Penang State emblem and Flag

The State emblem shows an areca nut tree above a tricolour shield of yellow, blue and white. The island derives its name from the areca nut tree (pokok pinang in Malay). Inside the shield, the Penang Bridge is shown against a yellow background. It symbolises unity between the State and the Federal government. The two pillars of the bridge represent the dual objectives of the New Economic Policy, that is, the eradication of poverty and the restructuring of society. The four cables of the bridge represent the four major races, Malay, Chinese, Indians and others. The five blue and white waves below the bridge stand for the five principles of the Rukunegara (the national ideology) and the 5 administrative districts of the state. The five blue and white sections at the base of the areca nut tree have the same significance.


The tricolour flag features vertical stripes of equal width with an areca nut tree on the white centre panel. Light blue represents the sea surrounding the island; white stands for its serenity and yellow signifies prosperity. Pulau Pinang (Penang Island) derives its name from the areca nut tree, called pokok pinang in Malay.



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Penang Food

Tourism Penang’s Halal & Vegetarian Food Directory

Foodwise, there’s just so much to choose from in Penang that even locals are perplexed! The varieties are seemingly endless. The next time you are faced with the conundrum of where to eat and how to get there, check out Tourism Penang's Halal & Vegetarian Food Directory.

Click on the image to download PDF versions of the list of over a hundred restaurants on the island and mainland, accompanied by descriptions of the place and house specialities, contact info and useful legends.


Having a reputation as a food paradise, be it haute cuisine, or cuisine bourgeoise (hawker fare), Penang offers a heady and exotic mix of delicious cuisine to choose from.
In a word, Penang food is both famous and fabulous. When people mention Penang food, they are more often than not referring to hawker food and coffee shop dining. It's true that some of the hype is overblown but it cannot be denied that Penang is home to many uniquely delicious chow. Ironically, hawkers in other states or towns have been known to pull the crowd by simply advertising their food as hailing from Penang, regardless of its authenticity or quality. Then there are the Penang hawkers who advertise their cusine as specialties from another state, like Johor bak kut teh, Ipoh chicken and bean sprouts or laksa Kedah. In short, an infinite variety of dishes are yours to savour – all you need do is pick and choose.

Penang hawker food can be broken down roughly into several varieties, with each being attributable to Penang's multi-cultural character: Nyonya, Chinese, vegetarian, Indian, Malay, Hakka-styled Western, seafood and desserts. Hybrids are also known to exist, and some famous examples are Malay style chicken rice and char koay teow, and Chinese satay and nasi lemak. Prices are cheap and reasonable.

With fishing being a major economic activity on the island, Penang is naturally a haven for sea food, and a handful of restaurants have already achieved legendary status among locals and foreigners.
Tucked away in remote corners, these eateries are not easy to find without local guidance but are definitely worth the extra effort seeking out.

Desserts play a major role in Penang gastronomy. There are as many varieties as there are races in Penang! To mention a few would do injustice to the rest, so you'll just have to let your eyes and your nose be your guide. A word of warning though – most local desserts tend to be sweet and rich, as coconut milk, flour and sugar are main ingredients.
Thanks to early Chinese migrants, Chinese cuisine ranges from Cantonese to Teochew to Hokkien to Hainanese to Szechuan cooking. There's also Penang Nyonya food, which is a combination of Chinese, Malay and some Thai. The Penang variety of Nyonya food, apparently, is different from the Malaccan or even Singaporean versions. For a touch of luxury, try a five or ten-course Chinese meal at one of the restaurants or hotels in town.

Indian cuisine goes by two names generally – banana leaf rice and nasi kandar. Both are hot and savoury with rice being the main staple, and a menu from north Indian tandoori and nan bread, to South Indian rice and capati (photo left).
Nasi kandar is famously popular with Penangites, and many restaurants selling it are well known not only to those on the island but those in other states as well. It is quite common to find people from other states detouring to Penang just to stop for a meal of nasi kandar before proceeding on their journey elsewhere... Indulge! Savour!

History Of Penang

The "Light" Years and Beyond

In the 16th century, Portuguese traders from Goa, India sailed to the Far East in search of spices. It is said that a small rocky isle on the northern coast of a main island became a landmark for traders to stop and row in by boat to obtain fresh supplies of water from a nearby river. The local Malays called these traders ferringi, an Indian term for Europeans, especially Indian born Portuguese. That rocky isle was then referred to as Batu Ferringi, better known now as "Lover's Isle". The Portuguese called the main island "Pulo Pinaom" or Betel Nut Island. Probably areca nut palm trees were found abundantly then. The palm tree is known as PINANG to the Malays or PENANG to the English.

During the 17th century the turtle-shaped island of Penang situated at the northern entry point to the Straits of Malacca had provided a natural harbour during the monsoon months for Indian, Arabian, Chinese, Dutch, Danish and French ships. Penang island also became a haven for pirates who plundered ships that passed through the Straits of Malacca.

In the 18th century, the spice and opium trade between the East and west had become extremely lucrative. The Dutch dominated the Far East spice trade and the British too needed to establish themselves in the region. Thus, in 1765 Francis Light was instructed by his Company, Jourdain Sullivan and de Souza to establish better trade relations in this part of the world. During this period Penang island belonged to Kedah. In 1771, the Sultan of Kedah offered Captain Francis Light the island of Penang in return for British Protection from the constant threats of the Siamese and Burmese armies. This treaty never materialised as Francis Light's superiors refused to offer any aid.

In 1772 Captain Francis Light left Kedah for Junk Ceylon (Phuket) to set up business with his friend James Scott. By then he was knowledgeable of the peoples' customs and the local language. This helped him to win their trust in him. In 1786, Francis Light acted as middleman in securing Pulau Pinang from the new Sultan Abdullah of Kedah in return for a promise of British protection from his various enemies. It is said that before the agreement was signed, Light sailed in three vessels to the island with a small civilian and naval staff. He landed in that part of Penang now known as the Esplanade on July 17, 1786. On August 11, 1786, Light officially took possession of the island for the Crown and the East India Company. He christianed it "the Prince of Wales Island", and the Union Jack was hoisted over the new stockade. So, in all legal documents, Penang was known as Prince of Wales Island. The settlement in the eastern cape of the island was called Georgetown named after the King of England, George III.

In 1790, when Sultan Abdullah heard that the British would not give protection, he formed an army to get rid of the Dutch and English. He assembled his men at Prai to retake the island of Penang but was defeated. Captain Francis Light had carried out night raids on the enemy's fortress. In 1791, Sultan Abdullah signed a treaty with the British handing over Penang Island to the British. Light promised to pay the Sultan 6,000 Spanish dollars annually. Today, almost two centuries later, the Penang State Government still pays RM 18,800.00 to the Sultan of Kedah annually.

Captain Light's term as the first Superintendent of the Prince of Wales Island came to an end in 1794. He died on October 21, 1794 at the age of 54 probably due to malaria. He was buried at the Protestant cemetery at the end of Northam Road (now known as Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah). He was survived by Martina Rozells, a local Eurasian of Portuguese descent and son, William Light who later founded the city of Adelaide, Australia.

After Francis Light's death, Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Wellesley (Colonel Wellesley the then, future Duke of Wellington) arrived in Penang to coordinate the defences of the island. It was in 1800 that Sir George Leith, then Lieutenant Governor of the Prince of Wales Island secured a strip of land across the channel from the island. He named it Province Wellesley. This gave Penang control over its harbour and food supplies from the mainland. Till this day, the State of Penang comprises two areas – Penang Island and Province Wellesley.

In 1804, Penang was elevated from a Settlement to a Presidency. In 1805, a new Governor, the honourable Philip Dundas took over. His assistant secretary was Thomas Stamford Raffles, the future founder of Singapore in 1819. In 1832, the Straits Settlements was formed comprising the states of Malacca, Singapore and Penang. Penang became its capital but in 1935 Singapore took over Penang as capital of the Straits Settlements.

Beach Street during the 1900s.

The latter part of the 19th century saw Penang enjoying a trade boom, as rich deposits of tin were found in the neighbouring state of Perak. Initially famed for clove and nutmeg, Penang gradually turned to sugar and coconut as cash crops. Pepper was imported from Acheh in Sumatra, in the Indonesian Archipelago, for re-export. With British intervention in the Malay states, Penang became rich from the tin mines of Perak. In time, Penang became an important immigration port for immigrants from various parts of the world, especially those from South China and those from South India. As Britain's only strategic port of call in the Straits of Malacca, Penang was soon linked by ship to Madras, Rangoon, Medan and Singapore. It served as an entreport for southern Thailand, the north of peninsular Malaya, and also the northern region of Sumatra.

At the turn of the 20th century, Penang became a centre of export for rubber and tin. Rubber was in demand for the manufacturing of pneumatic tyres of the first generation of motor cars. The European planters and Chinese towkays (business leaders) made their money in the plantations and mines of the other northern states but built their mansions in Georgetown and sent their children to school here. With the advent of new food canning technology, tin was also in great demand. In 1905 the first hydroelectric scheme in Penang was completed, giving the island her first electricity. Penang's first electric tramway appeared in 1906. By mid 20th century, other modes of transport such as the jin-rickshaws introduced by the Chinese, the bullock carts introduced by the Indian and the horse-carts gradually disappeared from the Penang roads.

Weld Quay during the 1920s. The steamer belonging to Norddeutcscher Lloyd used in shipping tobacco.

By the 1930s, more than forty steamship lines connected Penang to the rest of the world, and there were already "Flying Boat" services to London and Singapore. Penang had become an entertainment centre, with cabarets, cinemas, amusement parks and gambling establishments. The popularity of the turm club led to the ruin of many rich families whose sons were tempted to bet on slow horses and fast women. Then came the depression. Penang's economy suffered due to the Wall Street Crash. Before the people of Penang could recover from the depression, the Second World War broke out on December 8, 1941. The Japanese invaded Malaya. Penang was bombed and the British fled to Singapore. The year 1942 saw Penang living in fear. The days of the Japanese Kempettai were the days of horror, torture and executions. In September 4, 1945, the Japanese surrendered to the British Forces.

This was followed by years of struggle for power between the communists and the democratic forces of Malaya and Britain. Malaya gained independence in August 31, 1957 and Penang became one of its 13 component states. Georgetown, which has the oldest municipal history in the country, was awarded City status by royal charter on 1st January 1957.

At Dataran Merdeka during independence day.

The latter part of the 20th century witnessed outstanding progress and development in commerce and industry. Presently Penang is officially known as Negeri Pulau Pinang. Those who have enjoyed the beauty of the island gave Penang various names – An Asia in Miniature, An Island in the Sun, The Garden of the East, The Pearl of the Orient and The Land of Festivals. By whatever name she is called, Penang Island's cosmopolitan population of over one million come from a variety of backgrounds and culture. Each of the races of Penang's multi-ethnic society has contributed to the rich potpourri of cultures.

Pearl Of The Oriental

Widely known as the Pearl of the Orient, Penang is one of Asia's most famous islands. Its natural beauty and exotic heritage have been attracting curious visitors for centuries.

Travel guides have referred to it as " . . . a place of mysterious temples and palm-shrouded beaches", while literary giant Somerset Maugham is known to have stayed on the island and spun tales about the romance of the white planter in South-East Asia.

Penang today is very much an amalgam of the old and the new – a bustling port, a heritage city and an industrial base. Perhaps it has more to offer per square mile than any other place in the world. For sheer variety of locales, cultures and foods, Penang is hard to beat. In it's capital Georgetown, modern skyscrapers rise from one of Southeast Asia's largest collections of intact prewar buildings. Manufactures of sophisticated electronic goods compete for space with wet markets and old temples. Where else can you find a century-old church, a Chinese temple, an Indian temple, and a Muslim mosque all within a five-minute walk from one another? Likewise, tall urban structures stand beside the red-tiled roofs of Chinatown and "Little India" is just across the road, while the Malay kampungs lie on the outskirts. The seamless melding of the many peoples of Penang is best reflected in the delicious hawker foods (available around the clock) and the adherence to traditions and customs. Festivals abound throughout the year.

Should one wish to get away from the busy city, the idlyllic beaches and soothing hills are but minutes away, while the industrial free trade zone, the "Silicon Valley of the East", and the international airport are equally accessible.

Penang or its Malay name of Pulau Pinang is made up of a turtle-shaped island, a total of 285 square kilometers, and a strip of land called Seberang Prai on Peninsular Malaysia about 48 kilometers wide.
Since 1985, the island has been joined to the mainland by the Penang Bridge, one of the longest bridges in the world. Alternatively, travellers arriving from the mainland can hop onto the ferry and take a 20-minute ride across. There are also international flights that connect directly to the international airport on the island.