About
Penang
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Located 5o north of the Equator, Penang, the only island state in Malaysia is also known as the Pearl of the Orient. The turtle shaped island, measuring a total of 285 square kilometers, is situated on the north-western coast of the Malay Peninsula at the entrance to the Straits of Malacca. Bounded to the north and east by the State of Kedah and to the south by the state of Perak, it consists of the island of Penang and a coastal strip on the mainland called Province Wellesley (Seberang Prai). The island and mainland are separated by a channel 3 km wide at the narrowest point and 13 km at the widest. They are linked by the 13.5 km Penang Bridge, the third longest in the world, and a 24-hour ferry service. The urban centre is Georgetown. Climate Penang's climate can be described as equatorial, a pleasant mix of warm, sunny days and occasional cooling rain storms, with August through November being the wettest months generally. Average rainfall is 255 cms (100 inches) throughout the year. Humidity is usually high, and the temperature varies between 21o and 32o Celsius (70o to 95o Farenheit).
Penang has 1.2 million people, more than half of whom live on the island. The population is multi-racial, young and almost equally distributed between male and female. The racial breakdown is as follows: Chinese 59 percent, Malay 32 percent, Indian seven percent and others two percent. Languages Although Malay is the national language, English is also widely used, particularly in business and the tourism industry. As Penang was (and still is) a meeting point of many cultures, other languages and dialects are also spoken and understood – these include the various Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien) and Indian (Bengali, Hindu Malayalam, Punjabi and Telegu) dialects, as well as smatterings of Thai, and some European languages. The Alliance Francaise and Goethe Institute for example, offer courses in French and German respectively.
The official state religion is Islam, but freedom of worship is observed. Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Taoism and other religions are freely practiced – Muslim mosques, Buddhist and Hindu temples, and Christian churches are commonly found throughout the island. Visitors can expect to be amazed by the diversity and profusion of festivals and other religious celebrations which occur regularly throughout the year. Attire Depending on activity. Generally you can't go wrong with clothes made of light cotton or other moisture absorbing fabric. Swim wear, sunglasses and sun block will come in handy for days on the beach. Flip flops and strappy sandals are the most comfortable footwear for walking and sightseeing. Unless you can afford to launder your clothes daily, don't bother with socks. Some classy establishments in Penang observe a dress code, so if you plan on dining there, don't leave that designer gown, suit and shoes behind. Please note that there are NO nude beaches in Penang. Public nudity, in general, is frowned upon by the locals. Travel Documents Visitors to Malaysia must possess a national passport or other internationally recognised travel documents such as Certificates of Identity and Emergency Certificates of Affidavits. Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the period of allowed stay in Malaysia. Those who are in possession of passports which are not recognised by Malaysia must apply for a document in lieu of a passport and visa which is issued by Malaysian missions abroad. For citizens of most countries, no visa is needed for short social visits. For further informationon visa, click here. Working papers are required for temporary employment in Malaysia. Visitors wishing to extend their stay may apply at the Immigration Office in Lebuh Pantai, two days before the visa expires. It is an offence to overstay the validity of the visit passes – therefore read carefully the visit passes endorsed on your documents. Please ask the Malaysian embassy in your country for more information, or visit the Malaysian Immigration website at http://www.imi.gov.my Health Requirements Smallpox and Yellow Fever vaccinations are not required for travellers entering Malaysia, except for those who have visited endemic zones 14 days (for smallpox) or 6 days (for yellow fever) prior to arriving in the country. Children are exempted form this ruling, for yellow fever if they are under 12 months old, and for smallpox if they are under 6 months old. Customs and Duties Items such as cameras, watches, pens, lighters, cosmetics, perfume and portable cassette players are duty free in Malaysia. Visitors bringing in dutiable goods such as video equipment may have to pay a deposit of up to 50% of the value for temporary importation, refundable when they leave. You are advised to carry the receipt of purchase. If you pay any tax or deposit, please ensure that you are given a receipt.
Tourist whose stay in Malaysia
in excess of 72 hours are exempted from paying taxes on the following: Restrictions Import licenses are required for firearms and commercial quantities of gold. Please note that Malaysian laws provide the death penalty for drug trafficking. Other forbidden items are pornography, flick knives, broadcast receivers of a certain frequency, goods from Israel, and animals like piranhas. For more information please visit the Malaysian Customs and Excise website at http://www.customs.gov.my
The currency exchange for the Malaysian Ringgit is pegged at RM3.80 per USD. For other currencies, please ask the local money changers or banks. The former offers better rates and are open to negotiations. For a general idea of how much your currency is worth in Malaysia, go to www.oanda.com/converter/classic for the most up-to-date rates. Money Changers Licensed money changers operate all over Georgetown, particularly in Lebuh Pantai and Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling. They provide a convenient means of exchanging foreign currency. Rates are usually displayed on a board and are often better than the bank rates. Getting There By Air – The Penang International Airport is 16km from Georgetown. Cathay Pacific, Eva Air, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Thai International offer connecting flights. By Rail – Butterworth is a major station on the north-south railway from Singapore to Bangkok. The ferry terminal to Penang island is within walking distance from the station. By Driving – The North-South Expressway is an excellent freeway linking Alor Setar, in the north of Peninsular Malaysia, through Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru in the south. Click here for more details. For a list of regional and international Tourism Malaysia offices and their contact details, click here.
Penang's public transport system is efficient and moving around by taxis, buses or trishaws may be a fun and inexpensive way of catching the sights. Click here for more details. Miscellaneous In general, Malaysians are gentle and discreet people. Please be considerate to your hosts. Blatant displays of affection like French kissing, groping, fondling, caressing etc in public are a definite no-no. What you do in private is entirely up to you. In the open, go easy on that smooch.
• If you visit
a mosque or temple that is not usually on the tourist maps, it is a good
idea to request Economy The economy of Penang is multifaceted, diverse, vibrant, thriving and growing. Not depending on any one sector for its growth, Penang's economy continues to thrive even during economic slowdowns. This can be attributed in part to the excellent infrastructure and transportation facilities. With an international airport, an excellent port for ships, access to the North-South highway and the railroad, Penang is an ideal location for the manufacturing sector as demonstrated by the presence of several international companies.
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