Confessions from a Penangite

After moving to Selangor for university, it’s not an uncommon occurrence for others to inquire about my hometown. Whenever people asked me where I’m from, I’d always proudly say that I’m from Penang. Usually, that’s where the conversation stops after knowing which state I come from. However, if the inquirer is also someone from Penang, they’d most definitely ask THE question:

“You’re from the island or mainland?”

If any of you are uninformed about Penang, let me remind you that Penang is a state consisting of Penang Island and the mainland (part of the Malay Peninsular) which is known as Seberang Perai. Penang is also the second smallest state in Malaysia, just after Perlis.

Source: Google Maps

Seberang Perai Tengah is located right in the middle of the mainland, which is also the place I had spent my life as a toddler up to my secondary school years until moving to Selangor to pursue university studies.

Since a child, I’d always had the perception of Penang Island being the ‘downtown city’ that is more urban and popular; whereas the mainland, being the less advanced city, is the little unwanted brother shadowed by the overpowering elder sibling. This mindset has gradually evolved as I realised that each city has its own beauty and value.

For example, living expenses in Penang mainland are comparatively cheaper than the island. Aside from that, many property developers have also begun to take interest in developing the area due to its cheaper and more affordable land cost, which leads to more well-planned commercial developments such as Icon City (a popular dining destination) in Bukit Mertajam and more famously, IKEA in Batu Kawan.

While I’m sure many of you are familiar with popular locations of the island like Georgetown or Batu Ferringhi, I’d also like to tell you that the mainland is also a fun place to visit. Although it might not seem as grand and impressive, exploring the mainland is like finding hidden gems, as you would be discovering new places that many non-Penangites are not aware of!

Written by Jocelyn Khor