Tanjong Bungah
Suburb of George Town
Other transcription(s)
 • Mandarin丹绒武雅 (Simplified)
丹絨武雅 (Traditional)
Dān róng wǔ yǎ (Pinyin)
 • HokkienTan-jiông-bú-ngá (Tâi-lô)
 • Tamilதஞ்சோங் பூங்கா
Tanjong Bungah is located in Central George Town, Penang
Tanjong Bungah
Tanjong Bungah
Location within    George Town in    Penang
Coordinates: 5°27′54.36″N 100°16′55.92″E / 5.4651000°N 100.2822000°E / 5.4651000; 100.2822000
Country Malaysia
State Penang
City George Town
Government
 • Local governmentPenang Island City Council
 • Mayor of Penang IslandRajendran P. Anthony
 • Tanjong Bunga State AssemblymanZairil Khir Johari (PH-DAP)
 • Bukit Bendera Member of ParliamentSyerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-DAP)
Time zoneUTC+8 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)Not observed
Postal code
11200
Websitembpp.gov.my

Tanjong Bungah[1] (also spelt as Tanjung Bungah) is a suburb of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. It is located along the northern coast of Penang Island between Batu Ferringhi and Tanjong Tokong, about 6.5 km (4.0 mi) northwest of the city centre. Tanjong Bungah is well known as a beach destination, with several hotels and resorts lining the beaches within the area. Decades of urbanisation has also led to the mushrooming of residential high-rises at the suburb.

In addition, it is home to a significant expatriate population; foreigners made up 5.7% of Tanjong Bungah's population as of 2010.[2] A number of Royal Australian Air Force servicemen used to reside here while being stationed in Penang in the 1960s and 70s.[3][4]

Due to its location along the northern coast of Penang Island, Tanjong Bungah was hard hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.[5]

Panoramic view of Tanjong Bungah

Etymology

Tanjong Bungah, which means Flower Cape in Malay, was so named due to the several smaller promontories that jut out to the sea along the cape.

History

The beaches of Tanjong Bungah

Tanjong Bungah was formerly a quiet fishing village populated by Malay and Chinese fishermen. It only gained prominence as a beach destination of choice for locals and tourists in the 1950s. At the time, Batu Ferringhi had yet to be developed. The pristine waters off Tanjong Bungah also attracted two local swimming clubs into the area – the Penang Swimming Club and the Penang Chinese Swimming Club.

The Royal Australian Air Force personnel who were stationed in Penang during the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesian Confrontation would escape to their residences at Tanjong Bungah, known as the Hillside.[4] The spouses of the Australian servicemen also operated an amateur English language radio station – Radio RAAF – which could be tuned in throughout Penang and parts of neighbouring Kedah.

Residential high-rises such as The Cove (pictured here) have been built within Tanjong Bungah in recent years.

The urbanisation of Tanjong Bungah began in the 1980s, leading to the construction of numerous residential high-rises along the shoreline. The development of Tanjong Bungah has also attracted expatriates who chose to retire on Penang Island, as the suburb is located within commuting distance of the city centre, the shopping malls at Tanjong Tokong and the beaches of Batu Ferringhi.[3] Four international schools have been established here as well – Dalat International School, Prince of Wales Island International Primary School, Pelita International School and Tenby International School.

Tanjong Bungah was one of the hardest hit areas during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that ultimately claimed a total of 52 lives in Penang.[5] The Floating Mosque was subsequently built in 2005 and is now a major landmark at Tanjong Bungah.

Transportation

Condominiums at Tanjong Bungah
A residential property at Taman Tanjung Bunga

The main thoroughfare within Tanjong Bungah is the coastal Jalan Tanjong Bungah, part of Federal Route 6.[6] The road continues on from Jalan Tanjong Tokong, cutting through the heart of the Tanjong Bungah until it becomes Jalan Batu Ferringhi near the western edge of the suburb. Alternatively, Vale of Tempe Road, stretching along the hills further inland, is used by motorists to exit Tanjong Bungah towards the neighbouring Tanjong Tokong suburb and on to the city centre, and vice versa.[7] These handful of road connections through the suburb are also prone to traffic congestion.

Rapid Penang buses 101, 102 and 104 serve the residents of the suburb, by connecting Tanjong Bungah with various destinations in the city, such as Tanjong Tokong, Batu Ferringhi, the Penang International Airport and Queensbay Mall.[8][9][10]

Another bus service, the Hop-On Hop-Off service, caters primarily to tourists.[11] This service, which utilises open-topped double decker buses, includes an optional stop at Flamingo Hotel within Tanjong Bungah.[12]

In addition, a short cycling lane has been installed within Tanjong Bungah as part of the move to encourage cycling as a form of alternative transportation. The 1.2 km (0.75 mi)-long cycling lane, painted in green and measuring about 90 cm (35 in) in width, stretches between Flamingo Hotel and Dalat International School.[13][14] At the time of its launch in 2013, it was the first dedicated cycling lane in Penang.

Education

A total of three primary schools, two high schools, four international schools and one private college are located within Tanjong Bungah. The relatively high concentration of international schools at Tanjong Bungah reflects the substantial expatriate population within the suburb; these schools offer either British or American curriculum up to high school diploma.[15]

The educational institutions at Tanjong Bungah are as listed below.

Primary schools

  • SRK Tanjung Bungah[16]
  • SRJK (C) Poay Wah[17]
  • SPK Persekutuan[18]

High schools

  • SMK Tanjung Bungah[19]
  • SMK Pendidikan Khas Persekutuan[20]

International schools

Private college

Aside from the aforementioned institutions, a Royal Malaysian Air Force training school is also located at Jalan Azyze.[23] It specialises in training support and administrative personnel of the service.

Health care

The Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital, situated at Jalan Bulan between Tanjong Bungah and Tanjong Tokong, is a private hospital that specialises in cancer treatments.[24]

Sports

The Penang Swimming Club at Jalan Tanjong Bungah, overlooking the sea, has a history stretching back to the 1900s.[25][26] Originally a single-storey wooden structure, an Olympic-sized swimming pool was built in 1930. The club also initially restricted membership to Europeans; this discriminatory practice only ended in the 1940s. Today, aside from the swimming pool, the club organises regattas, sailing competitions and other aquatic sports classes for its members.

Interior of the Floating Mosque. It was built in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that hit the suburb.

Tourist attractions

References

  1. ↑ "Dokumen Gazetir Pulau Pinang Pulau Mutiara 2022" (PDF) (in Malay). Jawatankuasa Kebangsaan Nama Geografi (JKNG) Malaysia. p. 15.
  2. ↑ "Tanjung Bungah in Numbers". Tanjung Bungah in Numbers. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  3. 1 2 "Where to live in Penang – Penang For Expats". Penang For Expats. 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  4. 1 2 "This is Radio R double A F… | Wong Chun Wai". wongchunwai.com. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  5. 1 2 "Victims of 2004 tsunami back on their feet in no time thanks to Govt's prompt action – Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  6. ↑ "Tanjung Bungah – More Popular Than Ever". Tanjung Bungah – More Popular Than Ever, TANJUNG BUNGAH, MORE POPULAR THAN EVER. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  7. ↑ Sekaran, R. "Road reopens ahead of deadline – Nation | The Star Online". Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  8. ↑ "Baru". Archived from the original on 2017-10-20.
  9. ↑ "Baru". Archived from the original on 2016-12-04.
  10. ↑ "New 104". Archived from the original on 2016-07-02.
  11. ↑ "myPenang – Penang Hop-On Hop-Off is here!". mypenang.gov.my. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  12. ↑ "Penang Hop-On Hop-Off Official Website". www.myhoponhopoff.com. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  13. ↑ "Bicycle lanes set to open in Penang – Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  14. ↑ "For Penang, bike lanes a work in progress". 2013-11-25. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  15. ↑ "Diploma Program". Dalat International School. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  16. ↑ "SK TANJUNG BUNGA – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  17. ↑ "SJK(C) POAY WAH – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  18. ↑ "SPK PERSEKUTUAN (P) – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-21.
  19. ↑ "SMK TANJONG BUNGA – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.smktanjongbunga.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  20. ↑ "SMK PENDIDIKAN KHAS PERSEKUTUAN (P) – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  21. ↑ "Pelita International School | Private & International School Fair". www.privateinternationalschoolfair.com. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  22. ↑ "Tunku Abdul Rahman University College – Penang Campus". www.tarc.edu.my. Archived from the original on 2017-05-23. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  23. ↑ "School for RMAF officers – Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-05-21.
  24. ↑ "Malaysia Penang Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital –Cancer treatment with three Linear Accelerators, Mammogram, Ultrasound, X-ray, PET-CT Scan, CT Scan". www.mountmiriam.com. Retrieved 2017-05-21.
  25. ↑ "The Cherished Clubs of Penang". The Cherished Clubs of Penang. Retrieved 2017-05-21.
  26. ↑ "Penang Swimming Club". Time Out Penang. Retrieved 2017-05-21.
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