Tanjung Bungah

Tanjung Bungah
Suburb of George Town
Other transcription(s)
  Chinese 丹绒武雅

Location of Tanjung Bungah on Penang Island
Coordinates: 5°27′0″N 100°16′0″E / 5.45000°N 100.26667°E / 5.45000; 100.26667
Country  Malaysia
State  Penang
District Northeast Penang Island
Government
  Local Government Penang Island City Council
  Mayor of Penang Island Patahiyah Ismail
  State assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu (DAP)
  Bukit Bendera Member of Parliament Zairil Khir Johari (DAP)
Time zone Malaysian Standard Time (UTC+8)
  Summer (DST) Not observed (UTC)
Postal code 11200
Website www.mbpp.gov.my

Tanjung Bungah (also spelt as Tanjong Bungah) is a suburb of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. It is located along the northern coast of Penang Island between Batu Ferringhi and Tanjung Tokong, and about 11km northwest of George Town proper. Tanjung Bungah is well-known as a beach destination, with several hotels and resorts lining the beaches within the area.[1] Decades of urbanisation has also led to the mushrooming of residential high-rises at Tanjung Bungah.

In addition, the suburb is home to a significant expatriate population; a number of Royal Australian Air Force servicemen used to reside here while being stationed in Penang in the 1960s and 70s.[2][3]

Due to its location along the northern coast of Penang Island, Tanjung Bungah was hard hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.[4]

Panoramic view of Tanjung Bungah

Etymology

Tanjung 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.[1]

The beaches of Tanjung Bungah
View of Tanjung Bungah

History

Tanjung 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 crystal clear waters off Tanjung 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 Tanjung Bungah, known as the Hillside.[3] 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.

The urbanisation of Tanjung Bungah began in the 1980s, leading to the construction of numerous residential high-rises along the shoreline.[1] The development of Tanjung Bungah has also attracted expatriates who chose to retire on Penang Island, as the suburb is located within commuting distance of George Town, the shopping malls at Tanjung Tokong and the beaches of Batu Ferringhi.[2] Two international schools have been established here as well - Dalat International School and Tenby International School.

Tanjung Bungah was one of the hardest hit areas during the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami that ultimately claimed a total of 52 lives in Penang.[4] The Floating Mosque was subsequently built in 2005 and is now a major landmark at Tanjung Bungah.

Landmarks

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/12/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.