Nibong Tebal
Nibong Tebal had been in existence since the early 19th century as an agricultural village. Sugar harvesting formed the mainstay of Nibong Tebal's economy during its early years; the industry was dominated by the Europeans due to their technological superiority. By the mid-19th century, Penang Sugar Estates Limited, which was based in Nibong Tebal, became the largest producer of sugar within "Province Wellesley" (now Seberang Perai). Upon the death of its owner, Edward Horsman, the Ramsden family, one of Britain's richest families, acquired the company. European influence in Nibong Tebal soon permeated into the area's social fabric, with the arrival of Catholic missionaries in the late 19th century.