019 |title=Butterworth Set to Soar |url=https://thesun.my/opinion_news/butterworth-set-to-soar-CL591477 |access-date=3 December 2023 |work=[[The Sun (Malaysia)|The Sun]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ang |first=Lay Pooi |date=May 2006 |title=Factors Influencing International Tourists in Choosing a Travel Destination: Case Study of Penang, Malaysia |url=http://eprints.usm.my/28884/1/FACTORS_INFLUENCING_INTERNATIONAL_TOURISTS_IN_CHOOSING_A_TRAVEL_DESTINATION_CASE_STUDY_OF_PENANG_MALAYSIA.pdf |journal=[[Universiti Sains Malaysia]] }}</ref>
* [[Penang Island]], a {{cvt|295|km2||adj=on}} island.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Raman |first=M. |date=2014 |title=Challenges of Environmental Resources Development In Penang Island, Malaysia |url=https://www.ukm.my/fep/perkem/pdf/perkem2014/PERKEM_2014_2D4.pdf |journal=[[National University of Malaysia]] }}</ref>
* [[Seberang Perai]], a {{cvt|748|km2|adj=on}} hinterland on the [[Malay Peninsula]]. It shares land borders with [[Kedah]] to the north and east, and [[Perak]] to the south.<ref name="Penang Institute-2020" />
The state capital, [[George Town, Penang|George Town]], encompasses the entirety of Penang Island and a few surrounding islets, including [[Jerejak Island|Jerejak]], [[Betong Island|Betong]], [[Kendi Island|Kendi]], [[Rimau Island|Rimau]] and [[Andaman Island, Penang|Andaman]] islands.<ref name="PICC">{{Cite journal |title=Draf Rancangan Tempatan Pulau Pinang (Pulau) 2030 Jilid 1 |journal=[[Penang Island City Council]] |language=MS }}</ref> On the other hand, the city of Seberang Perai covers the mainland side of Penang.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.mbsp.gov.my/buletin/pelan-strategi/2023/spps.pdf |title=Pelan Strategi Majlis Bandaraya Seberang Perai 2023-2030 |publisher=[[Seberang Perai City Council]] |location=[[Seberang Perai]] |page=12 |language=ms }}</ref>
{{Major urban areas in Penang}}

===Topography===
[[File:Andaman Island in George Town, Penang 2024.jpg|thumb|The ongoing [[Andaman Island, Penang|Andaman Island]] reclamation project in [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] {{Circa|2024}}.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kevin Vimal |date=26 May 2023 |title=E&O's Andaman Island Project a Great Push for Penang Green Agenda, Says CM Chow |url=https://www.buletinmutiara.com/eos-andaman-island-project-a-great-push-for-penang-green-agenda-says-cm-chow/ |access-date=20 December 2023 |work=Buletin Mutiara }}</ref> [[Land reclamation|Reclamation]] allows the creation of valuable land for urban development, particularly in land-scarce Penang.<ref name="Ramly-2008">{{Cite journal |last=Ramly |first=Salwa |date=January 2008 |title=Impact on the Coastal Areas of the Tanjung Tokong Land Reclamation Project, Penang, Malaysia |url=https://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=1317634&fileOId=1317635 |journal=[[Lund University]] }}</ref>]]
Penang Island is irregularly shaped, with a hilly and mostly forested interior. The island's coastal plains are narrow, with the most extensive plain located at the northeastern cape.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lim |first=H. S. |date=2011 |title=TSS Mapping Using THEOS Imagery over Penang Island, Malaysia |journal=[[Universiti Sains Malaysia]] }}</ref> George Town, which started off as a small settlement at the northeastern tip of the island, has expanded over the centuries to encompass the entire island, although the marshy western coast remains relatively underdeveloped.<ref name="Chau-2005">{{Cite journal |last=Chau |first=Loon Wai |date=2005 |title=Probing Different Centralities in City Regions: A Space-Syntactic Approach |url=http://eprints.utm.my/6177/1/Chau_5SSS_FAB.pdf |journal=Techne Press |volume=1 }}</ref> The highest point of the state is [[Penang Hill]], which stands at a height of {{cvt|833|m|}} at the centre of the island. On the other hand, Seberang Perai has mostly flat topography, save for a hilly region along the eastern border with Kedah.<ref name="Rahman-2000b">{{Cite journal |last=Abd. Rahman |first=Abdul Hadi |date=Sep 2000 |title=Coastal Sedimentation and Recent Coastline Changes Along the Seberang Perai Coast, Pulau Pinang |url=https://gsmpubl.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/agc2000_24.pdf |journal=[[University of Malaya]] }}</ref>

Due to land scarcity in George Town, [[land reclamation]] projects have been undertaken at high-demand areas, particularly along the island's east coast.<ref name="Ramly-2008" /><ref name="Chee-2017">{{Cite journal |last=Chee |first=Su Yin |date=13 August 2017 |title=Land Reclamation and Artificial Islands: Walking the Tightrope Between Development and Conservation |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/131015356.pdf |journal=[[Universiti Sains Malaysia]] |volume=12 |page=80 |doi=10.1016/j.gecco.2017.08.005 |bibcode=2017GEcoC..12...80C }}</ref> In 2023, a massive reclamation project commenced off the city's southern coast to build the {{cvt|920|ha|acre|adj=on}} [[Silicon Island]], envisioned as a new hub for high-tech manufacturing and commerce.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Opalyn Mok |date=1 September 2023 |title=Penang CM: Preliminary Works on Man-Made Silicon Island Starts Today |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/09/01/penang-cm-preliminary-works-on-man-made-silicon-island-starts-today/88405 |access-date=26 October 2023 |website=[[Malay Mail]] |language=en }}</ref> Following years of reclamation works, the [[Gurney Drive, George Town|Gurney Drive]] shoreline is also being transformed into [[Gurney Bay]], intended as "a new iconic waterfront destination for Penang".<ref name="Opalyn Mok-2016">{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=23 February 2016 |title=Gurney Wharf, Penang's New Waterfront Park-in-the-City |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2016/02/23/gurney-wharf-penangs-new-waterfront-park-in-the-city/1066141 |access-date=15 December 2023 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref>

The major rivers within Penang include the [[Pinang River (Penang)|Pinang]], [[Perai River|Perai]], [[Muda River|Muda]] and [[Kerian River|Kerian]] rivers. The Muda River serves as the northern border between Seberang Perai and [[Kedah]], while the Kerian River forms part of the southern boundary between Seberang Perai, Kedah and [[Perak]].<ref name="Rahman-2000a">{{Cite journal |last=Abd. Rahman |first=Abdul Hadi |date=Sep 2000 |title=Coastal Sedimentation and Recent Coastline Changes Along the Seberang Perai Coast, Pulau Pinang |url=https://gsmpubl.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/agc2000_24.pdf |journal=[[University of Malaya]] }}</ref>

===Climate===
Penang has a [[tropical rainforest climate]] under the [[Köppen climate classification]] (''Af''). The state experiences relatively consistent temperatures throughout the course of the year, with an average high of about 32&nbsp;°C and an average low of 24°C.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h17MWNlkEcwC&pg=PA400 |title=The Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge |publisher=Charles Knight |year=1840 |page=400}}</ref> Penang's proximity to [[Sumatra]] makes it susceptible to dust particles carried by wind from transient forest fires that create the perennial [[Southeast Asian haze]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 July 2013 |title=Why is South-East Asia's Annual Haze So Hard to Deal with? |url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/07/economist-explains-3 |access-date=15 October 2016 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}</ref> The Penang Meteorological Office at [[Bayan Lepas]] is the primary weather forecast facility for northwestern Malaysia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission |url=http://ioc-unesco.org/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewInstitutionRecord&institutionID=18555 |access-date=28 February 2018 |publisher=UNESCO |language=en-gb}}</ref>
{{Penang weatherbox}}

{{George Town weatherbox}}

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| metric first = y
| single line = y
| location = Penang ([[RMAF Butterworth Air Base]]) (2007–2020 normals, extremes 2015–2022)
| Jan record high C = 35.9
| Feb record high C = 37.0
| Mar record high C = 36.6
| Apr record high C = 35.0
| May record high C = 34.0
| Jun record high C = 34.8
| Jul record high C = 34.4
| Aug record high C = 34.0
| Sep record high C = 34.0
| Oct record high C = 34.3
| Nov record high C = 33.9
| Dec record high C = 36.4
| Jan record low C = 22.3
| Feb record low C = 19.8
| Mar record low C = 21.6
| Apr record low C = 22.7
| May record low C = 23.3
| Jun record low C = 22.5
| Jul record low C = 22.2
| Aug record low C = 22.1
| Sep record low C = 22.0
| Oct record low C = 22.7
| Nov record low C = 22.8
| Dec record low C = 21.6
| Jan high C = 31.6
| Feb high C = 32.1
| Mar high C = 32.2
| Apr high C = 31.9
| May high C = 31.8
| Jun high C = 31.8
| Jul high C = 31.5
| Aug high C = 31.9
| Sep high C = 31.3
| Oct high C = 31.1
| Nov high C = 30.9
| Dec high C = 31.5
| Jan mean C = 27.8
| Feb mean C = 28.1
| Mar mean C = 28.4
| Apr mean C = 28.6
| May mean C = 28.7
| Jun mean C = 28.6
| Jul mean C = 28.2
| Aug mean C = 28.1
| Sep mean C = 27.7
| Oct mean C = 27.7
| Nov mean C = 27.7
| Dec mean C = 27.7
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = 24.0
| Feb low C = 24.1
| Mar low C = 24.8
| Apr low C = 25.3
| May low C = 25.5
| Jun low C = 25.4
| Jul low C = 24.9
| Aug low C = 24.7
| Sep low C = 24.6
| Oct low C = 24.6
| Nov low C = 24.7
| Dec low C = 24.5
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 96.3
| Feb precipitation mm = 83.6
| Mar precipitation mm = 100.7
| Apr precipitation mm = 183.7
| May precipitation mm = 261.0
| Jun precipitation mm = 148.9
| Jul precipitation mm = 185.9
| Aug precipitation mm = 126.3
| Sep precipitation mm = 293.4
| Oct precipitation mm = 291.9
| Nov precipitation mm = 266.3
| Dec precipitation mm = 112.9
| Jan precipitation days = 7.6
| Feb precipitation days = 6.0
| Mar precipitation days = 7.1
| Apr precipitation days = 13.4
| May precipitation days = 14.9
| Jun precipitation days = 10.0
| Jul precipitation days = 11.1
| Aug precipitation days = 12.6
| Sep precipitation days = 16.0
| Oct precipitation days = 17.3
| Nov precipitation days = 13.9
| Dec precipitation days = 10.3
| source 1 = IEM<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/sites/monthlysum.php?network=MY__ASOS&station=WMKB
|title= [WMKB] Butterworth [1948-] Monthly Summaries
|publisher=The Iowa Environmental Mesonet
|access-date=25 December 2024}}</ref>
| source 2 = Meteomanz (precipitation 2016–2022)<ref name=Meteomanz>{{cite web
| url = http://www.meteomanz.com/sy3?l=1&cou=5010&ind=48602&y1=2016&m1=01&y2=2022&m2=12&so=000&fm=00
| title = SYNOP/BUFR observations. Data by months
| publisher = Meteomanz
| access-date = 22 March 2024}}</ref>
| source = 
}}

=== Nature ===
In spite of rapid urbanisation, Penang has managed to preserve a significant portion of its natural environment. Within the state, {{cvt|7761|ha|km2}} have been designated as protected forest reserves.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chow |first=Mei Mei |date=6 March 2018 |title=Penang's Commitment to Safeguard Its Forests |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/414558 |access-date=8 March 2018 |work=[[Malaysiakini]] }}</ref> In 2021, the {{cvt|12481|ha|km2|adj=on}} Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve was designated a [[World Network of Biosphere Reserves|UNESCO Biosphere Reserve]] in recognition of the area's biodiversity.<ref name="UNESCO-2022">{{Cite web |date=June 2022 |title=Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve |url=https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/aspac/penang-hill |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=[[UNESCO]] |language=en }}</ref> The gazetted nature reserve includes the [[Penang National Park]], which covers {{cvt|2562|ha|km2}} of the northwestern tip of the island.<ref name="Vimal-2022">{{Cite news |last=Kevin Vimal |date=11 June 2022 |title=Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve Officially Receives Its Recognition Certificate |url=https://www.buletinmutiara.com/penang-hill-biosphere-reserve-officially-receives-its-recognition-certificate/ |access-date=20 December 2023 |work=Buletin Mutiara }}</ref><ref name="Hong-2010">{{Cite journal |last=Hong |first=Chern Wern |date=2010 |title=The Potentials, Threats and Challenges in Sustainable Development of Penang National Park |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/11491437.pdf |journal=[[Universiti Sains Malaysia]] }}</ref> It has been identified as one of the state's ecotourism destinations, alongside the [[Penang Botanic Gardens]] and the Tropical Spice Garden.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Vaghefi |first=Negin |date=14 June 2019 |title=Ecotourism: A Sector where Sustainability is Everything |url=https://penanginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/june_14_2019_Negin_download.pdf |journal=Penang Institute }}</ref>
== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Penang}}
{{Infobox economy
| country = Penang <!-- The parameter is called country even though it is not a country -->
| currency = 
| fixed exchange = 
| year = 
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| gdp = US$28.016 billion {{small|(2023)}}<ref name="GDP by state 2024">{{Cite web |date=2 July 2024 |title=Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by State, 2023 |url=https://www.dosm.gov.my/portal-main/release-content/gross-domestic-product-gdp-by-state-20232023 |access-date=2 July 2024 |website=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] }}</ref>
| gdp rank = 
| growth = 3.3% {{small|(2023)}}<ref name="GDP by state 2024" />
| per capita = US$15,814 {{small|(2023)}}<ref name="GDP by state 2024" />
| per capita rank = 
| sectors = 
| components = 
| inflation = 
| bankrate = 
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| risk of poverty = 
| gini = 0.371 {{small|(2022)}}<ref name="dosm2024" />
| hdi = 0.839 {{small|(2023)}}<ref name="MHDI 2024">{{Cite journal |date=December 2024 |title=Malaysia Human Development Index 2023 |journal=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |page=3 |issn=3009-190X}}</ref>
| cpi = 
| labour = 71.3% (participation rate in 2023)<ref name="dosm2024" />
| occupations = 
| unemployment = 2.2% {{small|(2023)}}<ref name="dosm2024" />
| average gross salary = 
| average net salary = 
| consumption = 
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| FDI = US$13.4 billion {{small|(2023)}}<ref name="mida23" />
| current account = 
| gross external debt = 
| NIIP = 
| debt = US${{To USD|41.1|MYS|year=2021}} million<ref name="Mashut-2017">{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |first= |date=10 October 2023 |title=Penang CM Says State Finances Healthy, Smaller Debt to Putrajaya As Shown in A-G's 2022 Report |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/10/penang-cm-says-state-finances-healthy-smaller-debt-to-putrajaya-as-shown-in-a-gs-2022-report/95450 |access-date=5 December 2023 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref>
| balance = 
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| cianame = 
| spelling = 
| usebelowbox = 
| presentUS$asdefault = 
}}
{{Pie chart|caption=Economic sectors in Penang by GDP share (2023)<ref name="GDP by state 2024" />|label1=Services|label2=Manufacturing|value1=48.0|value2=46.5|thumb=right|color1=red|color2=green|value3=2.9|value4=1.9|value5=0.1|label3=Construction|label4=Agriculture|label5=Mining|color3=blue|color4=yellow|color5=orange}}

Despite its small size, Penang has one of the most robust economies in Malaysia.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 August 2022 |title=WIEF Foundation 17th Roundtable in Penang to Discuss Sustainable Economic Recovery Strategies |work=[[Bernama]] |url=https://www.bernama.com/en/business/news.php?id=2111110 |access-date=11 December 2023 }}</ref> The state's [[Tertiary sector of the economy|tertiary-based economy]] is largely driven by the manufacturing and services sectors.<ref name="Stats-Malaysia-2022">{{Cite journal |date=Aug 2023 |title=Laporan Sosioekonomi Negeri Pulau Pinang 2022 |journal=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |language=MS |issn=2600-9854 }}</ref> In 2023, Penang's [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] was worth nearly RM128.593 billion (US$28.016 billion) with a growth rate of 3.3%.<ref name="GDP by state 2024" /> Penang's GDP per capita of RM72,586 (US$15,814) was the highest among [[States and federal territories of Malaysia|Malaysian states]], surpassing the [[World Bank]]'s threshold of US$14,005 to be considered a [[World Bank high-income economy|high-income economy]].<ref name="GDP by state 2024" /><ref name="wb">[http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-and-lending-groups#High_income Country and Lending Groups.] [[World Bank]]. Accessed on 1 July 2023.</ref> In addition, the [[George Town Conurbation]] had a GDP worth US$30 billion in 2020, making it the second largest [[metropolitan economy]] in Malaysia after the [[Klang Valley]].<ref name="GDPdistrict">{{Cite journal |date=Nov 2024 |title=Gross Domestic Product by Administrative District: Timur Laut, Pulau Pinang 2015–2020 |journal=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |publisher=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |isbn=978-967-253-792-2}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |date=Nov 2024 |title=Gross Domestic Product by Administrative District: Kerian, Perak 2015–2020 |journal=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |publisher=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |isbn=978-967-253-797-7}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |date=Nov 2024 |title=Gross Domestic Product by Administrative District: Kuala Muda, Kedah 2015–2020 |journal=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |publisher=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |isbn=978-967-253-748-9}}</ref>

Penang contributed approximately RM7 billion (US${{To USD|7|MYS|year=2021}} billion) of Malaysia's yearly tax revenue and consistently records one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation {{Endash}} at 2.2% {{As of|2023|lc=y}}.<ref name="dosm2024" /><ref name="Opalyn Mok-2023a">{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |first= |date=18 September 2023 |title=IRB Targets RM7b Tax Collection for Penang This Year |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/09/18/irb-targets-rm7b-tax-collection-for-penang-this-year/91470 |access-date=5 December 2023 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref><ref name="Ong-2017">{{Cite news |last=Ong |first=Kian Ming |author-link=Ong Kian Ming |date=13 October 2017 |title=Penang's Economy is Healthy and Strong |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/398201 |access-date=13 October 2017 |work=[[Malaysiakini]] }}</ref> Average monthly salaries rose to RM3,557 (US${{To USD|3557|MYS|year=2021}}), the [[List of Malaysian states by mean wage and median wage#Mean salary map|second highest among Malaysian states]] after [[Selangor]], while labour force participation rate increased to 71.3% from 70.1% in the previous year.<ref name="dosm2024" /><ref>{{Cite journal |date=December 2024 |title=Salaries & Wages Survey Report |journal=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |page=9 |issn=2600-9579}}</ref>

Penang is the top destination in Malaysia for foreign investors, capturing US$13.4 billion {{Ndash}} or nearly 33% {{Ndash}} of the country's inbound [[foreign direct investment]]s (FDI) in 2023.<ref name="mida23">{{Cite journal |title=Approved Private Investments by State, January-December 2023 / January-December 2022 |url=https://www.mida.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Approved-Private-Investments-by-State-January-December-2023.pdf |journal=[[Malaysian Investment Development Authority]] }}</ref> {{As of|2023}}, the bulk of Penang's FDI originated from the [[Netherlands]], [[Cayman Islands]] and [[Singapore]].<ref name="dosm2024" /> The state has also attracted hundreds of [[multinational corporation]]s (MNCs) to its shores and plays a growing role in the global electronics supply chain, holding a share of more than 5% in the world's semiconductor sales.<ref name="Parker-2018">{{Cite news |last=Parker |first=Pamela |date=22 January 2018 |title=The Malaysian Region That Became a Hardware Hub |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/business-42686192 |access-date=5 December 2023 |work=[[BBC]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=McIntyre |first=Ian |date=8 November 2023 |title=CM rouses industry leaders as Penang accounts for over 5% of global semiconductor sales |work=The Vibes |url=https://www.thevibes.com/articles/business/99860/cm-rouses-industry-leaders-as-penang-accounts-for-over-5-of-global-semiconductor-sales |access-date=5 December 2023 }}</ref> Penang is concurrently [[List of Malaysian states and municipalities by exports|Malaysia's largest exporter]], accounting for nearly RM495 billion (US${{To USD|495|MYS|year=2021}} billion) {{Endash}} or 32.8% {{Endash}} of the country's exports in 2024.<ref name="export2024">{{Cite journal |date=Jun 2025 |title=Malaysia External Trade Statistics by State Pulau Pinang 2025 |journal=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |issn=3093-6691}}</ref> The services sector has been growing in tandem as well, with Penang being the second most popular hub in Malaysia for Global Business Services (GBS) and the financial heart of the country's northwestern region, complemented by the state's traditional popularity as a destination for tourism, [[MICE tourism|business events]] and health care.<ref name="Opalyn Mok-2018">{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=6 December 2018 |title=CM Wants Penang to be a Global Business Services Hub |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2018/12/06/cm-wants-penang-to-be-a-global-business-services-hub/1700603 |access-date=5 December 2023 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 August 2023 |title=Penang Set to Transform into World-Class Medical Tourism Hub |url=https://www.mida.gov.my/mida-news/penang-set-to-transform-into-world-class-medical-tourism-hub/ |access-date=5 December 2023 |website=[[Malaysian Investment Development Authority]] |language=en-US }}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

Penang's economic renaissance, particularly since 2008, was described by [[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]] as Malaysia's "biggest economic success", in spite of the [[Government of Malaysia|federal government]]'s focus on other states such as Johor and Sarawak.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chong |first=Pooi Koon |date=20 October 2011 |title=Malaysia Losses From Racial Law Exposed by Foreigners in Penang |work=[[Bloomberg L.P.]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-10-19/malaysia-losses-from-racial-law-exposed-by-foreigners-in-penang |access-date=6 December 2023 }}</ref> The [[Government of Penang|Penang state government]] has also managed to pare down public debt to RM41.1 million (US${{To USD|41.1|MYS|year=2021}} million) by 2022.<ref name="Mashut-2017" /> In addition, Penang's [[Human Development Index]] (HDI) value increased to 0.839 {{As of|2023|lc=y}}, [[List of Malaysian states by Human Development Index|the highest of all Malaysian states]] excluding the [[Federal Territories of Malaysia|federal territories]].<ref name="MHDI 2024" />

The booming economy has also led to a considerable interest in real estate in Penang. In 2016, [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] was ranked Malaysia's most attractive destination for commercial property investment by [[Knight Frank]], surpassing even Kuala Lumpur.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Malaysia Commercial Real Estate Investment Sentiment Survey 2016 |url=http://content.knightfrank.com/research/795/documents/en/malaysia-sentiment-survey-2016-3567.pdf |journal=[[Knight Frank]] }}</ref> In 2023, Penang's residential market was ranked the second most popular in [[Southeast Asia]] after Singapore.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Afaaf Adam |first= |date=4 September 2023 |title=Penang Registering As the Second Top-Performing Southeast Asian Residential Market in 1H2023 |url=https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/681168 |access-date=5 December 2023 |work=[[The Edge (Malaysia)]] }}</ref>

=== Manufacturing ===
[[File:Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone 2023.jpg|thumb|[[Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone]], known as the ''Silicon Valley of the East'', was the first designated [[free-trade zone]] in post-independence Malaysia and is now a major electronics manufacturing hub.<ref name="Parker-2018" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 September 2014 |title=Innoplex to Attract World-Class Industrial Players |url=https://www.buletinmutiara.com/innoplex-to-attract-world-class-industrial-players/ |access-date=6 December 2023 |work=Buletin Mutiara }}</ref>]]In the early years following Malaya's independence, Penang's industrialisation efforts were limited to [[Import substitution industrialization|import substitution]].<ref name="Athukorala-2012">{{Cite journal |last=Athukorala |first=Prema-chandra |title=Growing with Global Production Sharing: The Tale of Penang Export Hub, Malaysia |url=https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/gep/documents/conferences/2012/malaysia-conference/prema-chandra-athukorala.pdf |journal=[[Australian National University]] }}</ref> This was when [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] still enjoyed its free port status.<ref name="Goh-2014" /> The first industrial estates were built in the 1960s at [[Mak Mandin]] and [[Perai]] during the tenure of Penang's first [[Chief Minister of Penang|Chief Minister]] [[Wong Pow Nee]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chin |first=Yee Whah |date=Jul 2006 |title=Penang Small and Medium Enterprises: Struggle, Accommodation and Challenges |url=https://journalarticle.ukm.my/4294/2/akademika65%5B02%5D.pdf |journal=[[Universiti Sains Malaysia]] |archive-date=22 April 2024 |access-date=16 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422135957/https://journalarticle.ukm.my/4294/2/akademika65%5B02%5D.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

However, the revocation of George Town's free port status and the fall of Wong's administration in 1969 marked a turning point in Penang's economic fortunes.<ref name="Goh-2014" /><ref name="Athukorala-2012" /> Wong's successor, [[Lim Chong Eu]], initiated a massive transformation of Penang's economy.<ref name="Athukorala-2012" /> The [[Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone]] (Bayan Lepas FIZ) in [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] was established in 1972, followed by the [[Perai Free Industrial Zone]] (Perai FIZ) in 1980.<ref name="Athukorala-2012" /><ref name="Nijkamp">{{Cite book |last=Peter Nijkamp |first=Amitrajeet A. Batabyal |title=Regional Growth and Sustainable Development in Asia |publisher=Springer |year=2016 |isbn=978-3-319-27589-5 |page=245 }}</ref> The zones played a critical role in reviving Penang's economy and driving the state's economic growth in the late 20th century.<ref name="Ooi-2009" /><ref name="Ooi-2010" /> The [[Government of Penang|Penang state government]] has since embarked on building newer industrial parks within [[Seberang Perai]] where land is more readily available, such as at [[Seberang Jaya]], [[Bukit Minyak]] and [[Batu Kawan]].<ref name="MIDA-2021">{{Cite web |date=18 November 2021 |title=Creating the Silicon Valley of the East 2.0 |url=https://www.mida.gov.my/mida-news/creating-the-silicon-valley-of-the-east-2-0/ |access-date=6 December 2023 |website=[[Malaysian Investment Development Authority]] |language=en-US |archive-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207225805/https://www.mida.gov.my/mida-news/creating-the-silicon-valley-of-the-east-2-0/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vaghefi |first=Negin |date=5 July 2022 |title=Penang's Industrial Parks Surge in Global Prominence |url=https://penangmonthly.com/article/20700/penangs-industrial-parks-surge-in-global-prominence-1 |access-date=6 December 2023 |website=Penang Monthly |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=3 July 1992 |title=Hot on Singapore's heels |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/biztimes19920703-1.2.30.3?qt=province,%20wellesley,%20seberang,%20perai&q=province%20wellesley%20seberang%20perai |access-date=2 February 2024 |work=[[The Business Times (Singapore)|The Business Times]] |pages=11 |via=[[National Library Board]] }}</ref>

Penang's manufacturing sector attracted US$13.1 billion of [[foreign direct investment]]s (FDI) in 2023, accounting for almost 47% of Malaysia's total that year.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Manufacturing Projects Approved by State, January-December 2023 / January-December 2022 |url=https://www.mida.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Manufacturing-Projects-Approved-by-State-January-December-2023-.pdf |journal=[[Malaysian Investment Development Authority]] }}</ref> Among the hundreds of MNCs with manufacturing operations in Penang are [[Technology company|technology firms]] such as [[AMD]], [[Bosch (company)|Bosch]], [[Broadcom]], [[Dell]], [[HP Inc.]], [[Intel]], [[Motorola]], [[Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH|Osram]] and [[Renesas Electronics|Renesas]].<ref name="MIDA-20212">{{Cite web |date=18 November 2021 |title=Creating the Silicon Valley of the East 2.0 |url=https://www.mida.gov.my/mida-news/creating-the-silicon-valley-of-the-east-2-0/ |access-date=6 December 2023 |website=[[Malaysian Investment Development Authority]] |language=en-US |archive-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207225805/https://www.mida.gov.my/mida-news/creating-the-silicon-valley-of-the-east-2-0/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 December 2022 |title=E&E: 50 Years in Malaysia |url=https://cdn.thestar.com.my/Content/StarPicks/Issues/1F28AC3A-CE75-4B42-8F97-6F3F162AAFB7.pdf |access-date=25 Feb 2025 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]}}</ref> According to [[Financial Times]] in 2024, Penang is well-positioned to benefit from the ongoing [[China–United States trade war]], as restrictions push businesses to adopt the [[China Plus One]] strategy.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ruehl |first=Mercedes |date=11 March 2024 |title=Malaysia: The Surprise Winner from US-China Chip Wars |url=https://www.ft.com/content/4e0017e8-fb48-4d48-8410-968e3de687bf |access-date=15 March 2024 |work=[[Financial Times]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Melissa Goh |last2=Abu Baker |first2=Jalelah |date=16 September 2024 |title=What Penang is doing to reclaim its title as the Silicon Valley of the East |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/penang-semiconductor-industry-ambitions-investment-intel-4608556 |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[CNA (TV network)|Channel NewsAsia]]}}</ref>

=== Services ===
[[File:Skyline of George Town, Penang at night January 2025 02-01.jpg|thumb|Skyscrapers along [[Gurney Drive, George Town|Gurney Drive]], part of [[George Town, Penang|George Town]]'s [[George Town Central Business District, Penang|Central Business District]] (CBD).]]
The services sector contributed 48% of Penang's GDP {{As of|2023|lc=y}} and employed almost {{Frac|3|5}} of the state's workforce.<ref name="dosm2024" /><ref name="GDP by state 2024" /> [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] is the commercial hub of northern Malaysia.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Yeap |first=Soon Lye |date=November 1998 |title=Urban Revitalization of Historical Town Centre: A Case Study of the Cultural Heritage Zone of George Town, Penang |url=http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/11940/1/FRSB_1998_1_A.pdf |journal=[[University of Putra Malaysia]] }}</ref> {{As of|2023}}, finance and ancillary services contributed 9% of Penang's GDP.<ref name="GDP by state 2024" /> The [[Penang International Airport]] (PIA) is the country's second busiest in terms of aircraft movements and in 2023, handled RM365 billion (US${{To USD|385|MYS|year=2021}} billion) worth of exports, the [[List of Malaysian states and municipalities by exports#Exports by city and municipality|highest of all entry points nationwide]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=24 Jan 2025 |title=Penang airport ranks second in Malaysia for aircraft movements |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/01/24/penang-airport-ranks-second-in-malaysia-for-aircraft-movements/164452 |access-date=20 Apr 2025 |work=[[Malay Mail]]}}</ref><ref name="Dept Statistics Malaysia-2023">{{Cite journal |date=Jul 2024 |title=Final External Trade Statistics 2023 |journal=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |pages=100 |issn=2180-1827}}</ref> In 2024, the [[Port of Penang]] processed over 1.4 million [[Twenty-foot equivalent unit|TEUs]] of cargo, the third highest among Malaysia's seaports.<ref name="Ministry of Transport 2024">{{Cite journal |date=15 March 2024 |title=Table 3.5: Total Container Throughput By Ports, Malaysia, 2023 |url=https://www.mot.gov.my/my/Statistik%20Maritim/2023%204%20-%20SUKU%20IV%202023/JADUAL%203.5%20JUMLAH%20KONTENA%20YANG%20DIKENDALIKAN%20MENGIKUT%20PELABUHAN,%20MALAYSIA,%20SUKU%20KEEMPAT,%202023.pdf |journal=[[Ministry of Transport (Malaysia)|Ministry of Transport]] }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Total Container Traffic |url=https://www.penangport.gov.my/en/port-performances/penang-port/total-container-traffic |access-date=20 Feb 2025 |website=[[Penang Port Commission]]}}</ref>

Traditionally one of Malaysia's most popular tourist destinations, Penang has embarked on [[Economic diversity|economic diversification]] by expanding its tourism offerings in areas such as [[Medical tourism|health care]], [[MICE tourism|business events]], [[ecotourism]] and cruise arrivals.<ref name="Penang state govt-2021b">{{Cite journal |date=May 2021 |title=Penang Tourism Master Plan 2021–2030 |url=https://gtwhi.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Penang-Tourism-Master-Plan-2021-2030-Report.pdf |journal=[[Government of Penang|Penang state government]] |isbn=978-967-19661-0-5 }}</ref> Penang is the leading destination in Malaysia for [[medical tourism]].<ref name="Mulyanto-2023">{{Cite news |last=Mulyanto |first=Randy |date=21 November 2023 |title=Malaysia's Penang Lures Medical Tourists from Indonesia |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Health-Care/Malaysia-s-Penang-lures-medical-tourists-from-Indonesia |access-date=7 December 2023 |work=[[Nikkei, Inc.]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=20 March 2019 |title=Penang Business Events Industry Rakes RM1.3 Billion Last Year |url=https://www.bernama.com/en/business/news.php?id=1707344 |access-date=2 March 2024 |work=[[Bernama]] }}</ref> The state's business events industry generated an economic impact of nearly RM1.3 billion (US${{To USD|1.3|MYS|year=2021}} billion) in 2024.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2025 |title=Business Events Penang 2024 Annual Review |url=https://www.pceb.my/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Business-Event-2024-Annual-Review.pdf |journal=Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau}}</ref> Penang's retail sector is characterised by a diverse range of establishments, including modern shopping malls and traditional shophouses that specialise in local delicacies and produce.<ref name="Mui-20032">{{cite web |author1=Lim Yoke Mui |author2=Nurwati Badarulzaman |author3=A. Ghafar Ahmad |date=20–22 January 2003 |title=Retail Activity in Malaysia : From Shophouse to Hypermarket |url=http://www.prres.net/papers/lim_etal_retail_activity_in_malaysia_from_shophouse_to_hypermarket.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124141720/http://www.prres.net/papers/lim_etal_retail_activity_in_malaysia_from_shophouse_to_hypermarket.pdf |archive-date=24 January 2016 |access-date=24 January 2016 |work=School of Housing, Building and Planning, University of Science, Malaysia |publisher=Pacific Rim Real Estate Society (PRRES) }}</ref><ref name="Ng-20062">{{Cite news |date=13 June 2023 |title=Hawker Stall Island |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/hawker-stall-island |access-date=26 December 2023 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] }}</ref>

Penang is also a major hub for [[Outsourcing|shared services and outsourcing]] (SSO). By 2016, the state attracted RM4.1 billion of investments for global business services (GBS), the second largest share in the country after Kuala Lumpur.<ref name="Opalyn Mok-2018a">{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=6 December 2018 |title=CM Wants Penang to be a Global Business Services Hub |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2018/12/06/cm-wants-penang-to-be-a-global-business-services-hub/1700603 |access-date=5 December 2023 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=See |first=Lay Hoon |date=2010 |title=A Workforce Value Chain Analysis in High Tech Multinational Corporations' Electronics Manufacturing in Penang |url=http://eprints.usm.my/28842/1/A_Workforce_Value_Chain_Analysis_in_High_Tech_Multinational.pdf |journal=[[Universiti Sains Malaysia]] }}</ref> The [[Offshoring|offshore]] expansion of multinational firms to Penang has led to the creation of thousands of jobs and an increased demand for new office spaces within the state.<ref name="Opalyn Mok-2018a" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Christopher Tan |date=8 December 2021 |title=Penang Taps into the Potential of Global Business Services |url=https://www.buletinmutiara.com/penang-taps-into-the-potential-of-global-business-services/ |access-date=25 December 2023 |work=Buletin Mutiara}}</ref> In addition, Penang is home to a thriving [[Startup company|startup]] community, driven by home-grown companies like [[Piktochart]] and DeliverEat.<ref name="Chia-2017">{{Cite news |last=Lianne Chia |date=26 January 2017 |title=A Silicon Valley of the East: Penang's thriving start-up community |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/a-silicon-valley-of-the-east-penang-s-thriving-start-up-communit-7576346 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129141207/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/a-silicon-valley-of-the-east-penang-s-thriving-start-up-communit-7576346 |archive-date=29 January 2018 |access-date=27 May 2017 |work=[[CNA (TV network)|Channel NewsAsia]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Daniel Tay |date=11 June 2015 |title=Connecting Asia's Startup Ecosystem |url=https://www.techinasia.com/penang-silicon-valley-of-east-iot |access-date=28 May 2017 |website=[[Tech in Asia]] |language=en-US }}</ref>

==Utilities==
Water supply, which comes under the jurisdiction of the [[Government of Penang|Penang state government]], is wholly managed by the [[Penang Water Supply Corporation]] (PBAPP). The state enjoys the lowest domestic [[water tariff]] in Malaysia, at RM0.32 (US${{To USD|0.32|MYS|year=2021}}) per 1,000 litres, but also records the highest domestic water consumption per capita in Malaysia at {{cvt|278|L}} in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 April 2017 |title=Home Users the Main Guzzlers |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/04/28/home-users-the-main-guzzlers-ceo-domestic-water-usage-in-penang-higher-than-industries/ |access-date=28 April 2017 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=Jun 2020 |title=Penang Green Agenda 2030: Water and Sanitation |url=https://www.pgc.com.my/2020/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/9_PGA-Sectoral-Formatted-Final-Report_WAS.pdf |journal=Penang Green Council }}</ref> Over 80% of Penang's water supply comes from the [[Muda River]], which forms the northern border between [[Seberang Perai]] and [[Kedah]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Raw Water Risks |url=https://pba.com.my/raw-water-risks/ |access-date=10 December 2023 |website=[[Penang Water Supply Corporation]] |language=en-US }}</ref> This leaves the state vulnerable to effluents from upstream Kedah, as well as constant political disputes between the neighbouring states over the river.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 October 2023 |title=Water crisis: Penang Water Supply Corporation to Present Sg Muda Crisis Management Plan to State Govt |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/04/water-crisis-penang-water-supply-corporation-to-present-sg-muda-crisis-management-plan-to-state-govt/94397 |access-date=10 December 2023 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lopez |first=Leslie |date=9 April 2021 |title=Murky Politics as Two Malaysian States - Penang and Kedah - Clash over Water |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/murky-politics-as-two-malaysian-states-penang-and-kedah-clash-over-water |access-date=10 December 2023 |work=[[The Straits Times]] }}</ref> To counter water supply disruptions, PBAPP has contingency plans in place to draw water from alternative sources such as the [[Ayer Itam Dam|Ayer Itam]], [[Teluk Bahang Dam|Teluk Bahang]] and [[Mengkuang Dam|Mengkuang]] dams.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moroter |first=Tanushalini |date=15 August 2023 |title=Rainy Season Boosts Penang Water Reserves |url=https://www.buletinmutiara.com/rainy-season-boosts-penang-water-reserves/ |access-date=10 December 2023 |work=Buletin Mutiara }}</ref> The state government has also been negotiating with neighbouring [[Perak]] to secure additional water supply.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=8 November 2023 |title=Penang Considers Taking Treated Water from Perak, Discussions on Water Transfer Scheme Continues |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/11/08/penang-considers-taking-treated-water-from-perak-discussions-on-water-transfer-scheme-continues/100974 |access-date=10 December 2023 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref>

In 1904, [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] became the first city within [[British Malaya]] to be supplied with electricity.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://ofa.arkib.gov.my/lores/hq/digitdoc_10/20060029105d02.pdf |title=Federation of Malaya: The First Annual Report of the Central Electricity Board 1 Sept. 1949 - 31 August 1950 |publisher=[[Federation of Malaya]] |year=1951 |page=1 |via=[[National Archives of Malaysia]] }}</ref> At present, electricity for industrial and domestic consumption is provided by [[Tenaga Nasional]] (TNB). In 2024, TNB built a RM500 million (US${{To USD|500|MYS|year=2021}} million) overhead power grid comprising 31 [[High-voltage direct current#Monopole|monopole]] [[Transmission tower|transmission towers]] across the [[Penang Strait]], boosting power transmission to George Town to 2,000 MW.<ref name="The Star-2022a">{{Cite news |date=21 June 2022 |title=RM500mil Project to Boost Power Supply to Penang |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2022/06/21/rm500mil-project-to-boost-power-supply-to-penang |access-date=29 December 2023 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref><ref name="The Star-2022b">{{Cite news |date=14 October 2022 |title=Penang Supply Booster Project to Develop National Grid |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2022/10/14/penang-supply-booster-project-to-develop-national-grid |access-date=29 December 2023 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=14 June 2024 |title=TNB's Landmark Monopole Transmission Towers Parallel with Penang Bridge to be Completed in November |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/06/14/tnbs-landmark-monopole-transmission-towers-parallel-with-penang-bridge-to-be-completed-in-november/139746 |access-date=1 January 2025 |work=[[Malay Mail]]}}</ref> Collaboration between TNB and the two city governments in Penang to replace existing street lighting with energy-efficient [[LED street light]]s is ongoing.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ong |first=K. H. |date=13 February 2023 |title=Penang Island Completes Converting over 33,000 Streetlights to LEDs, State Govt to Seek Incentives from Ministry |url=https://www.buletinmutiara.com/penang-island-completes-changing-over-33000-streetlights-to-leds-state-govt-to-seek-incentives-from-ministry/ |access-date=29 December 2023 |work=Buletin Mutiara }}</ref>

[[Municipal solid waste]] is disposed at the Pulau Burung landfill in Seberang Perai.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sinnappan |first=Arulldas |date=19 April 2022 |title=MBSP to temporarily take over management of Pulau Burung landfill |url=https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/58956/mbsp-to-temporarily-take-over-management-of-pulau-burung-landfill |access-date=1 May 2024 |work=The Vibes }}</ref> The amount of solid waste generated in Penang has been steadily increasing over the years, from 838,365 metric tons in 2009 to 1,518,010 metric tons in 2019, with an average increase of 6.5%.<ref name="Penang report 2020">{{Cite journal |date=Aug 2020 |title=Penang Economic and Development Report 2019/2020 |url=https://penanginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Chapter-4-Penang-Economic-and-Development-Report-2020-final-preview-pages-177-185.pdf |journal=[[Government of Penang|Penang state government]] }}</ref> However, Penang boasts the highest recycling rate in the country, standing at 47% {{As of|2019|lc=y}}.<ref name="Penang report 2020" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=26 July 2019 |title=Penang hits 42pc in recycling, double national rate |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2019/07/26/penang-hits-42pc-in-recycling-double-national-rate/1774981 |access-date=1 May 2024 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref> To streamline the waste management process, the two city governments reintroduced a [[waste sorting]] policy in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 December 2023 |title=Penang to reintroduce Waste Segregation at Source Policy in July next year, says state exco |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/12/19/penang-to-reintroduce-waste-segregation-at-source-policy-in-july-next-year-says-state-exco/108320 |access-date=1 May 2024 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref>

In 2020, Penang had become the first Malaysian state to require the installation of [[Fiber-optic communication|fibre-optic communication infrastructure]] for all development projects.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 December 2020 |title=Penang First State to Install Fibre Optic Infrastructure as Basic Utility, Says Committee Chairman |url=https://www.ncer.com.my/media-centre/news/penang-first-state-to-install-fibre-optic-infrastructure-as-basic-utility-says-committee-chairman/,%20https://www.ncer.com.my/media-centre/news/penang-first-state-to-install-fibre-optic-infrastructure-as-basic-utility-says-committee-chairman/ |access-date=29 December 2023 |website=[[Northern Corridor Economic Region]] |language=en-US |archive-date=16 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316153626/https://www.ncer.com.my/media-centre/news/penang-first-state-to-install-fibre-optic-infrastructure-as-basic-utility-says-committee-chairman/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{As of|2023|September}}, [[5G]] coverage had reached 73.4% of the populated areas in the state.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 November 2023 |title=Penang 5G Coverage Stands at 73.4pc as of September 2023, Says State Exco |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/11/23/penang-5g-coverage-stands-at-734pc-as-of-september-2023-says-state-exco/103775 |access-date=10 December 2023 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref> In 2024, [[DE-CIX]] inaugurated the Penang Internet Exchange (PIX), with internet traffic being routed through a [[Data center|data centre]] at [[Bayan Baru]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=5 January 2024 |title=DE-CIX Partners Digital Penang to Launch PIX as Central Hub for Data Exchange |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2024/01/05/de-cix-partners-digital-penang-to-launch-pix-as-central-hub-for-data-exchange/110771 |access-date=7 January 2024 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Where to Connect |url=https://www.de-cix.net/en/services/where-to-connect#Location_Penang |access-date=7 January 2024 |website=[[DE-CIX]] |language=en }}</ref> State government agencies have been promoting the [[digital economy]] and intensifying efforts to attract high-value [[Technology company|technology players]] to further boost the state's economic growth.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McIntyre |first=Ian |date=26 February 2022 |title=Penang Launches Creative Digital District to Lure Tech Companies |url=https://www.thevibes.com/articles/business/55085/penang-launches-creative-digital-district-to-lure-tech-companies |access-date=10 December 2023 |work=The Vibes }}</ref>

==Transportation==
{{Main|Transport in Penang}}
=== Land ===
[[File:View of Penang Bridge 2025.jpg|thumb|Middle span of the [[Penang Bridge]], with [[High-voltage direct current#Monopole|monopole]] [[Transmission tower|transmission towers]] in the background, {{Circa|2025}}.]]
{{See also|List of streets in George Town, Penang}}
[[Penang Island]] is physically connected to mainland [[Seberang Perai]] by two road bridges {{Endash}} the {{cvt|13.5|km||adj=on}} [[Penang Bridge]] and the {{cvt|24|km}} [[Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge|Second Penang Bridge]].<ref name="ICE-2023">{{Cite web |title=Penang Bridges |url=https://www.ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-engineering/what-do-civil-engineers-do/penang-bridges |access-date=17 December 2023 |website=[[Institution of Civil Engineers]] }}</ref> Seberang Perai is accessible through the [[North–South Expressway (Malaysia)|North-South Expressway]], a {{cvt|966|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} expressway that stretches along the western part of [[Peninsular Malaysia]].<ref name=":3" /> Other major [[Toll road|toll routes]] in the state include the [[Butterworth Outer Ring Road]] (BORR) and the [[Butterworth–Kulim Expressway|Butterworth-Kulim Expressway]].<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2021 |title=Annual Report 2021 |url=https://www.llm.gov.my/documents/PublishDoc/pub_1689341195.pdf |journal=Highway Authority Malaysia }}</ref>

In addition, the [[Keretapi Tanah Melayu]] (KTM) [[KTM West Coast railway line|West Coast Line]] runs through Seberang Perai, with the [[Butterworth railway station]] serving as the principal terminal in northwestern Malaysia.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |date=Aug 1979 |title=Urban Transport Study in Greater Metropolitan Areas of George Town, Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam, Malaysia: Progress Report (Phase 1) |url=https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/10597219.pdf |journal=[[Japan International Cooperation Agency]]}}</ref> Aside from regular KTM services, Butterworth is also one of the main stops of the [[Eastern and Oriental Express|Eastern and Oriental Express service]] between [[Bangkok]] and [[Singapore]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cripps |first=Karla |date=14 July 2023 |title=Famed luxury train is returning to Southeast Asia with two new routes |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/eastern-and-oriental-express-belmond-singapore-malaysia/index.html |access-date=15 October 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> [[Penang Sentral]] is the main transit hub within Penang, located in close proximity to the [[Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal]] and the Butterworth railway station.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 October 2022 |title=Seamless public transportation at Penang Sentral soon |url=https://thesun.my/local_news/seamless-public-transportation-at-penang-sentral-soon-BE9969131 |access-date=17 December 2023 |work=[[The Sun (Malaysia)|The Sun]] }}</ref>

Excluding toll routes, Penang's road system covered a distance of {{Convert|6725.1|km|abbr=on}} {{As of|2023|lc=y}}.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.jkr.gov.my/sites/default/files/upload/BUKU%20STATISTIK%20JALAN%20EDISI%202024_FINAL%20%281%29.pdf |title=Statistik Jalan Edisi 2024 |publisher=[[Malaysian Public Works Department]] |year=2024 |pages=151–227 |language=ms |trans-title=Road Statistics 2024 Edition}}</ref> Within George Town, the [[Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway]] is a coastal highway that runs along the city's eastern seaboard, connecting the [[Central George Town, Penang|city centre]] with the Penang Bridge, the [[Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone]] and the Second Penang Bridge.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=THE PROPOSED PAN ISLAND LINK 1 HIGHWAY PROJECT, PENANG |url=https://enviro2.doe.gov.my/ekmc/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/WSB-SRS-CHAPTER-10-PIL1-Rev05-STUDY-FINDINGS-19-4-18-SRS.pdf |journal=SRS Consortium |archive-date=25 December 2023 |access-date=17 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225054938/https://enviro2.doe.gov.my/ekmc/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/WSB-SRS-CHAPTER-10-PIL1-Rev05-STUDY-FINDINGS-19-4-18-SRS.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Malaysia Federal Route 6|Federal Route 6]] is a pan-island trunk road that circles the city, while the [[George Town Inner Ring Road]] serves as the main thoroughfare within the city centre.<ref name="jkr">{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Statistik Jalan (Edisi 2013) |date=2013 |publisher=[[Malaysian Public Works Department]] |location=Kuala Lumpur |pages=16–64 |issn=1985-9619 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mak Hoy Ken |first=Tan Ee Zhio |date=3 December 2014 |title=Penang Transport Master Plan: Convergence of Connectivity and Rising Land Values |url=http://cdn1.i3investor.com/my/files/dfgs88n/2014/12/03/1481920274--1115941318.pdf |journal=AmResearch }}</ref>

====Public transportation====
[[File:Funicular to the top of the Penang Hill, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia.JPG|thumb|The [[Penang Hill Railway]], Malaysia's only funicular railway system, ascends slopes that are said to be the steepest in the world at an angle of 27.9°.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jeremy Tan |date=25 October 2023 |title=Funicular Railway is Penang's Symbol of Achievement |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2023/10/25/states-symbol-of-achievement |access-date=10 December 2023 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref>]]{{See also|List of bus routes in Penang|Cycling in Penang Island|Trolleybuses in George Town, Penang}}
Under British rule, [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] was a pioneer in public transportation within [[British Malaya|Malaya]]. The city's first tram system, originally powered by steam, began operations in the 1880s, but the trams became obsolete by 1936.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Francis|2006|p=10 }}</ref><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Francis|2006|p=39 }}</ref> The [[Cycle rickshaw|trishaw]] from the colonial era still plies the city's streets, catering primarily to tourists.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Penang Institute's 'Back to Beca' Project out to Safeguard the Trade |url=https://penanginstitute.org/happenings/in-the-mass-media/862-penang-institute-s-back-to-beca-project-out-to-safeguard-the-trade/ |access-date=10 December 2023 |website=Penang Institute }}</ref>

[[Transit bus|Public buses]] form the backbone of public transportation in Penang. Established in 2007, [[Rapid Penang]] is the state's main public transport operator, with 47 active routes throughout the [[George Town Conurbation]] including interstate routes into the neighbouring towns of [[Sungai Petani]], [[Kulim District|Kulim]] and [[Kerian District|Kerian]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rapid Penang - Bus |url=https://myrapid.com.my/bus-train/rapid-penang/rapid-pg-bus/ |access-date=10 December 2023 |website=MyRapid |language=en-US |archive-date=27 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127151942/https://myrapid.com.my/bus-train/rapid-penang/rapid-pg-bus/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since 2024, Rapid Penang has introduced [[Demand-responsive transport|demand-responsive transport services]] within the state, utilising vans to address [[Last mile (transportation)|last mile connectivity]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=24 April 2025 |title=Rapid Penang Rolls Out On-Demand Vans in George Town, Jelutong and Bayan Lepas from This Saturday to Tackle Congestion |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/04/24/rapid-penang-rolls-out-on-demand-vans-in-george-town-jelutong-and-bayan-lepas-from-this-saturday-to-tackle-congestion/174320 |access-date=25 April 2025 |work=[[Malay Mail]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=McIntyre |first=Ian |date=19 August 2024 |title=Penang to Introduce E-Hailing Van Service to Ease Traffic Congestion |url=https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/103166/penang-to-introduce-e-hailing-van-service-to-ease-traffic-congestion |access-date=25 April 2025 |work=The Vibes}}</ref>

The only rail-based transportation system within Penang is the century-old [[Penang Hill Railway]], a funicular service to the peak of [[Penang Hill]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=[[Joshua Woo Sze Zeng]] |date=9 July 2020 |title=Exploring a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Framework for Penang's Urban Growth |url=https://penanginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Exploring-Transit-Oriented-Development-Framework-for-Penang.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Penang Institute |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231227151848/https://penanginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Exploring-Transit-Oriented-Development-Framework-for-Penang.pdf |archive-date=27 December 2023 |access-date=27 December 2023 }}</ref> A [[Penang Hill cable car|cable car system is being constructed]] {{As of|2025|lc=y}} to reduce overreliance on the railway.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Lo |first=Tern Chern |date=31 December 2024 |title=Infrastructure Projects Shaping Penang's Future |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/12/31/infrastructure-projects-shaping-penangs-future |access-date=1 January 2025 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]}}</ref> The [[Government of Penang|Penang state government]] has also planned to introduce [[Urban rail transit|urban rail]] throughout the state as part of the [[Penang Transport Master Plan]]. In 2024, the [[Government of Malaysia|Malaysian federal government]] assumed control of the [[Mutiara line|Mutiara LRT line]] from the state government. Spanning a distance of {{Convert|29.5|km|abbr=on}}, the line is the first domestic [[Light rail|light rail system]] outside the [[Klang Valley]], and will link the cities of George Town and [[Seberang Perai]].<ref name="The Sun-2024">{{Cite news |date=29 March 2024 |title=Loke: Federal Gov't Takes Over Penang LRT Mutiara Line Project from State Gov't |url=https://thesun.my/local_news/loke-federal-gov-t-takes-over-penang-lrt-mutiara-line-project-from-state-gov-t-JG12275905 |access-date=29 March 2024 |work=[[The Sun (Malaysia)|The Sun]] }}</ref> Construction commenced in 2025 and is expected to be complete by 2031.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hilmy |first=Imran |date=11 January 2025 |title=PM Anwar Officiates Penang's Mutiara Line LRT Project Groundbreaking Ceremony |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/01/11/pm-anwar-officiates-penang039s-mutiara-line-lrt-project-groundbreaking-ceremony |access-date=11 January 2025 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]}}</ref>

To promote urban mobility, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure throughout the state are also being upgraded.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=1 March 2018 |title=Penang Streetscapes to be More Pedestrian Friendly, Says Exco |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2018/03/01/penang-streetscapes-to-be-more-pedestrian-friendly-says-exco/1588225 |access-date=27 December 2023 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref><ref name="Chan-2017b">{{Cite news |last=Lilian Chan |date=8 February 2017 |title=Penang to be First Cycling State |url=https://www.buletinmutiara.com/penang-to-be-first-cycling-state/ |work=Buletin Mutiara }}</ref> In 2016, George Town became the first city in Malaysia to operate a [[Bicycle-sharing system|public bicycle-sharing service]] with the inauguration of [[LinkBike]].<ref name="Chan-2017a">{{Cite news |last=Lilian Chan |date=8 February 2017 |title=Penang to be First Cycling State |url=https://www.buletinmutiara.com/penang-to-be-first-cycling-state/ |work=Buletin Mutiara }}</ref>
===Air===
[[File:Penang International Airport Dec2024.jpg|thumb|The [[Penang International Airport]] (PIA) has an annual capacity of 6.5 million passengers, but passenger traffic had already exceeded its capacity even before the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Annual Report 2022 |url=https://www.malaysiaairports.com.my/sites/corporate/files/2023-04/MAHB-ANNUAL-REPORT-2022.pdf |journal=[[Malaysia Airports]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jason Ng, Yimie Yong |date=2 July 2019 |title=Malaysia Airports Gets Finance Ministry Nod to Expand Penang Terminal |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Markets/Nikkei-Markets/Malaysia-Airports-gets-finance-ministry-nod-to-expand-Penang-terminal |access-date=15 December 2023 |work=[[Nikkei, Inc.]] }}</ref>]]
{{Main|Penang International Airport}}
The [[Penang International Airport]] (PIA) is located {{cvt|16|km}} south of [[Central George Town, Penang|downtown George Town]]. It serves as the main airport for northwestern Malaysia, with services to major regional cities such as [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Singapore]], [[Bangkok]], [[Taipei]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Xiamen]], [[Shanghai]], [[Doha]] and [[Dubai]].<ref name="Penang state govt-2021a">{{Cite journal |title=Penang Tourism Master Plan 2021-2030 |url=https://gtwhi.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Penang-Tourism-Master-Plan-2021-2030-Report.pdf |journal=[[Government of Penang|Penang state government]] |isbn=978-967-19661-0-5 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=4 January 2024 |title=Tourism Minister: China Eastern Airlines to Introduce Nanjing to Kuching, Kota Kinabalu Direct Flights Earliest June |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/01/04/tourism-minister-china-eastern-airlines-to-introduce-nanjing-to-kuching-kota-kinabalu-direct-flights-earliest-june/110687 |access-date=7 January 2024 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref> PIA is [[List of the busiest airports in Malaysia|Malaysia's second busiest airport]] for aircraft movements and recorded more than 7.6 million passengers in 2024.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="Ministry of Transport-2023a">{{Cite web |title=Statistic of Aviation Transport |url=https://www.mot.gov.my/en/aviation/reports/quarterly-statistics-of-transport |access-date=14 December 2023 |website=[[Ministry of Transport (Malaysia)|Ministry of Transport]] }}</ref> It is also the country's second busiest in terms of cargo tonnage and handles the [[List of Malaysian states and municipalities by exports#Exports by city and municipality|largest export volume of all entry points nationwide]].<ref name="Dept Statistics Malaysia-2023" /> {{As of|2025}}, the airport is being upgraded to raise its annual capacity from 6.5 million passengers to 12 million by 2028.<ref name=":0" />

===Sea===
[[File:Port of Penang, Seberang Perai 2024.jpg|thumb|The [[Port of Penang]] was declared a [[Free economic zone|Free Commercial Zone]] (FCZ) in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 May 2021 |title=Free commercial zone status a game changer for Penang Port |url=https://thesun.my/business/free-commercial-zone-status-a-game-changer-for-penang-port-GG7866844 |access-date=15 December 2023 |work=[[The Sun (Malaysia)|The Sun]] }}</ref>]]
Formerly a vital British [[entrepôt]], Penang's maritime trade has significantly declined due to the loss of [[George Town, Penang|George Town]]'s free-port status in 1969 and the concurrent development of [[Port Klang]] near the federal capital [[Kuala Lumpur]].<ref name="Goh-2014" /> Despite this, the [[Port of Penang]] remains the primary harbour for northwestern Malaysia and [[southern Thailand]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Aznam Shah |first=Shaheera |date=25 January 2018 |title=Penang Port taps southern Thailand's booming economy |url=https://www.mmc.com.my/250118%20-%20Penang%20Port%20taps%20southern%20Thailand's%20booming%20economy.pdf |access-date=10 December 2023 |work=The Malaysian Reserve }}</ref> It handled more than 1.4 million [[Twenty-foot equivalent unit|TEUs]] of cargo in 2024, the third highest among Malaysia's seaports.<ref name="GDP by state 2024" /><ref name=":1" />

[[Swettenham Pier]], situated within [[George Town Central Business District, Penang|downtown George Town]], accommodates cruise ships and is one of the major entry points into the city. In 2017, Swettenham Pier recorded 125 port calls, surpassing [[Port Klang]] as the busiest cruise shipping terminal in Malaysia.<ref name="The Sun-2017">{{Cite news |date=20 December 2017 |title=Swettenham Pier Surpasses Port Klang as Top Port of Call for Cruise Ships |url=https://thesun.my/archive/swettenham-pier-surpasses-port-klang-top-port-call-cruise-ships-BUARCH513414 |access-date=10 December 2023 |work=[[The Sun (Malaysia)|The Sun]] }}</ref> The pier has attracted some of the world's largest cruise liners, such as the ''[[Queen Mary 2]]'', and also sees occasional port visits by warships.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 February 2015 |title=Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal A World Cruise Destination for Queen Mary 2 |url=https://www.penangport.com.my/media-center/announcements/february-2015/swettenham-pier-cruise-terminal-a-world-cruise-des |access-date=27 December 2023 |website=[[Port of Penang]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=30 September 2005 |title=US Navy Ship Calls at Penang |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2005/09/30/us-navy-ship-calls-at-penang/ |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref>

The cross-strait [[Penang ferry service]] connects 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. At present, four ferries ply the [[Penang Strait]] between both cities daily.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=2 October 2024 |title=Final Voyage: Iconic Ferry 'Pulau Pinang' to Make Its Journey across Penang Strait Tomorrow, Set for Transformation into Museum |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/10/02/final-voyage-iconic-ferry-pulau-pinang-to-make-its-journey-across-penang-strait-tomorrow-set-for-transformation-into-museum/152338 |access-date=31 December 2024 |work=[[Malay Mail]]}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations
|shading      = off
|1881 |190597
|1891 |231224
|1901 |247808
|1911 |270537
|1921 |292485
|1931 |340259
|1947 |446321
|1957 |572100|1970 |776124
|1980 |954638
|1991 |1116801
|2000 |1313449|2010 |1526324
|2020 |1740405
|source={{my10|2020kf}}<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://statsdigital.stats.gov.my/Penerbitan/penerbitan/view?id=5bc68d0dd5bc73855e4aae59 |title=Population Census 1921 Vol. 1 |pages=18 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=Dec 2006 |title=Data siri masa banci penduduk dan perumahan, 1911-2000 |url=https://statsdigital.stats.gov.my/Penerbitan/penerbitan/view?id=5bc68d0dd5bc73855e4aae1d |journal=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |location=[[Putrajaya]] |pages=4 |isbn=978-983-9044-29-4 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=Aug 2014 |title=Migration and population distribution 2010 |url=https://www.mycensus.gov.my/index.php/census-product/publication/census-2010/683-migration-and-population-distribution-2010 |journal=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |location=[[Putrajaya]] |pages=12 |isbn=978-983-9044-86-7 }}</ref>
}}
{{Main|Demographics of Penang}}

{{As of|2020}}, Penang had a population of 1,740,405 and the highest population density of all [[States and federal territories of Malaysia|Malaysian states]] at {{cvt|1,659|/km2|}}.{{my10|2020kf}} Penang is Malaysia's second most urbanised state, with an urbanisation level of 92.5%.<ref name="Malay Mail-2022" /> Residents of Penang are colloquially known as Penangites or "Penang-lang".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=19 August 2017 |title=Has Mandarin Replaced Hokkien in Penang? |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2017/08/19/has-mandarin-replaced-hokkien-in-penang/1445715 |access-date=17 December 2023 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref>

54% of Penang's population resided in [[Seberang Perai]], Malaysia's third largest city, while [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] was home to the remaining 46%.<ref name="Dept Statistics Malaysia-2022" /> George Town serves as the [[core city]] of the [[George Town Conurbation]], Malaysia's [[List of cities and towns in Malaysia by population#Largest metropolitan areas by population|second largest metropolitan area]].<ref name="World Bank-2015">{{Cite journal |date=Nov 2015 |title=Achieving a System of Competitive Cities in Malaysia: Main Report |url=https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/709061475743434007/pdf/102222-v1-REVISED-PUBLIC-Malaysia-Competitive-Cities-Main-Report-low-res-final.pdf |journal=[[World Bank]] |pages=16 }}</ref>

In 2020, Penang recorded negative migration rate with more people leaving the state than it received.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=19 August 2021 |title=MIGRATION SURVEY REPORT, MALAYSIA, 2020 |url=https://www.dosm.gov.my/site/downloadrelease?id=migration-survey-report-malaysia-2020&lang=English&admin_view= |journal=Department of Statistics Malaysia}}</ref> However, between 2015 and 2016, Penang had the highest migration effectiveness ratio among Malaysian states, due to the state's diversified economy. Most interstate immigrants came from Perak, Selangor, Kedah, Johor and Kuala Lumpur.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 May 2017 |title=Migration report: Selangor, Penang Most Popular with Locals |url=http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2017/05/30/migration-report-selangor-penang-most-popular-with-locals/ |access-date=3 July 2017 |work=[[Free Malaysia Today]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Christopher Tan |date=24 June 2017 |title=Penang Ranks Second in Influx of New Residents |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/06/24/penang-ranks-second-in-influx-of-new-residents/ |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref><ref name="interstatemigrant2">{{Cite journal |date=26 May 2017 |title=Migration Survey Report 2016 |url=https://newss.statistics.gov.my/newss-portalx/ep/epFreeDownloadContentSearch.seam?cid=21562 |journal=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |issn=0127-8924 }}</ref>

=== Ethnicities ===
{{Bar box|title=Ethnic composition of Penang (2020)<ref name="Dept Statistics Malaysia-2022">{{Cite book |url=https://newss.statistics.gov.my/newss-portalx/ep/epFreeDownloadContentSearch.seam?contentId=166149&actionMethod=ep%2FepFreeDownloadContentSearch.xhtml%3AcontentAction.doDisplayContent&cid=178732 |title=Key Findings Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020: Pulau Pinang |date=29 May 2022 |publisher=Department of Statistics (Malaysia) |isbn=978-967-253-516-4 |location=[[Putrajaya]] |pages=96 |language=ms, en |chapter=Population and Housing Statistics |url-access=registration }}</ref>|left1=Ethnicities / Nationality|right1=Percentage|float=right|bars={{Bar percent|[[Penangite Chinese|Chinese]]|Red|41.3}}{{Bar percent|[[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay]]|Green|40.7}}{{Bar percent|[[Orang Asal|Other Bumiputeras]]|Teal|0.5}}{{Bar percent|[[Malaysians of Indian descent in Penang|Indian]]|Orange|8.9}} {{Bar percent|Others|DarkGray|0.6}}{{Bar percent|Non-Malaysians|Purple|8.1}}}}
{{As of|2020}}, [[Penangite Chinese|ethnic Chinese]] and the [[Bumiputera (Malaysia)|''Bumiputeras'']], which include [[Malaysian Malays|Malays]] and [[Orang Asal|indigenous East Malaysians]], each constituted about 41% of Penang's population, while [[Malaysians of Indian descent in Penang|Indians]] made up nearly 9%.{{my10|2020kf}}<ref name="Borneo Post-2017">{{Cite news |date=28 May 2017 |title=Peninsula States Asked to Give East Malaysians Time Off for Festivals |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2017/05/28/peninsula-states-asked-to-give-east-malaysians-time-off-for-festivals/ |access-date=28 May 2017 |work=[[The Borneo Post]] }}</ref> The Chinese community in Penang includes the [[Peranakan Chinese]], a hybrid ethnicity known for their distinctive architecture, costumes and [[Peranakan cuisine|cuisine]]. The state is also home to a cosmopolitan mix of [[Kristang people|ethnic Eurasians]], [[Malaysian Siamese|Siamese]] and [[Arab Malaysians|Arabs]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Filmer |first=Andrea |date=22 August 2023 |title=Penang Exhibition Offers a Photographic Exploration of Serani Identity |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2023/08/22/penang-exhibition-offers-a-photographic-exploration-of-serani-identity |access-date=21 December 2023 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson Lee |first=Chong Fatt |date=November 2018 |title=Siamese Ties in Need of Preservation |url=https://penangmonthly.com/article/15338/siamese-ties-in-need-of-preservation-1 |access-date=21 December 2023 |website=Penang Monthly |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=K. Mandal |first=Sumit |title=Becoming Arab: Creole Histories and Modern Identity in the Malay World |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |year=2018 |isbn=9781107196797 |page=112}}</ref>

Foreigners comprised 8% of Penang's population in 2020.<ref name="Dept Statistics Malaysia-2022" /> Over 38% of Penang's expatriates resided within [[Central George Town, Penang|downtown George Town]], [[Paya Terubong]] and [[Bayan Lepas]].<ref name="Dept Statistics Malaysia-2024">{{Cite journal |date=February 2024 |title=MyCensus 2020: Mukim/Town/Pekan |journal=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |pages=174–175 |isbn=978-967-253-706-9 }}</ref> George Town's affordable living costs, natural destinations, health care infrastructure, an established ecosystem of [[Multinational corporation|multinational companies]] (MNCs) and the widespread use of English have been cited as pull factors for expatriates.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saieed |first=Zunaira |date=18 March 2023 |title=Penang's Easy Living is Big Draw for Expats Looking to Retire |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/penang-s-easy-living-is-big-draw-for-expats-looking-to-retire |access-date=21 December 2023 |work=[[The Straits Times]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Beh |first=May Ting |date=19 October 2023 |title=Imagine an Education Hub: Leveraging Penang's International School Ecosystem |url=https://penanginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Education-Hub.pdf |journal=Penang Institute }}</ref>

===Languages===
[[Malay language|Malay]] is the official language of Penang. [[British English|English]] once served as the official language during British rule and recently there have been calls to reinstate it as one of Penang's official languages.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 November 2010 |title=Penang Backbencher Proposes English as State's Second Official Language |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2010/11/08/penang-backbencher-proposes-english-as-states-second-official-language |access-date=5 December 2023 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=20 June 2022 |title=Penang Should Make English Second Language Like Sarawak, Says PKR Rep |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/06/20/penang-should-make-english-second-language-like-sarawak-says-pkr-rep/ |access-date=5 December 2023 |work=[[Free Malaysia Today]] }}</ref> [[Tamil language|Tamil]] is the most widely spoken language among ethnic Indians, while Penang's Chinese population uses a variety of Chinese dialects such as [[Teochew Min|Teochew]], [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]] and [[Cantonese]].<ref name="Ooi-2015" /><ref name="Teresa Wai-2022">{{Cite journal |last=Teresa Wai |first=See Ong |date=May 2022 |title=Building Relationships with Community Members: Lessons Learnt from Fieldwork in Penang, Malaysia |url=https://repository.nie.edu.sg/server/api/core/bitstreams/57a48a8d-6fab-4c08-a012-5ad54c6fddc9/content |journal=[[Griffith University]] }}</ref> [[Penang Hokkien]] serves as the ''[[lingua franca]]'' between the different ethnic groups in Penang, with efforts being made at the grassroots level to preserve its relevance.<ref name="Opalyn Mok-2016-12">{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=2 August 2016 |title=Penang Hokkien Will Be 'Dead' in 40 years If People Stop Using It, Says Language Expert |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2016/08/02/penang-hokkien-will-be-dead-in-40-years-if-people-stop-using-it-says-langua/1174401 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bernard Cheah |date=17 August 2016 |title=Translating Penang Hokkien to English with ease |url=https://thesun.my/archive/1939512-GSARCH388293 |work=[[The Sun (Malaysia)|The Sun]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=7 July 2023 |title=Learn to Speak Hokkien Like a True Penangite |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/07/07/learn-to-speak-hokkien-like-a-true-penangite |access-date=5 December 2023 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref>

===Religions===
{{bar box
|title=Religions in Penang (2020){{my10|2020kf}}
|titlebar=
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percentage
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|Green|45.5}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhism]]|gold|37.6}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|darkorange|8.4}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|Blue|4.3}}
{{bar percent|Other|Gray|2.4}}
{{bar percent|[[Irreligion|No religion]]|Black|1.7}}
}}Penang, like other [[Peninsular Malaysia|Peninsular]] states, has Islam as its official religion.<ref name="Penang State Gov" /> Even so, Penang is one of two states in Malaysia where Islam is not in the majority, the other being [[Sarawak]]. {{As of|2020}}, Muslims constituted over 45% of Penang's population, followed by Buddhists at nearly 38%, Hindus at more than 8% and Christians at 4%.{{my10|2020kf}}

Penang allows freedom of religion and religious assembly, and is one of three states to have a dedicated department for non-Muslim affairs. In 2021, the [[Government of Penang|Penang state government]] formed the Penang Harmony Corporation to further enhance interreligious harmony in the state.<ref name="Opalyn Mok-2023">{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=25 December 2023 |title=Kon Yeow: Penang Allocates RM10m for Development of Non-Islamic Places of Worship until 2028 |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/12/25/kon-yeow-penang-allocates-rm10m-for-development-of-non-islamic-places-of-worship-until-2028/109143 |access-date=17 March 2024 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref>

== Education ==
[[File:Main gate at the Universiti Sains Malaysia.jpg|thumb|[[Universiti Sains Malaysia]], Malaysia's second oldest tertiary institution, was founded in 1969.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2014 |title=Greater Kuala Lumpur: ASEAN's rising hub for talent and innovation |url=https://www.investkl.gov.my/clients/asset_28B5D799-69B3-4BCB-B61B-D284619547A3/uploads/Greater_KL_ASEAN_rising_hub_for_talent_and_innovation.pdf |journal=[[Deloitte]] }}</ref>]] [[File:Cmglee Penang Free School main gate.jpg|thumb|[[Penang Free School]], founded in 1816, is the oldest English school in Southeast Asia.]]{{Main|Education in Penang}}{{See also|List of schools in Penang}}As with the rest of Malaysia, Penang's education system falls under the purview of the [[Government of Malaysia|federal government]].<ref name="Constitution" /> While [[Malay language|Malay]] and [[British English|English]] are mandatory subjects in all schools, vernacular schools are also permitted to use either [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] or [[Tamil language|Tamil]] as the medium of instruction.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Azman |first=Hazita |title=Implementation and Challenges of English Language Education Reform in Malaysian Primary Schools |url=https://journalarticle.ukm.my/10728/1/13527-44195-1-PB.pdf |journal=Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies |date=2016 |publisher=[[National University of Malaysia]] |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=65–78 |doi=10.17576/3L-2016-2203-05 |archive-date=1 May 2024 |access-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501142622/https://journalarticle.ukm.my/10728/1/13527-44195-1-PB.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Penang's literacy rate is the third highest in Malaysia after [[Kuala Lumpur]] and [[Selangor]], standing at 99.5% {{As of|2014|lc=y}}.<ref name="UN-2016">{{Cite journal |date=January 2016 |title=Malaysia Millennium Development Goals Report 2015 |url=http://un.org.my/upload/undp_mdg_report_2015.pdf |journal=[[United Nations]] |access-date=24 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827142907/http://un.org.my/upload/undp_mdg_report_2015.pdf |archive-date=27 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Moreover, Penang's [[Human Development Index]] (HDI) value of 0.839 is also [[List of Malaysian states by Human Development Index|the highest among Malaysian states]].<ref name="MHDI 2024" />

Penang is home to 49 tertiary institutions (including universities, colleges, medical colleges, industrial training institutes and teaching schools), 13 international and expatriate schools, 128 secondary schools, 271 primary schools and 609 kindergartens.<ref name="InvestPenang-2011">{{Cite journal |date= |title=List of Institutes of Higher Learning |url=https://investpenang.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/List-of-Institutes-of-Higher-Learning_-13-July-1.pdf |journal=Invest Penang |access-date=9 December 2023 |archive-date=9 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209070935/https://investpenang.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/List-of-Institutes-of-Higher-Learning_-13-July-1.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=Penang Statistics Quarter 2, 2020 |url=https://penanginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/jml/files/quarterly_penang_statistics/2020/PQS-Q22020.pdf |journal=Penang Institute }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=27 November 2023 |title=My Local Stats Pulau Pinang 2021 |journal=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |issn=2636-9001 }}</ref> [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] is home to some of Malaysia's oldest schools. Established in 1816, [[Penang Free School]] (PFS) is the oldest English school in [[Southeast Asia]]. British colonial rule had also encouraged the growth of [[mission school]]s in George Town such as [[St. Xavier's Institution]], [[St. George's Girls' School]] and [[Methodist Boys' School, Penang|Methodist Boys' School]].<ref name="Ooi-2015" />

Penang is also a pioneer in Malaysia's present-day Chinese education system, with the establishment of its first Chinese school in 1819.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ang |first=Ming Chee |date=2009 |title=The Chinese Education Movement in Malaysia |url=https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/5788242/4360398 |journal=[[Lund University]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Vivien Wong |date=2017 |title=The Language Medium Policies: A Study on the Development of Independent Chinese Secondary Schools (ICSS) in Malaysia |journal=[[University of Malaya]] }}</ref> Prominent Chinese schools in the state include [[Chung Ling High School]], [[Penang Chinese Girls' High School]], [[Heng Ee High School]] and [[Jit Sin High School]], among others. In addition, George Town has 13 international and expatriate schools that offer either British, American or [[International Baccalaureate]] syllabuses.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Beh |first=May Ting |date=19 October 2023 |title=Imagine an Education Hub: Leveraging Penang's International School Ecosystem |url=https://penanginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Education-Hub.pdf |journal=Penang Institute }}</ref>

[[Universiti Sains Malaysia]] (USM) is the premier public university in Penang. {{As of|2025}}, it is ranked 146th in the [[QS World University Rankings]], third in Malaysia after [[University of Malaya|Universiti Malaya]] and [[National University of Malaysia|Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia]].<ref>{{Cite news |date= |title=QS World University Rankings 2025: Top global universities |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings?countries=my |access-date=2 July 2024 |work=[[Quacquarelli Symonds]] |language=en }}</ref> Most of the other tertiary institutions in the state are privately-run, including [[Wawasan Open University]], [[Han Chiang University College of Communication]], [[DISTED College]] and [[RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus]].<ref name="InvestPenang-2011" /> [[RECSAM]], one of the 26 specialist institutions of the [[Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization]], is headquartered in George Town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SEAMEO Secretariat |url=https://www.seameo.org/Main_centres/117 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=[[Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization]] }}</ref>

The Penang Public Library Corporation is the [[Government of Penang|state government]] body tasked with the operation of public libraries throughout the state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introduction |url=http://www.penanglib.gov.my/index.php/en/about-us/introduction |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=Penang Public Library Corporation |archive-date=9 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209070935/http://www.penanglib.gov.my/index.php/en/about-us/introduction |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2016, the [[Government of Penang|Penang state government]] launched Malaysia's first [[digital library]], situated within the grounds of PFS.<ref name="Francis-2016">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2016/06/03/paperless-library-option/ |title=Paperless library option |last=Francis |first=Jolynn |date=3 June 2016 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref> Similar digital libraries have since been built at various locations throughout the state.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Akmal |first=Riadz |date=22 November 2021 |title=Butterworth Digital Library Clinches Two Awards |url=https://www.buletinmutiara.com/butterworth-digital-library-clinches-two-awards/ |access-date=4 February 2024 |work=Buletin Mutiara }}</ref>

==Healthcare==
[[File:Penang General Hospital 2025.jpg|thumb|[[Penang General Hospital]] in [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] is a 1,100-bedded [[tertiary referral hospital]] within northwestern Malaysia.<ref name="Voon-2020">{{Cite journal |last=Kelvin Voon |date=6 November 2020 |title=How do Surgeons Weather the Storm of COVID-19 Pandemic? |url=https://www.e-mjm.org/2020/v75n6/COVID-19.pdf |journal=Medical Journal of Malaysia }}</ref>]]
Health care in Penang is provided by a [[Two-tier healthcare|two-tier system]] consisting of public and private hospitals. The [[Penang General Hospital]], administered and funded by the [[Ministry of Health (Malaysia)|Malaysian Ministry of Health]], is the main [[tertiary referral hospital]] within northwestern Malaysia.<ref name="Voon-2020" /> It is supported by five other public hospitals in Penang, all of which also come under the administration of the country's Ministry of Health.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Utama |url=https://jknpenang.moh.gov.my/hpp/ |access-date=10 December 2023 |website=jknpenang.moh.gov.my |language=MS }}</ref>

In addition, Penang has 19 private hospitals that offer specialist services, making the state the leading hub for [[medical tourism in Malaysia]].<ref name="Mulyanto-2023" /><ref name="Penang Institute-2023">{{Cite web |title=Penang's Healthcare Facilities |url=https://penanginstitute.org/resources/key-penang-statistics/visualisations-of-key-indicators/penang-healthcare/ |access-date=10 December 2023 |website=Penang Institute |language=en-US |archive-date=10 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210104824/https://penanginstitute.org/resources/key-penang-statistics/visualisations-of-key-indicators/penang-healthcare/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The total number of beds in public and private hospitals in Penang is 4,329, or nearly 248.7 beds per 10,000 people, higher than the national average.<ref name="Penang Institute-2023" /> While private hospitals in Penang operate independently of the Ministry of Health, there have been instances of public-private cooperation, such as during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] which saw private hospitals sharing equipment and taking in non-COVID-19 patients in need of urgent medical procedures.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Yeong |first=Pey Jung |date=13 July 2021 |title=How Has the Pandemic Affected Penang's Health Landscape? A Preliminary Study |url=https://penanginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/how-has-the-pandemic-affected-Penangs-health-landscape.pdf |journal=Penang Institute }}</ref>

The infant mortality rate in Penang has decreased significantly, dropping by 85% between 1970 and 2000 to 5.7 per 1,000 live births.<ref name="OECD">{{Cite journal |title=Higher Education in Regional and City Development : State of Penang, Malaysia |journal=OECD }}</ref> Similarly, the neonatal mortality rate has also decreased by 84.7% during the corresponding period to 4.1 per 1,000 live births. {{As of|2023}}, the life expectancy at birth in Penang is 71.9 years for men and 77.2 years for women.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=Sep 2023 |title=Abridged Life Tables, Malaysia, 2021-2023 |journal=[[Department of Statistics Malaysia]] |issn=0128-0007 }}</ref> According to an official survey in 2019, Penang recorded one of the lowest obesity rates in Malaysia, with an obesity rate of 18.6%.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2019 |title=National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019 Technical Report |url=https://iku.moh.gov.my/images/IKU/Document/REPORT/NHMS2019/Report_NHMS2019-NCD_v2.pdf |journal=[[Ministry of Health (Malaysia)|Ministry of Health]] |volume=1 |isbn=9789671815922 }}</ref>

==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of Penang}}
[[File:Chingay in George Town 2024.jpg|thumb|A [[Chingay parade|Chingay]] troupe in [[George Town, Penang|George Town]]. To this day, the Chingay parade continues to be a major expression of [[Penangite Chinese|Penang Chinese]] identity.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Daniel Goh |first=P. S. |date=2011 |title=State carnivals and the subvention of multiculturalism in Singapore |url=https://ap5.fas.nus.edu.sg/fass/socgohd/bjos_1347.pdf |journal=[[National University of Singapore]] |page=120 }}</ref>]]

=== Festivals ===
Penang's cosmopolitan society results in a great number of celebrations and festivities throughout the year. The state hosts major cultural and religious events, including [[Chinese New Year]], [[Eid al-Fitr]]i, [[Diwali]], [[Thaipusam]], [[Vaisakhi]], [[Christmas]], [[Vesak]] and [[Songkran (Thailand)|Songkran]].<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Calendar of Events 2022 |url=https://www.mypenang.gov.my/uploads/downloads/COE2022-v9.pdf |journal=Penang Global Tourism }}</ref> Chinese New Year celebrations last for 15 days and are marked with festivities unique to the state, such as the birthday of the [[Jade Emperor]], and the annual opening of Chinese ancestral halls and associations in [[George Town, Penang|George Town]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wang |first=Yi |date=30 January 2023 |title=Discover Cultural Treasures in Chinese New Year Celebration at Malaysia's Penang |url=https://english.news.cn/20230130/75812590d34047fa893c1783d5de2ac7/c.html |access-date=7 December 2023 |work=[[Xinhua News Agency]] }}</ref><ref name="Jeremy Tan-2024">{{Cite news |last=Jeremy Tan |date=14 February 2024 |title=Showcase of Cherished Traditions |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/02/14/showcase-of-cherished-traditions |access-date=15 March 2024 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref> The 15th and final day of Chinese New Year is celebrated with a [[Peranakan Chinese]]-inspired [[Lantern Festival]].<ref name="Jeremy Tan-2024" />

George Town is credited as the origin of a unique form of the [[Chingay parade|Chingay procession]], which involves participants balancing oversized flags on their heads or hands.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McIntyre |first=Ian |date=10 March 2023 |title=New Attractions Await Visitors to Penang |url=https://www.thevibes.com/articles/lifestyles/87457/new-attractions-await-visitors-to-penang |access-date=7 December 2023 |work=The Vibes }}</ref> A state-held Chingay parade takes place in George Town annually, although Chingay performances are also frequently included in Chinese festivals and significant state events throughout Penang.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 March 2023 |title=Chingay Festival in Penang is Back |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/03/11/chingay-festival-in-penang-is-back |access-date=7 December 2023 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref>

Expatriates residing in Penang have introduced their celebrations to the state. [[Bon (festival)|Bon Odori]], a Japanese festival celebrated annually in George Town, has gained popularity among locals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Information & Culture |url=https://www.penang.my.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000285.html |access-date=7 December 2023 |website=Consulate-General of Japan in Penang, Malaysia }}</ref> [[Saint Patrick's Day|St. Patrick's Day]] and [[Oktoberfest]], traditionally celebrated by ethnic Irish and German communities respectively, are also celebrated in the city.<ref>{{Cite news |last=N. Trisha |date=14 March 2016 |title=St Patrick's Day Celebrated with Merriment over Four Days |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2016/03/14/turning-green-withirish-pride-st-patricks-day-celebrated-with-merriment-over-four-days/ |access-date=14 March 2016 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jeremy Tan |date=9 October 2010 |title=Oktoberfest Cheer in Penang |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2010/10/09/oktoberfest-cheer-in-penang/ |access-date=9 October 2010 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref>

Penang also hosts several major festivals each year, including the [[George Town Festival]] which has become one of the largest arts events in [[Southeast Asia]] since its inaugural event in 2010.<ref name="Chen-2014">{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=May Yee |date=31 July 2014 |title=Old Colonial City in Malaysia Becomes a Stage |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/01/arts/international/george-town-festival-is-making-its-name-as-major-asian-arts-event.html |access-date=29 November 2017 |website=[[The New York Times]] }}</ref> In 2018, the [[George Town Literary Festival]] became the first Southeast Asian literary event to achieve the international Literary Festival Award at the [[London Book Fair]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ferrarese |first=Marco |date=15 November 2019 |title=Bookworms and Big Ideas Collide at George Town Literary Festival |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Life/Bookworms-and-big-ideas-collide-at-George-Town-Literary-Festival |access-date=7 December 2023 |work=[[Nikkei, Inc.]] }}</ref>

===Arts===
[[File:Motion And Stillness (243518115).jpeg|thumb|[[Ernest Zacharevic]]'s ''Children on a Bicycle'' at [[Armenian Street, George Town|Armenian Street]] in [[George Town, Penang|George Town]]. This mural was among ''[[The Guardian]]'''s compilation of graffiti destinations worldwide in 2013.<ref name="Chang-2014">{{Cite journal |last=Chang |first=Shu Fun |date=2014 |title=Street Art Sparkle as a New Economic Driver in Penang |url=http://eprints.usm.my/38640/1/FULL_PAPER_002.pdf |journal=[[Universiti Sains Malaysia]] }}</ref>]]
[[Bangsawan]] is a form of Malay theatre that originated in Penang at the end of the 19th century, and incorporates Indian, Western, Islamic, Chinese and Indonesian influences. It was a popular outdoor performance in the 1920s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hon |first=Yi Wen |date=13 August 2007 |title=Keeping Bangsawan Alive |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/rentakini/71099 |access-date=7 December 2023 |work=[[Malaysiakini]] }}</ref> Another unique form of theatre that began in Penang is [[Boria (theatre)|boria]], which features singing accompanied by violin, maracas and tabla. Boria reached the height of its popularity in the 1930s and was typically performed as a form of satire. While the British imposed a ban on boria in [[Singapore in the Straits Settlements|Singapore]] and [[Malacca]], the art form was never banned in Penang.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=30 January 2019 |title=The Story of How Boria Evolved from a Passion Play into Parody Theatre |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2019/01/30/the-story-of-how-boria-evolved-from-a-passion-play-into-parody-theatre/1717841 |access-date=7 December 2023 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref>

Apart from traditional forms of art, the [[Penang Philharmonic Orchestra]], funded by the state, was established in 2010 to elevate the standard of [[classical music]] in Penang. [[Dewan Sri Pinang]] and [[Setia SPICE]] in George Town are the main venues for performing arts and concerts within the state.<ref name="PCEB-2022a">{{Cite journal |title=Penang Meeting Planners Guide 2022-23 |url=https://www.pceb.my/pceb_miceguide.pdf |journal=Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau |archive-date=20 February 2018 |access-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220033113/https://www.pceb.my/pceb_miceguide.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[George Town, Penang|George Town]] is a hub for the arts and culture scene in Malaysia. The inscription of parts of George Town as a [[Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca#George Town|UNESCO World Heritage Site]] has enhanced cultural and creative industries within the city.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Khoo |first=Suet Leng |date=19 March 2023 |title=Positioning the Creative City Agenda Within Urban Policy Discourse: The Malaysian Scenario |url=http://web.usm.my/km/earlyView/84_KM-OA-08-21-0173.R3.pdf |journal=Journal of Malaysian Studies |via=[[Universiti Sains Malaysia]]}}</ref> In 2012, Lithuanian artist [[Ernest Zacharevic]] created a series of six wall paintings depicting local culture, inhabitants and lifestyles as part of the [[George Town Festival]]. The city is also adorned with 52 wrought iron caricatures and 18 wall murals that showcase the city's history and the daily lives of the local community.<ref name="Chang-2014" /> Additionally, art exhibitions are held at the city's event spaces like the [[Hin Bus Depot]] and [[Sia Boey Urban Archaeological Park|Sia Boey]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicole Chang |date=2017 |title=Hin Bus Depot – Derelict No More |url=http://penangmonthly.com/article.aspx?pageid=7438&name=hin_bus_depot_derelict_no_more |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220034706/http://penangmonthly.com/article.aspx?pageid=7438&name=hin_bus_depot_derelict_no_more |archive-date=20 February 2018 |access-date=27 May 2017 |website=Penang Monthly }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Places |url=https://gtwhi.com.my/our-work/places/ |access-date=8 December 2023 |website=[[George Town World Heritage Incorporated]] |language=en-US }}</ref>

Penang's literary heritage stems from the colonial-era [[Peranakan Chinese]] literature and its role as a translation hub in [[British Malaya|Malaya]], where prior to [[World War II]], the publishing industry facilitated the translation of [[Chinese literature|Chinese]] and [[Western literature|Western]] literary works into [[Malay language|Malay]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Neil Khor |first=Jin Keong |date=2009 |title=Peranakan Chinese Literature in Penang and the Region: With an Emphasis on Anglophone Penang Peranakan Writing |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41493752 |journal=[[Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society]] |volume=82 |issue=2 |pages=131–143 |jstor=41493752  }}</ref><ref name="Ramli 2017">{{Cite journal |last=Ramli |first=Mohd Izzuddin |date=26 September 2017 |title=Reclaiming Penang's Historical Role as a Prominent Literary Translation Hub |url=https://penanginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/jml/files/issues/sept_26_2017_DIN_download.pdf |journal=Penang Institute }}</ref> Post-independence, the state's literary scene has diversified, with independent local publishers and retailers such as Areca Books, Gerakbudaya and the [[George Town World Heritage Incorporated]] running alongside major bookstore chains like [[Popular Holdings]] and [[MPH Group]].<ref name="Ramli 2017" />

=== Media ===
[[File:cmglee_Penang_The_Star_Northern_Hub.jpg|thumb|[[The Star (Malaysia)|''The Star'']]'s Northern Hub in [[George Town, Penang|George Town]]. One of the major English dailies in Malaysia, it had been known for its "liberal flavour" prior to [[Operation Lalang|a government crackdown in 1987]].<ref>{{cite book |author=John Hilley |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=weHHJWARhncC&pg=PA120 |title=Malaysia: Mahathirism, Hegemony and the New Opposition |publisher=Zed Books |year=2001 |isbn=978-1-85649-918-7 |page=120 }}</ref> ]]
[[George Town, Penang|George Town]] was once the hub of Malaysia's print press. The nation's first newspaper, the ''Prince of Wales Island Gazette'', was founded in the city in 1806.<ref name="Wong2">{{Cite news |last=Wong |first=Chun Wai |date=7 December 2013 |title=Penang is Home to Many of Malaysia's Earliest English Newspapers |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2013/12/07/extra-extra-read-all-about-it-penang-is-home-to-many-of-the-countrys-earliest-english-newspapers/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051605/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2013/12/07/extra-extra-read-all-about-it-penang-is-home-to-many-of-the-countrys-earliest-english-newspapers/ |archive-date=31 December 2017 |access-date=8 March 2018 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref><ref name="Nambiar-2021">{{Cite news |last=Nambiar |first=Predeep |date=3 May 2021 |title=Tale of a Tiger that Caused a Penang Paper to Close |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/05/03/tale-of-a-tiger-that-caused-a-penang-paper-to-close/ |access-date=27 December 2023 |work=[[Free Malaysia Today]] }}</ref> Under British rule, Penang had relatively more press freedom as compared to [[Singapore in the Straits Settlements|Singapore]], which had a stronger government apparatus.<ref name="Goh-2014" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=Su Lin |title=Cities in Motion: Urban Life and Cosmopolitanism in Southeast Asia, 1920–1940 |publisher=[[University of Cambridge]] |year=2016 |isbn=9781107108332 }}</ref>

[[The Star (Malaysia)|''The Star'']], one of Malaysia's top English dailies, started as a regional newspaper that was first published in George Town in the 1970s, while the country's oldest Chinese newspaper, ''[[Kwong Wah Yit Poh]]'', was also established in the city in 1910.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 September 1971 |title=The Star Malaysia's First Issue (9 Sept 1971) |work=Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/starmediagroup/docs/the_star_first_issue_9_sept_1971 |access-date=29 December 2023 |language=en |archive-date=29 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231229055900/https://issuu.com/starmediagroup/docs/the_star_first_issue_9_sept_1971 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="mcy">{{Cite book |author=Khoo Salma Nasution |url=https://archive.org/details/sunyatseninpenan0000khoo/page/58 |title=Sun Yat Sen in Penang |publisher=Areca Books |year=2008 |isbn=978-983-42834-8-3 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/sunyatseninpenan0000khoo/page/58 58–61] }}</ref> In addition, the [[Government of Penang|Penang state government]] publishes its own multi-lingual newspaper, ''Buletin Mutiara'', which is distributed for free every fortnight. The newspaper focuses on current issues within Penang, providing valuable information and insights for the local community.<ref name="Mutiara-2013">{{Cite news |date=18 April 2013 |title=Profil |url=http://www.buletinmutiara.com/profil/ |work=Buletin Mutiara |language=MS }}</ref>

The well-preserved colonial-era cityscape has made [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] a popular [[filming location]] for movies and television series that depict Asian culture.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Liu |first=Yong |date=26 November 2020 |title=Framing Film-Induced Tourism into a Sustainable Perspective from Romania, Indonesia and Malaysia |journal=Sustainability |volume=12 |issue=23 |page=9910 |doi=10.3390/su12239910 |s2cid=229387383 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2020Sust...12.9910L }}</ref> Films and series that were filmed within the city include ''[[Crazy Rich Asians]]'', ''[[Anna and the King]]'', ''[[Lust, Caution]]'', ''[[The Little Nyonya]]'' and [[You Mean the World to Me (film)|''You Mean the World to Me'']]; the latter was the first movie to be produced entirely in [[Penang Hokkien]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=17 May 2017 |title='You Mean the World to Me': Universal Story but Unique Penang Experience |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/showbiz/2017/05/17/you-mean-the-world-to-me-universal-story-but-unique-penang-experience/1378733 |access-date=27 December 2023 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref> George Town was also featured as a pit-stop in ''[[The Amazing Race 16]]'', ''[[The Amazing Race Asia 5]]'' and ''[[The Amazing Race Australia 7]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Franich |first=Darren |date=5 April 2010 |title=The Amazing Race Recap: Taxi! |url=https://ew.com/recap/amazing-race-recap-season16-episode8/ |access-date=7 January 2024 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Value of Insurance |url=https://www.axn-asia.com/programs/amazing-race-asia/episodes/value-insurance |access-date=7 January 2024 |website=[[AXN (Asian TV channel)|AXN]] |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jayne |first=Tamara |date=19 June 2023 |title='The Amazing Race' Celeb Contestants Believed To Be Spotted In Penang Filming New Season |url=https://says.com/my/entertainment/amazing-race-contestants-believed-to-be-spotted-in-penang-filming-new-season |access-date=7 January 2024 |website=[[Says Sdn Bhd|SAYS]] }}</ref>

===Architecture===
{{Main|Architecture of Penang}}{{See also|List of tallest buildings in George Town, Penang}}{{multiple image
| perrow            = 2
| total_width       = 300
| align             = right
| image1            = Penang Malaysia Sunrise at Tanjong Bungah Mosque-04and (4461552447).jpg
| image2            = Kek Lok Si at dusk.jpg
| image3            = A Hindu temple in Penang Malaysia.jpg
| image4            = Cmglee Penang Anglican church night.jpg
| footer            = Clockwise from top left: [[Penang Floating Mosque|Tanjong Bungah Floating Mosque]], [[Kek Lok Si]], [[St. George's Church, Penang|St. George's Church]] and [[Arulmigu Karumariamman Temple]]
}}
In 2008, [[UNESCO]] gazetted nearly {{cvt|260|ha|km2}} within [[Central George Town, Penang|downtown George Town]] as a [[Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca#George Town|World Heritage Site]]. The city centre is recognised by UNESCO for its "unique architectural and cultural townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia".<ref name="UNESCO-2008" /> [[Shophouse]]s sit alongside Anglo-Indian bungalows, mosques, temples, churches, and European-style administrative and commercial complexes, forming the city's multicultural framework.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2016 |title=Stories from Penang |url=https://adp.uq.edu.au/files/1212/Publications-2016_PenangInternationalTravelStudio.pdf |journal=[[University of Queensland]] }}</ref> Elsewhere within the city, Siamese and Burmese cultures are prominently displayed at places of worship such as [[Wat Chayamangkalaram]], [[Dhammikarama Burmese Temple]] and [[Kek Lok Si]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ooi |first=Tze Xiong |date=October 2022 |title=Buddhist Schools of Thought Converge in Penang |url=https://penangmonthly.com/article/20746/buddhist-schools-of-thought-converge-in-penang |access-date=17 December 2023 |website=Penang Monthly |language=en }}</ref>

Apart from the colonial-era architecture, George Town is home to most of Penang's skyscrapers, including [[Komtar|Komtar Tower]], [[Marriott Residences Penang|Marriott Residences]] and [[Muze @ PICC]]. There has been rising demand for residential high-rises at the suburbs since 2015, driven by the growing need for strata housing and the city's thriving economy.<ref name="Lum-2016">{{Cite web |last=Lum |first=Ka Kay |date=15 October 2016 |title=Condos in Penang are Flourishing |url=http://www.theedgeproperty.com.my/content/929088/condos-penang-are-flourishing |access-date=28 May 2017 |website=Edgeprop |publisher=[[The Edge (Malaysia)]] }}</ref>

===Cuisine===
{{Main|Penang cuisine}}
[[File:Penang Hokkien Prawn Noodles.JPG|thumb|A bowl of Penang [[Hokkien mee]]]]Penang's culinary scene incorporates [[Malay cuisine|Malay]], [[Chinese cuisine|Chinese]], [[Indian cuisine|Indian]], [[Peranakan cuisine|Peranakan]] and [[Thai cuisine|Thai]] influences, evident in the variety of street food that includes [[char kway teow]], [[Laksa|asam laksa]] and [[nasi kandar]].<ref name="Cripps-2017">{{Cite news |last=Cripps |first=Karla |date=13 July 2017 |title=George Town, Penang: Asia's Greatest Street Food City? |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/george-town-penang-greatest-street-food-city/index.html |work=[[CNN]] }}</ref> Described by ''[[CNN]]'' as "the food capital of Malaysia", [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] was also listed by [[Time (magazine)|''Time'']] and ''[[Lonely Planet]]'' as one of the best in Asia for street food.<ref name="Cripps-2017" /><ref name="Fitzpatrick-20042">{{cite magazine |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Liam |date=15 November 2004 |title=Best of Asia – Best Street Food |url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/2004/boa/boa_body_food.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041117003151/http://www.time.com/time/asia/2004/boa/boa_body_food.html |archive-date=17 November 2004 |access-date=3 January 2011 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] }}</ref><ref name="Barton-20142">{{Cite news |last=Barton |first=Robin |date=2 February 2014 |title=Where are the Foodies Going in 2014? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/where-are-the-foodies-going-in-2014-9094744.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/where-are-the-foodies-going-in-2014-9094744.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |access-date=18 October 2016 |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |language=en-GB }}</ref> According to ''Time'' in 2004, only in the city "could food this good be this cheap".<ref name="Fitzpatrick-20042" /> Robin Barton of the ''Lonely Planet'' remarked that the city was a "culinary epicentre of the many cultures that arrived after it was set up as a trading port in 1786, from Malays to Indians, Acehenese to Chinese, Burmese to Thais".<ref name="Barton-20142" />

Over the years, Penang's culinary scene has expanded to include fine dining establishments, adding to its already diverse street food options.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agatha Wong |date=19 April 2022 |title=How Penang's Fine Dining Scene is Giving its Famous Street Food a Run for Its Money |url=https://cnaluxury.channelnewsasia.com/experiences/penang-best-restaurants-fine-dining-198521 |access-date=8 December 2023 |website=[[CNA (TV network)|Channel NewsAsia]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McDonnell |first=Sharon |date=8 March 2023 |title=Where to Eat, Stay, and Play in Penang, the Malaysian Island State With an Exploding Art Scene |url=https://www.cntraveler.com/story/things-to-do-in-penang |access-date=8 December 2023 |website=[[Condé Nast]] |language=en-US }}</ref> In 2022, the ''[[Michelin Guide]]'' made its debut in the state, in recognition of its "small-scale restaurants and street food that embodies Malaysia's distinctive streetside dining culture".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brian Cheong, KatelynTan |date=20 October 2022 |title=Michelin Guide Kuala Lumpur and Penang to Debut in December 2022 |url=https://www.tatlerasia.com/dining/the-industry/michelin-guide-malaysia-kuala-lumpur-penang-to-debut-in-december-2022 |access-date=8 December 2023 |website=[[Tatler]] |language=en }}</ref> The 2025 edition of the ''Michelin Guide'' features 69 eateries throughout the state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pulau Pinang Michelin Restaurants – the Michelin Guide Malaysia |url=https://guide.michelin.com/my/en/pulau-pinang/restaurants |access-date=8 December 2023 |website=[[MICHELIN Guide]] |language=en-MY }}</ref>

=== Sports ===
[[File:SPICE Arena 2023.jpg|thumb|[[Setia SPICE]] is also one of the major venues in Penang for [[MICE tourism|business events]].<ref name="PCEB-2022a" />|265x265px]]
Despite its small size, Penang has hosted regional and international sporting events, such as the [[2001 SEA Games]], [[2013 Women's World Open Squash Championship]] and [[2018 Asia Pacific Masters Games|Asia's first Masters Games in 2018]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Venues of the Games |url=http://www.kl2001.com/venue1.htm |url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011220213100/http://www.kl2001.com/venue1.htm |archive-date=20 December 2001 |work=[[2001 SEA Games]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Velloo |first=Loganath |date=17 March 2014 |title=Queen Nicol All Set for a Special World Meet |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/squash/2014/03/17/queen-nicol-all-set-for-a-special-world-meet |access-date=25 December 2023 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1 December 2016 |title=Penang Will Host 2018 First Asia Pacific Masters Games |url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/sports/article/penang-will-host-2018-first-asia-pacific-masters-games#OAJg2ws2Lc8CPoud.97 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref> The state represents itself with its own sports teams in the interstate [[Sukma Games]].

Penang is home to a variety of sports facilities. The [[Penang State Stadium]] in [[Seberang Perai]] is the state's main stadium, while the [[City Stadium, Penang|City Stadium]] in [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] is the home ground of [[Penang F.C.|Penang FC]].<ref name="PCEB-2022a" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ong |first=K. H. |date=9 February 2023 |title=Penang FC Sets Sight on Top 10 Finish in Super League |url=https://www.buletinmutiara.com/penang-fc-sets-sight-on-top-10-finish-in-super-league/ |access-date=17 December 2023 |work=Buletin Mutiara }}</ref> [[Setia SPICE]] in George Town is another major sporting venue, consisting of an indoor arena and an aquatics centre.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Christopher Tan |date=30 January 2016 |title=Spicing Up the Island Aquatic Centre Promises Splashing Fun for Visitors |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2016/01/30/spicing-up-the-island-aquatic-centre-promises-splashing-fun-for-visitors/ |access-date=17 December 2023 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref> The city is also home to Malaysia's oldest equestrian centre {{Ndash}} the [[Penang Turf Club]], which was established in 1864.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Hockton|2012|p=172 }}</ref>

Major annual sporting events in Penang include the Penang International Dragon Boat Festival and the [[Penang Bridge International Marathon]]. The Penang International Dragon Boat Festival takes place every December and attracts participants from abroad.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chong |first=Kah Yuan |date=4 December 2017 |title=China Team Awed by Experience at Penang Boat Race |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/12/04/china-team-awed-by-experience-at-penang-boat-race/ |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref> The [[Penang Bridge International Marathon]], which features the iconic [[Penang Bridge]] as its route, has also gained international recognition, attracting about 20,000 participants from 61 countries in 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 December 2023 |title=Husband and Wife Sweep Men's and Women's Titles in 2023 Penang Bridge Marathon |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2023/12/17/husband-and-wife-sweep-mens-and-womens-titles-in-2023-penang-bridge-marathon/108031 |access-date=26 December 2023 |work=[[Malay Mail]] }}</ref>

== Notable people ==
Penang is the birthplace of illustrious Malaysian and Singaporean personalities, professionals and politicians, including:
* [[Chan Kim Boon]] (1851–1920), novelist and translator<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonny Tan |date=2016 |title=Chan Kim Boon |url=https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=e1e30cac-63e2-416e-b5df-83ba1f041cb3 |access-date=12 December 2024 |website=[[National Library Board]]}}</ref>
* [[Wu Lien-teh]] (1879–1960), physician and inventor of the respiratory mask<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kevin Tan |first=Y. L. |date=1 July 2020 |title=The Plague Fighter: Dr Wu Lien-Teh and His Work |url=https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/vol-16/issue-2/jul-sep-2020/plague/ |access-date=7 January 2024 |website=[[National Library, Singapore]] }}</ref>
* [[Hon Sui Sen]] (1916–1983), former [[Ministry of Finance (Singapore)|cabinet minister in Singapore]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cheryl Sim |date=29 March 2016 |title=Hon Sui Sen |url=https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=18078256-1e32-4f97-b776-c6dc62bdb7b2 |access-date=23 September 2024 |website=[[National Library Board]]}}</ref>
* [[Wee Chong Jin]] (1917–2005), first [[Chief Justice of Singapore]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Omar |first=Marsita |title=Wee Chong Jin |url=https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=3a2c79d1-da4d-41f6-9691-24b6bbd89f61 |access-date=7 January 2024 |website=[[National Library, Singapore]] }}</ref>
* [[P. Ramlee]] (1929–1973), actor, filmmaker, musician, composer and icon of Malay-language entertainment<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 September 2023 |title=Repair Work on P. Ramlee's Penang House to Start Sept 28 |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/09/27/repair-work-on-p-ramlee039s-penang-house-to-start-sept-28 |access-date=7 January 2024 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref>
* [[Abdullah Ahmad Badawi]] (1939–2025), fifth [[Prime Minister of Malaysia]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biodata Peribadi |url=https://ptab.jpm.gov.my/index.php/biografi/ |access-date=7 January 2024 |website=Secretariat Office of Tun Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi, [[Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia)|Prime Minister's Department]] }}</ref>
* [[Karpal Singh]] (1940–2014), lawyer, politician and former national chairman of the [[Democratic Action Party]]<ref name="Borneo Post-2014" />
* [[Pik-Sen Lim|Lim Pik-Sen]] (born 1944), British actress<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 May 2022 |title=From Mind Your Language to Doctor Who, Penang-born actress is the voice of Dark Souls |url=https://www.thevibes.com/articles/lifestyles/61464/iconic-narrator-of-dark-souls-videogames-is-a-penang-born-actress |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=The Vibes}}</ref>
* [[Anwar Ibrahim]] (born 1947), tenth and current Prime Minister of Malaysia<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Khoo |first=Boo Teik |date=2020 |title=The Making of Anwar Ibrahim's "Humane Economy" |url=https://www.iseas.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/TRS18_20.pdf |journal=[[ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute]] |issue=18 |pages=1 |issn=0219-3213 }}</ref>
* [[Jimmy Choo]] (born 1948), fashion designer knighted with the [[Order of the British Empire]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zairill |first=Hazique |date=19 August 2022 |title=Diamonds on the Feet: Jimmy Choo Tribute |url=https://thesun.my/style-life/diamonds-on-the-feet-jimmy-choo-tribute-FB9641557 |access-date=7 January 2024 |work=[[The Sun (Malaysia)|The Sun]] }}</ref>
* [[David Arumugam]] (born 1950), singer and founder of the pop band [[Alleycats (Malaysian band)|Alleycats]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 January 2022 |title=Alleycats' David Helps Raise Penang's Profile Through New Compilation Album |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2022/01/767270/alleycats-david-helps-raise-penangs-profile-through-new-compilation-album |access-date=7 January 2024 |work=[[New Straits Times]] }}</ref>
* [[Yeohlee Teng]] (born 1951), American fashion designer<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schiro |first=Anne-Marie |date=21 July 1994 |title=An Individualist Widens Her Reach |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/12/style/an-individualist-widens-her-reach.html |access-date=13 March 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |pages=6 }}</ref>
* [[Khaw Boon Wan]] (born 1952), former [[Cabinet of Singapore|cabinet minister in Singapore]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Corfield |first=Justin |title=Historical Dictionary of Singapore |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-8108-7387-2 |pages=132 }}</ref>
* [[Hock Tan|Tan Hock Eng]] (born 1952), [[chief executive officer]] of [[Broadcom]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 February 2024 |title=Malaysian-born Broadcom CEO Tan Hock Eng's pay more than doubles to $217.5 million in 2023 |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/business/malaysian-born-broadcom-ceo-tan-hock-eng-s-pay-more-than-doubles-to-2175-million-in-2023 |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=[[The Straits Times]]}}</ref>
* [[Nazrin Shah of Perak|Sultan Nazrin Shah]] (born 1956), reigning monarch of the neighbouring state of [[Perak]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 May 2015 |title=Throwback Thursday: HRH Sultan Dr Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/09/throwback-thursday-hrh-sultan-dr-nazrin-muizzuddin-shah |access-date=7 January 2024 |work=[[New Straits Times]] }}</ref>
* [[Keat Gin Ooi|Ooi Keat Gin]] (born 1959), academician and historian<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fuller |first=Amy Elisabeth |title=Contemporary Authors |date=September 2007 |publisher=Cengage Gale |isbn=978-0-7876-7887-6 |page=267 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Saw Teong Hin]] (born 1962), film director<ref>{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=14 September 2014 |title=10 Things About: Saw Teong Hin, Award-winning Producer/Director and Son of Penang |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/showbiz/2014/09/14/10-things-about-saw-teong-hin-award-winning-producer-director-and-son-of-pe/745535 |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=[[Malay Mail]]}}</ref>
* [[Tan Twan Eng]] (born 1972), award-winning novelist<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mayberry |first=Kate |date=23 May 2023 |title='Books Need Time': Tan Twan Eng's New Novel Opens Door on History |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/23/books-need-time-tan-twan-engs-new-novel-opens-door-on-history |access-date=13 March 2024 |work=[[Al Jazeera English]] }}</ref>
* [[Nicol David]] (born 1983), former world number one female [[Squash (sport)|squash]] player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dennis Chua |date=15 August 2014 |title=Up Close with Nicol David |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/09/close-nicol-david |access-date=7 January 2024 |work=[[New Straits Times]] }}</ref>
* [[Mamak Puteh]] (born 1984), actor and comedian<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 September 2020 |title=Mamak Terharu Sokongan Orang Ramai - "Saya Nak Fokus Cari Duit Untuk Isteri Anak Back-Untuk Mereka..." |url=https://gempak.com/berita-terkini/mamak-terharu-sokongan-orang-ramai-saya-nak-fokus-cari-duit-untuk-isteri-anak-back-untuk-mereka-40952 |access-date=2 April 2024 |website=gempak.com |language=ms }}</ref>
* [[Loh Kean Yew]] (born 1997), Singaporean badminton player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ong |first=K.H. |date=20 December 2021 |title=A Super Happy Day for the Loh Family After Kean Yew Becomes World Badminton Champion |url=https://www.buletinmutiara.com/a-super-happy-day-for-the-loh-family-after-kean-yew-becomes-world-badminton-champion/ |access-date=7 January 2024 |work=Buletin Mutiara }}</ref>
{{Portal|Malaysia}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

==Sources==
* {{Cite book |last=Barber |first=Andrew |title=Penang At War : A History of Penang During and Between the First and Second World Wars 1914–1945 |publisher=AB&B |year=2010 |isbn=978-983-43372-3-0}}
* {{Cite book |last=Bayly |first=Christopher |title=Forgotten Armies: The Fall of British Asia, 1941–1945 |publisher=[[Allen Lane]] |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7139-9463-6}}
* {{Cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Gwynn |title=Contested Space: Cultural Heritage and Identity Reconstructions: Conservation Strategies Within a Developing Asian City |publisher=[[LIT Verlag]] |year=2008 |isbn=978-3-8258-1366-6}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Jou |first1=Sue-Ching |title=Globalization and New Intra-Urban Dynamics in Asian Cities |last2=Michael Hsiao |first2=Hsin-Huang |last3=Aveline-Dubach |first3=Natacha |publisher=[[National Taiwan University]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-986-350-021-6}}
* {{Cite book |last=Hockton |first=Keith |title=Penang: An Inside Guide to Its Historic Homes, Buildings, Monuments and Parks |publisher=[[MPH Group]] |year=2012 |isbn=978-967-415-303-8}}
* {{Cite book |last=Khoo |first=Su Nin |title=Streets of George Town, Penang |publisher=Areca Books |year=2007 |isbn=978-983-9886-00-9}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lewis Su |first=Lin |title=Cities in Motion: Urban Life and Cosmopolitanism in Southeast Asia, 1920–1940 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-107-10833-2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Langdon |first=Marcus |title=George Town's Historic Commercial and Civic Precincts |publisher=[[George Town World Heritage Incorporated]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-967-12281-2-8}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Ooi |first1=Kee Beng |title=Pilot Studies for a New Penang |last2=Goh |first2=Ban Lee |publisher=[[ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-981-4279-69-7}}
* {{Cite book |last=Francis |first=Ric |title=Penang Trams, Trolleybuses & Railways: Municipal Transport History, 1880s–1963 |publisher=Areca Books |year=2006 |isbn=978-983-42834-0-7}}

==External links==
* [https://www.penang.gov.my/index.php?lang=en Penang state government]

{{Penang}}
{{States and Federal Territories of Malaysia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Penang| ]]
[[Category:1786 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:Peninsular Malaysia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1786]]
[[Category:States of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Strait of Malacca]]