History of Penang - wikipedia History of Penang This article is about the history of the State of Penang. For the detailed history of its capital city, see History of George Town, Penang. George Town, the capital city of the State of Penang, at dusk The State of Penang, one of the most developed and urbanised Malaysian states, is located at the nation 's northwest coast along the Malacca Strait. Unlike most Malaysian states, the history of modern Penang was shaped by British colonialism, beginning with the acquisition of Penang Island from the Sultanate of Kedah by the British East India Company in 1786. Developed into a free port, the city state was subsequently governed as part of the Straits Settlements, together with Singapore and Malacca ; the state capital, George Town, briefly became the capital of this political entity between 1826 and 1832. By the end of the 19th century, George Town prospered and became one of the major entrepôts in Southeast Asia. During World War II, Penang was conquered and occupied by the Japanese Empire from 1941 to 1945. At the end of the war, Penang was also the first state in the Malay Peninsula to be liberated by the British, under Operation Jurist. The Straits Settlements was dissolved in the following year and Penang was merged into the Federation of Malaya. In spite of a secessionist movement within Penang, the merger with Malaya went ahead and the federation attained independence from the British Empire in 1957. Malaya later evolved into the present - day Malaysia in 1963. Following the revocation of George Town 's free port status in the 1960s, the state suffered economic decline and massive unemployment. The state government at the time led a push to reorient the economy towards hi - tech manufacturing, successfully recovering Penang 's economy and lending the state its moniker the ' Silicon Valley of the East '. Growing recognition of George Town as a bustling tourist destination, particularly since the city 's inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, also boosted the state 's services sector, and today, both the manufacturing and services sectors are the two strongest economic pillars of Penang. Moreover, the state enjoys one of the lowest unemployment rates and Gini coefficients within Malaysia, as well as the second highest gross domestic product ( GDP ) per capita within the country after Kuala Lumpur. Historical affiliations Period Kedah Sultanate 1136 -- 1786 British East India Company 1786 -- 1867 Straits Settlements 1826 -- 1941 ; 1945 -- 1946 Empire of Japan 1941 -- 1945 Malayan Union 1946 -- 1948 Federation of Malaya 1948 -- 1963 Malaysia 1963 -- Present Kedah Perak Northeast Penang Island Southwest Penang Island North Seberang Perai Central Seberang Perai South Seberang Perai Penang Strait Penang Strait Malacca Strait Malacca Strait Penang Hill Int ' Airport Port George Town Batu Ferringhi Tanjung Tokong Tanjung Bungah Pulau Tikus Jelutong Gelugor Batu Lanchang Air Itam Paya Terubong Bayan Lepas Batu Maung Bayan Baru Teluk Kumbar Sungai Nibong Balik Pulau Teluk Bahang Butterworth Bukit Mertajam Batu Kawan Kepala Batas Alma Nibong Tebal Perai Seberang Jaya Juru Mertajam Hill Permatang Pauh Relau Sungai Jawi Simpang Ampat Tasek Gelugor A map of Penang with the locations of the capital city of George Town and its suburbs, and other major towns. Contents 1 Ancient Penang 2 Founding of Penang 3 Early growth 4 Straits Settlements 5 World wars 5.1 World War I 5.2 World War II 6 Post-war 7 Post-independence 7.1 1957 - 1969 7.2 1970 - 1990 7.3 1991 - 2008 7.4 2008 - Present 8 See also 9 References 10 Further reading Ancient Penang Evidence of prehistoric human settlement in what is now Penang has been discovered in Guar Kepah within Seberang Perai ( formerly Province Wellesley ), the mainland half of Penang. Human remains, dating back to about 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, have been found at the site south of the Muda River, along with seashells, pottery and hunting tools. These indicate that Seberang Perai had been inhabited by nomadic Melanesians from as early as the Neolithic era. Seberang Perai also became part of the Bujang Valley civilisation. The Cherok Tok Kun megalith in Bukit Mertajam, discovered in 1845, contains Pali inscriptions, indicating that an early Hindu - Buddhist political entity in what is now Kedah had established control over parts of Seberang Perai sometime between the 5th and 6th centuries. The entirety of what is now Penang would later form part of the Sultanate of Kedah up until the late 18th century. Penang Island ( 梹 榔 嶼 ) is indicated in the Mao Kun map from Wubei Zhi, which is based on the Admiral Zheng He 's navigation maps. Meanwhile, Penang Island was first documented by Chinese sailors of the Ming dynasty in the 15th century. At the time, Ming Emperor Yongle was in the midst of launching naval expeditions that would eventually reach all the way to eastern Africa. The island, known as Bīnláng Yù ( simplified Chinese : 梹 榔 屿 ; traditional Chinese : 梹 榔 嶼 ), was mapped by Admiral Zheng He 's fleet in the ' Nautical Charts of Zheng He '. One of the first Englishmen to arrive on Penang Island was the privateer Sir James Lancaster who commanded the Edward Bonadventure. He landed at Batu Ferringhi in June 1592 and remained on the island until September, pillaging every vessel he encountered. Penang Island was also indicated as Pulo Pinaom in Portuguese historian Emanuel Godinho de Eredia 's 1613 map of the Malay Peninsula. In the early 18th century, ethnic Minangkabaus from Sumatra, led by Haji Muhammad Salleh ( also known as Nakhoda Intan ), landed on Penang Island, establishing a seaside settlement at Batu Uban in 1734. They were followed by the Arabs, who subsequently intermarried with the Minangkabau ; this gave rise to the Arab - Minangkabau admixture now described as Malay, as they have assimilated into the local Malay community. Founding of Penang The history of modern Penang only began in earnest in the late 18th century. Up until then, the Sultanate of Kedah, which had control over Penang, had maintained turbulent diplomatic relations with Siam to the north. In the 1770s, the British East India Company instructed Francis Light to establish trade relations in the Malay Peninsula. Light subsequently landed in Kedah, which at that point was threatened by both Siam and Burma, as well as an internal Bugis rebellion. Fort Cornwallis, in the heart of George Town, was constructed at the spot where Francis Light first set foot on Penang Island. A bronze statue of Francis Light still stands within Fort Cornwallis to this day. George Town was named after King George III, who ruled the British Empire between 1760 and 1801. Aware of this situation, Light formed friendly relations with the then Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin II, and promised British military protection. As part of his promises, Light assisted in the quelling of the Bugis revolt by recapturing a Bugis - held fort for the Sultan. The Sultan reciprocated by offering Penang Island to Light. Light subsequently wrote to his superiors regarding the offer, arguing that Penang Island could serve as a `` convenient magazine for trade '' and its strategic location would allow the British to check Dutch and French territorial gains in Southeast Asia. He also made the case that, with the other ports in the region, such as Aceh and Phuket, riddled with piracy and despotic governments, the British East India Company could seize the opportunity to establish a tranquil harbour on Penang Island conducive for free trade, noting that if `` Malay, Bugis and Chinese will come to reside here, it will become the Exchange of the East if not loaded with impositions and restrictions ''. However, nothing transpired until 1786, when by that point the British were fighting the Thirteen American Colonies, which were backed by France and the Netherlands. Faced with the Dutch dominance of the East Indies ( now Indonesia ) and a growing French threat, Light, who by then had risen to the rank of Captain, was ordered to acquire Penang Island from Kedah. The British East India Company sought control of Penang Island as a Royal Navy base, and a trading post between China and the Indian subcontinent. Light negotiated with the new Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdullah Mukarram Shah, regarding the cession of Penang Island to the British East India Company in exchange for British military assistance and a lease of 6,000 Spanish dollars to cancel Kedah 's debts to Siam. With the agreement between Light and the Kedah Sultan successfully concluded, Light and his entourage sailed on to Penang Island, where they arrived on 17 July 1786. Fort Cornwallis would later be built at the spot where Light first set foot. The area where Light first landed was originally a mangrove swamp covered in thick jungle. Once enough land was cleared, creating what is now the Esplanade, a ceremony was held on 11 August, during which the Union Jack was raised for the first time. This signified the formal possession of Penang Island by the British East India Company in the name of King George III. The island was renamed the Prince of Wales Island after the heir to the British throne, while the new settlement of George Town was established in honour of King George III. Thus, George Town became the first British settlement in Southeast Asia and a springboard for future British territorial expansion in the region, while its establishment by the British East India Company marked the start of a period of British imperialism in the Malay Peninsula. British acquisition and expansion of Penang ( in yellow ) occurred between 1786 and 1874, when the final alterations to Penang 's boundaries came into effect. Unbeknownst to the Kedah Sultan, however, Light had acted without the authority or consent of his superiors in India. When Light reneged on his promise of British military protection against Siam, the Kedah Sultan in 1791 assembled an army in what is now Seberang Perai to retake the Prince of Wales Island. The Sultan 's force was also assisted by a fleet of pirates. Fortunately for Light, his garrison on the island was reinforced by two companies from Calcutta. After failing to persuade the Sultan to disband his forces, the British East India Company launched amphibious assaults at night, destroying Kedah 's military installations in Perai, and defeating both the pirates and the Sultan 's army. In 1800, the first Lieutenant - Governor of the Prince of Wales Island, Sir George Leith, gained a 189.3 km ( 73.1 sq mi ) strip of Seberang Perai from the Kedah Sultan and renamed it Province Wellesley. The newly acquired land covered an area south of the Perai River, turning the river into the international border between the British - controlled Province Wellesley and Kedah. At the time, Province Wellesley was heavily forested and sparsely populated, with a total population of only 5,000. In exchange to this acquisition, the annual payment to the Kedah Sultan was increased to 10,000 Spanish dollars per annum. To this day, the Malaysian federal government still pays Kedah, on behalf of Penang, RM10, 000 annually as a symbolic gesture. Francis Light 's grave in the Old Protestant Cemetery in George Town. Following the original acquisition in 1800, Province Wellesley was gradually expanded up to its present - day boundaries in 1874, when the Pangkor Treaty, which included the delineation of Province Wellesley 's southern borders, was signed between the British and the neighbouring Sultanate of Perak. Light died from malaria in 1794 and was buried within the Old Protestant Cemetery in George Town. To this day, Light is honoured as the founding father of Penang. Early growth A 1799 map of George Town An 1810 engraving depicting the eastern side of George Town An 1811 painting of George Town 1814 print of a view overlooking George Town An 1818 painting depicting George Town and Province Wellesley ( in the horizon ), as seen from a hilltop. St. George 's Church in George Town is the oldest Anglican church in Southeast Asia. The High Court of Penang in George Town was established in 1808, making it the birthplace of Malaysia 's modern - day judiciary. Francis Light had established George Town as a free port, thus allowing merchants to trade without having to pay any form of tax or duties. In effect, this measure was intended to entice merchants from the Dutch ports in the region. As a result, the number of incoming vessels increased exponentially from 85 in 1786 to 3,569 in 1802 ; George Town 's population had also risen to 10,000 by 1792. Immigrants came from various parts of Asia ; in 1801, the then Lieutenant - Governor of the Prince of Wales Island, Sir George Leith, remarked that `` there is not, probably, any part of the world where, in so small a space, so many different people are assembled together or so great a variety of languages spoken ''. A committee of assessors was also established for George Town in 1800, making it the first local government to be established within British Malaya. The Prince of Wales Island, together with Province Wellesley, had been administered under the Bengal Presidency until 1805, when Penang was made a separate Presidency on par with Madras, Bombay and Bengal. By then, Penang also served as a penal station ; in 1796, 700 Indian convicts were shipped in from the Andaman Islands. The practice of employing Indian convicts continued throughout the 19th century as a means to provide the necessary labour for public infrastructure works, such as the construction of roads, drains and public buildings. In 1807, a Royal Charter to provide for the establishment of a Supreme Court and a police force in Penang was granted. The Supreme Court of Penang was first opened at Fort Cornwallis in George Town in 1808, with Edmond Stanley assuming office as its first Recorder ( Judge ). In the decades that followed, Penang 's judiciary and the police force were progressively applied to the Straits Settlements, and later copied throughout British Malaya. Hence, Penang was the birthplace of the present - day Malaysian judiciary system, as well as the Royal Malaysian Police. In the early 19th century, Penang became a centre of spice production and trade within Southeast Asia. The cultivation of pepper began soon after the founding of George Town in 1786. The production of spices, including nutmeg and clove, gradually grew more varied and the booming spice trade led to the opening of spice farms all over Penang. The export of spices through the Port of Penang also enabled the British East India Company to cover the administrative costs of Penang. Furthermore, the agricultural plantations would fuel the growth of several villages, such as Air Itam and Balik Pulau on the island, and Bukit Mertajam in Province Wellesley. Malay refugees fleeing the Siamese invasion of Kedah and Chinese immigrants formed the bulk of workers in these agricultural estates. Other areas, such as Bayan Lepas on the island and Kepala Batas in Province Wellesley, were founded as rice - producing estates. Straits Settlements Original flag of the Straits Settlements, in use between 1874 and 1925 Flag of the Straits Settlements between 1925 and 1941 An 1884 map of the Prince of Wales Island and Province Wellesley Panoramic image of George Town in the late 19th century, with the city 's Esplanade in the foreground. The Port of Penang at Weld Quay in George Town in 1910. Weld Quay was reclaimed from the sea in the 1880s. A Rapid Ferry in Butterworth 's Ferry Terminal. Rapid Ferry is a successor to the original cross-strait ferry service, which began in 1894. Standard Chartered and HSBC ( left ) at Beach Street in George Town. To this day, Beach Street, where several international banks are based, still serves as the city 's main Central Business District. The Pinang Peranakan Mansion in George Town is an exquisite example of Peranakan architecture and interior design. The Jewish Cemetery in George Town. Today, the Jewish community in Penang no longer exists, with the passing of the last Jew in 2011. In 1826, the British East India Company amalgamated the territories of Penang, Singapore ( acquired from Johor in 1819 ) and Malacca ( acquired from the Netherlands in 1824 ) into a single political entity, the Straits Settlements. George Town was made the administrative and judicial capital of the new entity. However, owing to Singapore 's more strategic geographical location between the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea, the Port of Singapore rapidly surpassed the Port of Penang as the preeminent harbour in the region. Consequently, Singapore replaced George Town as the capital of the Straits Settlements in 1832. Nonetheless, George Town continued to retain its importance as a vital British entrepôt by funneling the exports meant for global shipping lines which had bypassed other regional harbours. In the latter half of the 19th century, the tin mining boom within the neighbouring Sultanate of Perak and Siam brought more prosperity to Penang. Tin produced from within the Kinta Valley and southern Siam were transported to George Town for smelting, before being exported via the Port of Penang to European and American industries. The Port of Penang subsequently became a major tin - exporting harbour within British Malaya, directly challenging the Port of Singapore. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the advent of steamships further cemented the Port of Penang 's importance as a major entrepôt within British Malaya. By the end of the 19th century, George Town also evolved into a leading financial centre of British Malaya, as mercantile firms and international banks, including Standard Chartered and HSBC, flocked into the city. By then, Penang became home to a myriad of ethnicities and religious affinities. Aside from the sizeable Chinese, Malay, Indian, Peranakan, Eurasian and Siamese communities, the colony 's multi-ethnic and multi-religious society included significant minorities of Burmese, British, Javanese, Japanese, Sinhalese, Jewish, German and Armenian origin. At the time, each ethnic community had a tendency to specialise in specific trades and economic sectors. While the Europeans predominated in the various professional fields, as well as occupying managerial positions in mercantile and shipping firms, the Peranakans and the Eurasians tended to enter the nascent civil service as lawyers, engineers, architects and clerks. Some of the newer Chinese arrivals, labelled condescendingly by the Peranakans as ' Sinkheh ' ( Chinese : 新 客 ; meaning new guests ), were coolies and agricultural farmers, although many eventually entered into commercial, trading and real estate enterprises within the city ; certain dialect communities, such as the Cantonese and the Hakka, predominated as artisans, blacksmiths, carpenters and cooks. The Indians, who were first brought in as convict workers for public works, also began competing with the Chinese in commercial, trading and shipping stevedore activities. Ethnic Malays, meanwhile, were primarily engaged in agricultural occupations, including rice farming and fishing. Other ethnic communities, such as the Jews and the Armenians, were mainly engaged in mercantile and commercial ventures ; the latter community was notable for the establishment of the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, for instance. The rapid population growth that resulted from the booming economy led to several social problems, chiefly the inadequate sanitation and public health facilities, as well as rampant crime. The latter was brought about by an influx of Chinese immigrants, which led to the formation of feuding triads and secret societies. Turf wars between the triads worsened, and when the Straits Settlements authorities attempted to put a stop to the triad activities in 1857, the Chinese triads came into conflict against the British - led police force as well. This culminated in the Penang Riots of 1867 in the streets of George Town, when the Kean Teik Tong, led by Khoo Thean Teik and the Red Flag, clashed against the alliance of the Ghee Hin Kongsi and the White Flag. The resulting civil unrest lasted for 10 days, before the turf war was eventually quelled by the Straits Settlements authorities under newly appointed Lieutenant - Governor Edward Anson, who were assisted by European residents and reinforcements from Singapore. Also in the same year, the Straits Settlements was made a British crown colony, thereby placing the administration of Penang, Singapore and Malacca directly under the Colonial Office in London. Direct British rule meant better enforcement of the rule of law, as Penang 's police force was vastly beefed up and the secret societies that had plagued George Town during the preceding decades were gradually outlawed. Meanwhile, in Province Wellesley, new railway lines were being constructed, with the first railroad being the Bukit Mertajam - Perai line in 1899. The town of Butterworth was also established in the mid-19th century as the transportation hub within Province Wellesley. In 1894, the first cross-strait ferry service between George Town and Butterworth commenced operations, and would eventually evolve into the present - day Rapid Ferry. With improved access to education and rising living standards, Penang soon enjoyed substantial press freedom and there was a greater degree of participation in municipal affairs by its Asian residents. Penang 's representatives in the Straits Settlements Legislative Council gained a reputation for their assertive contestation of the policies made by the Singapore - based British authorities, which sometimes went against Penang 's interests. On top of that, George Town, perceived as being more intellectually receptive than Singapore, also served as a magnet for well known English authors, Asian intellectuals and reformists. For instance, the Chinese revolutionary leader, Sun Yat - sen, chose to relocate his Southeast Asian base from Singapore to George Town, where he continued his efforts to reorganise and raise funds for the Chinese revolutionary movement against the Qing dynasty. These efforts culminated in the famous 1910 Penang conference, which paved the way to the ultimately triumphant Wuchang uprising that overthrew the Manchu imperial government of China. World wars World War I Main article : Battle of Penang A 1914 map from the New York Times depicting the Battle of Penang. The Cenotaph in George Town was built in honour of fallen Allied servicemen of World War I. On 28 October 1914, the Battle of Penang occurred, during which an Imperial German Navy cruiser, SMS Emden, covertly sailed into George Town and sank the Imperial Russian Navy cruiser, Zhemchug. The French Navy destroyer, Mousquet, set off in pursuit, before being sunk by SMS Emden as well off the northwestern tip of Penang Island. 147 French and Russian sailors perished, while the survivors were rescued by local Malay fishermen. Aside from the naval battle, Penang, as well as the Straits Settlements, was largely unaffected by the events of World War I. World War II See also : Operation Jurist An Imperial Japanese Navy submarine at the Port of Penang in George Town in 1942. The Japanese - issued ' banana ' dollar, so labelled due to the banana tree motif on notes such as this. World War II, on the other hand, unleashed unprecedented social and political upheaval to Penang. The swift British retreat, coupled with the brutal massacres of Penang 's Chinese residents, would severely dent British sense of prestige and dominance in the eyes of the locals. From 9 until 18 December 1941, Japanese warplanes indiscriminately strafed and bombed George Town, in the process eliminating the obsolete Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force squadrons based in RAF Butterworth and the Bayan Lepas Aerodrome ( now Penang International Airport ). It was estimated that 600 civilians were killed as a result of the Japanese bombardment, with an additional 1,100 wounded. Notwithstanding the fact that the British Army had earlier designated Penang Island as a fortress, Lieutenant - General Arthur Percival then ordered a withdrawal from Penang. Not only did the British Army abandon the Batu Maung Fort on the island, they also surreptitiously evacuated Penang 's European population, leaving the colony 's Asian populace to the mercy of the impending Japanese occupation. To this day, it has been agreed that the withdrawal and the covert evacuation of Europeans led to the loss of the British sense of invincibility, and that `` the moral collapse of British rule in Southeast Asia came not in Singapore, but in Penang ''. Penang fell to the Imperial Japanese Army on 19 December 1941, marking the start of a period of Japanese occupation. Penang Island was renamed Tojo - to, after the Japanese Prime Minister at the time, Hideki Tojo. George Town 's harbour facilities were also put to use as a major Axis submarine base in Southeast Asia. The Japanese enacted dissimilar policies with each ethnic community. Ethnic Chinese residents arguably suffered the most brutal treatment, as the Imperial Japanese Army massacred thousands of Chinese as part of the Sook Ching campaign to rid what was perceived as anti-Japanese elements in the society. Penang 's womenfolk were also coerced to work as comfort women by the Imperial Japanese Army. Japanese officials signing the surrender of Penang documents on board HMS Nelson on 2 September 1945. British Royal Marines liberating George Town on 3 September 1945. Japanese prisoners of war being marched through the streets of George Town by their British captors on 3 September 1945. Penang 's residents also had to endure economic hardship during the Japanese occupation, with hyperinflation caused by the oversupply of the Japanese - issued ' banana ' dollars, and the acute shortage of food and raw materials, due to a combination of Japanese wartime rationing and an Allied blockade of Japanese shipping. Households were forced to turn to secondary crops such as sweet potatoes, yam and tapioca for their own subsistence. Beginning in 1942, a standardised Japanese curricula was enforced in all schools throughout Penang, with Japanese as the official language. In fact, social lifestyles were also greatly impacted, as it became compulsory to bow to Japanese soldiers on guard duty and to sing the Japanese national anthem, whilst whole streets and shops were renamed in Japanese. Between 1944 and 1945, Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force bomber squadrons based in India repeatedly launched bombing raids on George Town, seeking to destroy naval and administrative facilities. The destruction of the Penang Secretariat building by the Allied bombardment caused the loss of a large part of the British and Japanese records concerning Penang Island, complicating post-war efforts to compile a comprehensive history of Penang. The Penang Strait was also mined as part of efforts to constrict Japanese shipping. Following the Japanese surrender on 15 August 1945, the Penang Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper, published the proclamation of surrender issued by the Emperor of Japan. Under Operation Jurist, a British Royal Navy fleet accepted the surrender of the Japanese garrison in Penang on 2 September 1945. A British Royal Marines contingent recaptured Penang Island on the following day, making George Town the first city in Malaya to be liberated at the end of the war. Post-war Flag of the Crown Colony of Penang, which was in use between 1946 and 1949. Penang was placed under a military administration until 1946, as the British sought to restore order in the face of an emerging Communist insurgency. The British also dissolved the Straits Settlements in April 1946, with Sir Shenton Thomas being its last Governor. Subsequently, the now separate crown colonies of Penang and Malacca were merged with the Federated Malay States and the Unfederated Malay States to form a new federation, the Malayan Union ; the Crown Colony of Singapore, excluded from this union, was to remain firmly under British rule. The Malayan Union was replaced by the Federation of Malaya in 1948. As the gradual withdrawal of the Western colonial powers in Southeast Asia continued taking shape, the independence of Malaya as a united political entity seemed a foregone conclusion. However, the merger of the British crown colony of Penang into the vast Malay heartland alarmed some quarters of Penang 's population. Questions were raised over economic and ethnic issues, such as the citizenship of non-Malays, greater trade regulations imposed on Penang by the central government in Kuala Lumpur and the introduction of export duties for trade with the rest of Malaya. Consequently, the Penang Secession Committee, formed in 1948, proposed to exclude Penang from the Federation of Malaya, which would allow Penang to either retain its links with the British Empire or form a political union with Singapore. The movement was led by D.A. Mackay, then the chairman of the Penang Chamber of Commerce, and included the Penang Muslim Chamber of Commerce, the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the Penang Straits Chinese Association, the Penang Eurasian Association and the Penang Indian Chamber of Commerce. Ultimately, the Penang Secession Committee failed to attain its goals and petered out. A secession motion tabled in the Penang Settlement Council in 1949 was narrowly dismissed by British official votes, while another petition sent to London in 1951 also met with British disapproval. While some British and American observers were sympathetic to the secessionists ' cause, the British administrators were reluctant to jeopardise their own plans to gradually grant independence to a united Malayan polity. Moreover, the British government allayed the fears raised by the secessionists by guaranteeing George Town 's free port status and by reintroducing municipal elections for the city in 1951. On 1 January 1957, George Town, the capital of Penang, was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II in 1957, becoming the first city within the Federation of Malaya, and by extension, Malaysia. George Town continued to be the only city within Malaysia ( other than Singapore between 1963 and its Separation in 1965 ) until 1972, when Kuala Lumpur was also conferred city status. Penang, as part of the Federation of Malaya, gained independence from the British Empire on 31 August 1957, and subsequently became a member state of Malaysia in 1963. Post-independence 1957 - 1969 Penang 's political landscape immediately after the independence of Malaya became relatively fractured. The new Penang state government was dominated by the Alliance coalition ( now succeeded by Barisan Nasional ), the same ruling coalition that controlled the Malayan federal government. Wong Pow Nee of the Malaysian Chinese Association ( MCA ), one of the major component parties of the Alliance, became Penang 's first Chief Minister, a position that he held until 1969. On the other hand, the Labour Party, a left - wing opposition party, took control of the George Town City Council soon after the Malayan independence. Penang 's voters tended to leave the control of the state government in the hands of the Alliance, while consistently electing the Labour Party to run the city council. At the time, the George Town City Council was the only fully elected local authority in Malaya, as well as the country 's richest, with an annual revenue that was double that of the Penang state government by 1965. This solidified the financial autonomy of the city council, with its revenue going into social welfare projects within George Town. Meanwhile, the Penang state government attempted to boost the state 's manufacturing sector by opening new industrial estates in Seberang Perai, such as in Perai and Mak Mandin. Exacerbated by the opposing political affinities and ideologies, conflicts frequently arose between the state government and the city council over differences in policies and budget allocations. As previously guaranteed by the British authorities, George Town 's free port status was untouched in the years immediately after the Malayan independence. The earlier fears by the secessionists eventually came true, however, when in 1969, the free port status was suddenly revoked by the Malaysian federal government. Consequently, 16.4 % of Penang 's working population became unemployed as the Port of Penang 's trade volume plummeted, adversely affecting George Town 's services sector. In the long run, this also marked the beginning of George Town 's slow, decades - long decline, which was only recently reversed. The revocation of George Town 's free port status, coupled with an unsuccessful, bloody strike by Penang 's unions in 1967, led to a loss of popular support for the Alliance amongst Penangites. During the 1969 State Elections, Gerakan, then an opposition party, was voted into power in Penang, replacing the Alliance. The party 's founder, Lim Chong Eu, succeeded Wong Pow Nee as the Chief Minister of Penang. However, the violent race riots in Kuala Lumpur following the concurrent Malaysian General Elections led to the nationwide imposition of martial law and the functions of the Penang state government were taken over by the National Operations Council until 1971. 1970 - 1990 Completed in 1985, the Penang Bridge was then the longest bridge in Southeast Asia. Constructed in 1974, the Komtar Tower in George Town is Penang 's tallest skyscraper. The township of Bayan Baru was first developed by the Penang Development Corporation in the 1970s following the establishment of the adjacent Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone. The Port of Penang was relocated to Butterworth ( pictured here ) in 1974, significantly boosting the town 's economy. In 1973, Gerakan joined Barisan Nasional, thus returning the Penang state government back into the hands of the ruling coalition. To revive Penang 's economy, Lim Chong Eu created the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone and courted foreign multinational corporations for investments. Pioneer tax status was granted to multinational firms seeking to establish assembly plants within Bayan Lepas, which was formerly the rice bowl of Penang. Major electronic and engineering firms, including Motorola, Bosch, Hewlett - Packard and Hitachi, flocked in, setting up assembly plants within the area. Complemented by cheap labour, the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone, one of the major electronics manufacturing zones in Asia, grew to become the Silicon Valley of the East and was instrumental in pulling Penang out from its economic slump, greatly propelling the state 's economy as one of the main economic powerhouses within Malaysia. To this day, manufacturing remains one of Penang 's two largest economic sectors, contributing as much as 47.4 % of Penang 's GDP as of 2015. During Lim 's tenure, several major infrastructure projects were completed. The Penang Bridge, then the longest bridge in Southeast Asia, was completed in 1985, thus providing for the first time a road link between Penang Island and the Malay Peninsula. More controversial was the 250 m ( 820 ft ) - tall Komtar in George Town, to this day the tallest skyscraper in Penang. Launched in 1974 as part of his vision to reverse George Town 's declining fortunes, Komtar was constructed in the expense of hundreds of shophouses, schools and temples, as well as whole streets, which were bulldozed for the project. However, instead of arresting George Town 's decline, Komtar itself became a white elephant by the early 2000s. Meanwhile, in 1974, the Port of Penang was relocated from George Town to the town of Butterworth, directly across the Penang Strait, to allow for the berthing of larger container and cargo vessels. By then, the maritime traffic through Penang had been greatly diminished since the revocation of George Town 's free port status, with increasing volumes of maritime trade being directed towards Port Klang near Kuala Lumpur instead. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, the Malaysian federal government proceeded with the rapid development of Kuala Lumpur and nearby Port Klang, by controlling investments in communication, transport, education and health. Kuala Lumpur soon outstripped George Town as Malaysia 's largest city and financial centre, while Port Klang quickly became the country 's busiest seaport. Consequently, Penang began to suffer considerable brain drain as younger Penangites started emigrating for better employment opportunities. In 1974, the George Town City Council was merged with the Penang Island Rural District Council to form the Penang Island Municipal Council, while the five local authorities within Seberang Perai, including the Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam town councils, were merged into the Seberang Perai Municipal Council. By then, local elections, suspended since 1965, became a thing of the past, with the municipal councillors being appointed by the Penang state government ever since. The merger of the local governments on Penang Island also led to a decades - long dispute over George Town 's city status. In the 1990 State Elections, Lim Chong Eu as the incumbent lost the Padang Kota constituency to Lim Kit Siang of the Democratic Action Party ( DAP ), forcing him into retirement. Although Barisan Nasional remained in power, Lim Chong Eu was succeeded by Koh Tsu Koon as the Chief Minister of Penang. 1991 - 2008 Tanjung Tokong was among the worst hit areas during the Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004. Within Penang, 52 lives were lost. Koh Tsu Koon 's tenure as the Chief Minister of Penang was marked by inept development and urban planning policies, rampant pollution, and the deteriorating general state of affairs within Penang. Political tussles complicated development policies, while simmering discontent from Penang 's vocal non-governmental organisations ( NGOs ) and residents over the state 's decline would eventually lead to an unprecedented political change within the state. In the early 1990s, plans for the development of Penang Hill were drawn up by the Penang state government, drawing considerable backlash from Penang 's civil societies over the potential environmental degradation of the forested hill. The plan was eventually axed. Meanwhile, the Rent Control Act, which until then had protected the low - income residents within the George Town city centre from eviction by preventing any arbitrary hike in rents, was repealed by 2001. This consequently led to the further hollowing out of the city centre, as residents, and smaller businesses, were unable to cope with the rental hikes and moved out. Unscrupulous private developers began demolishing several pre-war heritage buildings within the city centre for redevelopment, while other historic buildings fell under disrepair. Concerned over the impending loss of George Town 's heritage architecture, NGOs based within the city started to mobilise public support for the conservation of these historic buildings. By the early 2000s, Penang 's economic growth began to lose steam, with the city - state recording the lowest monthly household income growth rate amongst the Malaysian states. The decades of brain drain also took its toll. For instance, while Kuala Lumpur was granted several mega-projects, including the Petronas Towers and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Penang suffered a shortage of qualified engineers and architects as professionals continued gravitating towards the Greater Kuala Lumpur area. Moreover, the lack of a coherent urban planning policy and poor traffic management meant that little was done to curb the worsening traffic congestion within Penang. Even the state 's reputation for cleanliness was not spared, as reports of coastal pollution and dirty streets within Penang made headline news. As early as 1996, the then Malaysian Prime Mninister, Mahathir Mohamad, had even labelled Penang a `` garbage state ''. Widespread dissatisfaction over Penang 's decline and neglect sparked a media campaign to restore Penang to its former glory in 2004. It has since been speculated that the public outcry over the neglect of the city once known as the ' Pearl of the Orient ', combined with Penang 's relatively lively political scene, contributed to the defeat of Barisan Nasional in the 2008 State Election by the federal opposition pact, Pakatan Rakyat. The opposition coalition, led by the DAP, subsequently took over the Penang state government, with Lim Guan Eng succeeding Koh as the Chief Minister of Penang. In late 2004, Penang was hit by the massive Indian Ocean tsunami. Out of the 68 deaths within Malaysia, 52 were in Penang. Northern coastal areas, such as Batu Ferringhi and Gurney Drive in George Town, were among the worst hit places within the state. In the aftermath of the tsunami, a network of sirens has been installed throughout Penang as part of a national tsunami warning system designed to alert the public of such calamities in the future. 2008 - present The historic city centre of George Town has been gazetted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. The Second Penang Bridge, at 24 km ( 15 mi ) long, is the longest bridge in Southeast Asia. A LinkBike station in George Town. This public - bicycle sharing service is an initiative of the Penang state government to alleviate traffic congestion in the city. The swearing in of the new Penang state government, now led by Pakatan Rakyat, in 2008, heralded various positive policy changes. During that year, the George Town city centre, along with Malacca, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as a result of years of conservation efforts led by the city 's NGO s. The new state government subsequently spearheaded efforts to improve hygiene, cleanliness and pedestrianisation, as well as the use of public transportation and the promotion of the city 's cultural diversity. By 2010, George Town was ranked the most liveable city in Malaysia by ECA International, coming in at eighth place within Asia as well. Moreover, in 2017, the city was also ranked the second cleanest within Malaysia, behind only Ipoh. In the economic front, the present state government has emphasised efforts to attract foreign direct investments and to push Penang up the economic value chain, as well as policies to root out corruption. In 2010, Penang recorded the highest amount of capital investments within Malaysia, attracting RM12. 2 billion, or 26 %, of the nation 's total investments. Penang 's stunning economic recovery, particularly since 2008, was described by Bloomberg as Malaysia 's `` biggest economic success '' despite the Malaysian federal government 's focus on other states such as Johor and Sarawak. On top of that, the Penang state government was able to decrease Penang 's public debt by 95 %, from RM630 million in 2008 to RM30 million by late 2011. In addition, in 2016, George Town was rated as the most attractive destination for commercial property investment within Malaysia by Knight Frank, surpassing even Kuala Lumpur. In 2015, the Malaysian federal government elevated the Penang Island Municipal Council into the present - day Penang Island City Council, thereby expanding the jurisdiction of George Town to encompass the entire Penang Island, as well as five of the surrounding islets. This also made George Town the only Malaysian city to have been conferred its city status twice. 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Jump up ^ Amarthalingam, Sangeetha ( 12 October 2017 ). `` Special Report : Penang manufacturing ready for Industry 4.0 ? ''. The Edge. Retrieved 2017 - 12 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Higher Education in Regional and City Development Higher Education in Regional and City Development : State of Penang, Malaysia 2011 ''. OECD. 2011. Jump up ^ Zairil Khir Johari ( August 2012 ). `` A post-industrial future for Penang ? ''. Penang Institute. Retrieved 2017 - 12 - 06. Jump up ^ RB Bhattacharjee ( 12 December 2011 ). `` Guan Eng : Open tenders key to Penang 's efficiency ''. Penang Institute. Retrieved 2017 - 12 - 06. Jump up ^ The Star ( 20 January 2011 ). `` Penang tops total capital investment list for 2010 ''. The Star. Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011. Jump up ^ `` 1.6 Million Penangites Deserve Full Credit for the Historic Feat of Penang Being No. 1 in Malaysia in Manufacturing Investment for the 2nd Consecutive Year in 2011 ''. 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Further reading Sandhu, Kernial Singh ( 1969 ), Indians in Malaya - immigration and settlement, Cambridge University Press, p. 29 Sinnappah, Anasanatnam ( 1979 ), Indians in Malaysia and Singapore, Kulala Lumpur : Oxford University Press, p. 19 Snider, Nancy ( 1968 ), `` What Happened in Penang '', Asian Survey, 12 : 960 -- 975, doi : 10.1525 / as. 1968.8. 12.01 p0433y State of Penang Capital : George Town Topics Constitution Elections 2008 2013 2018 Constituencies Government Executive Governor Chief Minister Legislature Geography History George Town International rankings Penangites Symbols Coats of arms Flag Society Architecture List of tallest skyscrapers Cuisine Education List of schools Politics Transportation Tourist attractions Administrative divisions Capital city George Town Zones Penang Island Seberang Perai Districts Northeast Penang Island Southwest Penang Island North Seberang Perai Central Seberang Perai South Seberang Perai Suburbs and towns Air Itam Balik Pulau Batu Ferringhi Batu Kawan Batu Lanchang Bayan Lepas Bukit Mertajam Butterworth Gelugor Jelutong Kepala Batas Nibong Tebal Paya Terubong Perai Permatang Pauh Pulau Tikus Simpang Ampat Sungai Jawi Tasek Gelugor Tanjung Bungah Tanjung Tokong Teluk Bahang Teluk Kumbar Residential neighbourhoods Alma Ayer Rajah Bandar Baru Air Itam Bagan Ajam Bagan Dalam Bagan Jermal Bagan Luar Bandar Bertam Perdana Bandar Cassia Bandar Perda Bandar Tasek Mutiara Batu Maung Batu Uban Bayan Baru Bukit Jambul Bukit Minyak Bukit Tambun Bukit Tengah Ceruk Tok Kun Green Lane Juru Kampong Serani Kampung Siam Kota Permai Mak Mandin Minden Heights Mount Erskine Penaga Penanti Pinang Tunggal Relau Rifle Range Seberang Jaya Seri Tanjung Pinang Sungai Ara Sungai Dua Sungai Dua Sungai Nibong Sungai Pinang Taman Free School Taman Tun Sardon Teluk Air Tawar Valdor Villages Berapit New Village Gertak Sanggul Jawi New Village Kampung Buah Pala Kampung Selamat Kampung Seronok Kubang Semang Machang Bubok New Village Mengkuang Titi Pantai Acheh Permatang Damar Laut Permatang Pasir Permatang Rambai Permatang Tinggi Sungai Acheh Sungai Lembu Sungai Udang Teluk Tempoyak Islands Aman Betong Gedung Jerejak Kendi Lovers ' Penang Rimau Tikus Commons Wikisource Tourist attractions British Empire Legend Current territory Former territory * Now a Commonwealth realm Now a member of the Commonwealth of Nations Historical flags of the British Empire Europe 1542 -- 1800 Ireland ( integrated into UK ) 1708 -- 1757, 1763 -- 1782 and 1798 -- 1802 Minorca Since 1713 Gibraltar 1800 -- 1813 Malta ( Protectorate ) 1813 -- 1964 Malta ( Colony ) 1807 -- 1890 Heligoland 1809 -- 1864 Ionian Islands 1878 -- 1960 Cyprus 1921 -- 1937 Irish Free State North America 17th century and before 18th century 19th and 20th century 1579 New Albion 1583 -- 1907 Newfoundland 1605 -- 1979 * Saint Lucia 1607 -- 1776 Virginia Since 1619 Bermuda 1620 -- 1691 Plymouth 1623 -- 1883 Saint Kitts 1624 -- 1966 * Barbados 1625 -- 1650 Saint Croix 1627 -- 1979 * Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1628 -- 1883 Nevis 1629 -- 1691 Massachusetts Bay 1632 -- 1776 Maryland since 1632 Montserrat 1632 -- 1860 Antigua 1635 -- 1644 Saybrook 1636 -- 1776 Connecticut 1636 -- 1776 Rhode Island 1637 -- 1662 New Haven 1643 -- 1860 Bay Islands Since 1650 Anguilla 1655 -- 1850 Mosquito Coast 1655 -- 1962 * Jamaica 1663 -- 1712 Carolina 1664 -- 1776 New York 1665 -- 1674 and 1702 -- 1776 New Jersey Since 1666 Virgin Islands Since 1670 Cayman Islands 1670 -- 1973 * Bahamas 1670 -- 1870 Rupert 's Land 1671 -- 1816 Leeward Islands 1674 -- 1702 East Jersey 1674 -- 1702 West Jersey 1680 -- 1776 New Hampshire 1681 -- 1776 Pennsylvania 1686 -- 1689 New England 1691 -- 1776 Massachusetts Bay 1701 -- 1776 Delaware 1712 -- 1776 North Carolina 1712 -- 1776 South Carolina 1713 -- 1867 Nova Scotia 1733 -- 1776 Georgia 1754 -- 1820 Cape Breton Island 1762 -- 1974 * Grenada 1763 -- 1978 Dominica 1763 -- 1873 Prince Edward Island 1763 -- 1791 Quebec 1763 -- 1783 East Florida 1763 -- 1783 West Florida 1784 -- 1867 New Brunswick 1791 -- 1841 Lower Canada 1791 -- 1841 Upper Canada Since 1799 Turks and Caicos Islands 1818 -- 1846 Columbia District / Oregon Country 1833 -- 1960 Windward Islands 1833 -- 1960 Leeward Islands 1841 -- 1867 Canada 1849 -- 1866 Vancouver Island 1853 -- 1863 Queen Charlotte Islands 1858 -- 1866 British Columbia 1859 -- 1870 North - Western Territory 1860 -- 1981 * British Antigua and Barbuda 1862 -- 1863 Stickeen 1866 -- 1871 British Columbia 1867 -- 1931 * Dominion of Canada 1871 -- 1964 Honduras 1882 -- 1983 * Saint Kitts and Nevis 1889 -- 1962 Trinidad and Tobago 1907 -- 1949 Newfoundland 1958 -- 1962 West Indies Federation 1. Occupied jointly with the United States. 2. In 1931, Canada and other British dominions obtained self - government through the Statute of Westminster. See Name of Canada. 3. Gave up self - rule in 1934, but remained a de jure Dominion until it joined Canada in 1949. South America 1631 -- 1641 Providence Island 1651 -- 1667 Willoughbyland 1670 -- 1688 Saint Andrew and Providence Islands 1831 -- 1966 Guiana Since 1833 Falkland Islands Since 1908 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 4. Now a department of Colombia. 5. Occupied by Argentina during the Falklands War of April -- June 1982. Africa 17th and 18th centuries 19th century 20th century Since 1658 Saint Helena 1792 -- 1961 Sierra Leone 1795 -- 1803 Cape Colony Since 1815 Ascension Island Since 1816 Tristan da Cunha 1806 -- 1910 Cape of Good Hope 1807 -- 1808 Madeira 1810 -- 1968 Mauritius 1816 -- 1965 The Gambia 1856 -- 1910 Natal 1862 -- 1906 Lagos 1868 -- 1966 Basutoland 1874 -- 1957 Gold Coast 1882 -- 1922 Egypt 1884 -- 1900 Niger Coast 1884 -- 1966 Bechuanaland 1884 -- 1960 Somaliland 1887 -- 1897 Zululand 1890 -- 1962 Uganda 1890 -- 1963 Zanzibar 1891 -- 1964 Nyasaland 1891 -- 1907 Central Africa 1893 -- 1968 Swaziland 1895 -- 1920 East Africa 1899 -- 1956 Sudan 1900 -- 1914 Northern Nigeria 1900 -- 1914 Southern Nigeria 1900 -- 1910 Orange River 1900 -- 1910 Transvaal 1903 -- 1976 Seychelles 1910 -- 1931 South Africa 1914 -- 1960 Nigeria 1915 -- 1931 South - West Africa 1919 -- 1961 Cameroons 1920 -- 1963 Kenya 1922 -- 1961 Tanganyika 1923 -- 1965 and 1979 -- 1980 Southern Rhodesia 1924 -- 1964 Northern Rhodesia 6. League of Nations mandate. 7. Self - governing Southern Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence in 1965 ( as Rhodesia ) and continued as an unrecognised state until the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement. After recognised independence in 1980, Zimbabwe was a member of the Commonwealth until it withdrew in 2003. Asia 17th and 18th century 19th century 20th century 1685 -- 1824 Bencoolen 1702 -- 1705 Pulo Condore 1757 -- 1947 Bengal 1762 -- 1764 Manila and Cavite 1781 -- 1784 and 1795 -- 1819 Padang 1786 -- 1946 Penang 1795 -- 1948 Ceylon 1796 -- 1965 Maldives 1811 -- 1816 Java 1812 -- 1824 Banka and Billiton 1819 -- 1826 Malaya 1824 -- 1948 Burma 1826 -- 1946 Straits Settlements 1839 -- 1967 Aden 1839 -- 1842 Afghanistan 1841 -- 1997 Hong Kong 1841 -- 1946 Sarawak 1848 -- 1946 Labuan 1858 -- 1947 India 1874 -- 1963 Borneo 1879 -- 1919 Afghanistan ( protectorate ) 1882 -- 1963 North Borneo 1885 -- 1946 Unfederated Malay States 1888 -- 1984 Brunei 1891 -- 1971 Muscat and Oman 1892 -- 1971 Trucial States 1895 -- 1946 Federated Malay States 1898 -- 1930 Weihai 1878 -- 1960 Cyprus 1907 -- 1949 Bhutan ( protectorate ) 1918 -- 1961 Kuwait 1920 -- 1932 Mesopotamia 1921 -- 1946 Transjordan 1923 -- 1948 Palestine 1945 -- 1946 South Vietnam 1946 -- 1963 North Borneo 1946 -- 1963 Sarawak 1946 -- 1963 Singapore 1946 -- 1948 Malayan Union 1948 -- 1957 Federation of Malaya Since 1960 Akrotiri and Dhekelia ( before as part of Cyprus ) Since 1965 British Indian Ocean Territory ( before as part of Mauritius and the Seychelles ) League of Nations mandate. Iraq 's mandate was not enacted and replaced by the Anglo - Iraqi Treaty Oceania 18th and 19th centuries 20th century 1788 -- 1901 New South Wales 1803 -- 1901 Van Diemen 's Land / Tasmania 1807 -- 1863 Auckland Islands 1824 -- 1980 New Hebrides 1824 -- 1901 Queensland 1829 -- 1901 Swan River / Western Australia 1836 -- 1901 South Australia since 1838 Pitcairn Islands 1841 -- 1907 New Zealand 1851 -- 1901 Victoria 1874 -- 1970 Fiji 1877 -- 1976 Western Pacific Territories 1884 -- 1949 Papua 1888 -- 1901 Rarotonga / Cook Islands 1889 -- 1948 Union Islands 1892 -- 1979 Gilbert and Ellice Islands 1893 -- 1978 Solomon Islands 1900 -- 1970 Tonga 1900 -- 1974 Niue 1901 -- 1942 * Australia 1907 -- 1947 * New Zealand 1919 -- 1942 and 1945 -- 1968 Nauru 1919 -- 1949 New Guinea 1949 -- 1975 Papua and New Guinea 9. Now part of the * Realm of New Zealand. 10. Suspended member. 11. Now Kiribati and * Tuvalu. 12. Now the * Solomon Islands. 13. Now * Papua New Guinea. Antarctica and South Atlantic Since 1658 Saint Helena Since 1815 Ascension Island Since 1816 Tristan da Cunha Since 1908 British Antarctic Territory 1841 -- 1933 Australian Antarctic Territory ( transferred to the Commonwealth of Australia ) 1841 -- 1947 Ross Dependency ( transferred to the Realm of New Zealand ) 14. Since 2009 part of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha ; Ascension Island ( 1922 -- ) and Tristan da Cunha ( 1938 -- ) were previously dependencies of Saint Helena. 15. Both claimed in 1908 ; territories formed in 1962 ( British Antarctic Territory ) and 1985 ( South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ). Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_Penang&oldid=847057227 '' Categories : History of Penang Hidden categories : CS1 Malay - language sources ( ms ) Use British English from April 2012 Use dmy dates from July 2016 Articles containing simplified Chinese - language text Articles containing traditional Chinese - language text Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2015 All articles containing potentially dated statements Use dmy dates from April 2012 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Bahasa Melayu 日本 語 Edit links This page was last edited on 22 June 2018, at 16 : 38 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: why the east india company was interested in penang/singapore
Answer: seize the opportunity to establish a tranquil harbour on Penang Island conducive for free trade