Batu Maung

Malaysia / Pulau Pinang / Sungai Ara /
 suburb, city district
Batu Maung is a suburb within the city of George Town. It is situated approximately 15km south of the city centre, encompassing the southeastern tip of Penang Island between Bayan Lepas to the north and Teluk Kumbar to the west. Batu Maung is linked with the city of Seberang Perai on mainland Peninsular Malaysia via the 24km-long Second Penang Bridge, the longest bridge in Southeast Asia.

Until recently, Batu Maung had been a quiet fishing village. Following the expansion of the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone (FIZ) into Batu Maung in the 1990s and the completion of the Second Penang Bridge in 2014, the development of this suburb has accelerated. Due to its proximity to the Penang International Airport (PEN), Batu Maung now houses several freight and logistics firms. The suburb is also home to WorldFish, an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to improving the fisheries industry.

Batu Maung is also the site of the Penang War Museum, a hilltop complex that was originally built as a fortress by the British Army. The original fort was equipped with sea-facing 6-inch guns, tunnels and underground ammunition storage facilities. However, the British eventually fired not a single shot when the Imperial Japanese Army was closing in on Penang in December 1941; the British forces in Penang were evacuated instead, leaving the city of George Town defenceless in the face of the Japanese invasion.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   5°16'33"N   100°16'29"E

Comments

  • The Batu Maung is a small fishing village on the southeast tip of Penang Island. As I document Batu Maung for AsiaExplorers, it brings back memories of childhood. I grew up in Batu Maung, albeit a very different Batu Maung from what it is today. My father used to take me to the coast to buy fish from the fishermen when they boats arrived at shore. To see photos and learn more about Batu Maung, go to: http://www.asiaexplorers.com/malaysia/batu_maung.htm
This article was last modified 5 years ago