Tanjong Tokong
Suburb of George Town
Other transcription(s)
 • Mandarin丹绒道光 {(Simplified)
丹絨道光 (Traditional)
Dān róng dào guāng (Pinyin)
 • HokkienTan-jiông-tō-kong (Tâi-lô)
Tanjong Tokong is located in Central George Town, Penang
Tanjong Tokong
Tanjong Tokong
Location within    George Town in    Penang
Coordinates: 5°26′51.36″N 100°18′24.12″E / 5.4476000°N 100.3067000°E / 5.4476000; 100.3067000
Country Malaysia
State Penang
City George Town
Government
 • Local governmentPenang Island City Council
 • Mayor of Penang IslandRajendran P. Anthony
 • Kebun Bunga State AssemblymanLee Boon Heng (PKR)
 • Bukit Bendera Member of ParliamentSyerleena Abdul Rashid (DAP)
Time zoneUTC+8 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)Not observed
Postal code
10470
Websitembpp.gov.my

Tanjong Tokong[1] (also spelt as Tanjung Tokong) is a suburb of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. It is located at the northeastern coast of Penang Island, 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of the city centre. Over the recent decades, the former fishing village has been transformed into an upper class residential suburb of the city, with high-rises such as Straits Quay lining the coast.[2]

The area had already been inhabited for decades prior to Captain Francis Light's founding of Penang Island in 1786. Tanjong Tokong was believed to be the site of the first Chinese settlement on Penang Island. Up until the 1970s, Tanjong Tokong was a fishing village; rapid urbanisation soon followed, with residential high-rises now lining the coast.[3][4]

At present, the reclamation of land is ongoing off the shores of Tanjong Tokong, creating a new township – Seri Tanjong Pinang.[5][6]

Due to its location along the northern coast of Penang Island, Tanjong Tokong was hard hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.[7]

History

An 1818 painting depicting the coastline of what is now Tanjong Tokong. Mount Erskine is also visible to the right.
Tanjong Tokong in the 1910s
Skyline of Tanjong Tokong as seen from Gurney Drive.
Jalan Tanjong Tokong is the main artery through the suburb.

In the mid-18th century, a Chinese by the name of Zhang Li founded a fishing village at what is now Tanjong Tokong.[8][9] He had actually intended to sail from China to Sumatra, but the rough seas pushed him to Penang Island instead. His arrival at Tanjong Tokong preceded Captain Francis Light's landing on Penang Island by about 40 years. To this day, Zhang Li, whose grave still lies at Tanjong Tokong, is worshipped by ethnic Chinese in Malaysia and Singapore as Tua Pek Kong, a local deity.

Tanjong Tokong remained a quiet fishing village until the 1970s, when the urbanisation of the area began. Low-rise apartments were followed by higher condominiums that were constructed along the shoreline. In addition, land reclamation is currently being carried out off the coastline as part of the Seri Tanjong Pinang project.[5][6] The new Straits Quay marina was created at the newly reclaimed land and opened to the public in 2011.[10] These developments have led to an increase in the standards of living, as Tanjong Tokong grew into an upscale suburb of George Town.

Tanjong Tokong was one of the hardest hit areas during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that ultimately claimed a total of 52 lives in Penang.[7]

Transportation

The main thoroughfare within Tanjong Tokong is Jalan Tanjong Tokong, which stretches from the neighbouring Pulau Tikus suburb and continues as Jalan Tanjong Bungah to the west. Part of the pan-island Federal Route 6, Jalan Tanjong Tokong, as with the handful of roads within the suburb, is prone to traffic congestion.[11][12] An alternative route for the residents within the Tanjong Tokong and Tanjong Bungah suburbs is the Vale of Tempe Road, which connects with Mount Erskine Road.[13]

Rapid Penang buses 101, 102 and 104 serve the residents of the suburb, by connecting Tanjong Tokong with various destinations within the city, such as Tanjong Bungah, Batu Ferringhi, the Penang International Airport and Queensbay Mall.[14][15][16] Aside from these routes, Tanjong Tokong is served by two free-of-charge transit services, namely the Pulau Tikus Loop (PTL) and the Congestion Alleviation Transport (CAT) Tanjong Tokong route, which are also operated by Rapid Penang.[17][18][19]

Education

A total of 3 primary schools are located within Tanjong Tokong. The schools at Tanjong Tokong are as listed below.

Primary schools

  • SRK Tanjong Tokong[20]
  • SRJK (C) Hun Bin[21]
  • SRJK (C) Phor Tay[22]

Shopping

Straits Quay, a shopping mall-cum-marina at Seri Tanjong Pinang
Island 88, formerly known as Island Plaza

The three existing shopping malls within the Tanjong Tokong suburb are Island 88, Straits Quay and City Junction.

Straits Quay, built at the new Seri Tanjong Pinang neighbourhood, includes a marina and is connected to the Eastern & Oriental Hotel via a water taxi service. It also contains a Royal Selangor outlet, a convention centre and the Performing Arts Centre of Penang (PenangPac).[23] Meanwhile, Jalan Tanjong Tokong is home to island 88, one of the oldest shopping malls in the city of George Town, alongside the newer City Junction, which was opened in the 2020s.[24][25]

Aside from the three shopping malls, Tesco also opened a hypermarket at Seri Tanjong Pinang in 2011, its third outlet on Penang Island after the Gelugor and Sungai Dua stores.[26][27]

Sports

The Penang Chinese Swimming Club at the western end of Tanjong Tokong was founded in 1928 to promote swimming among Penang's Chinese community, at a time when Asians were barred from existing swimming associations.[28][29] Aside from swimming activities, the club house now hosts other watersports activities as well, such as water polo and scuba diving.[29]

Tourist attractions

Neighbourhoods

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tanjung Tokong.

References

  1. ↑ "Dokumen Gazetir Pulau Pinang Pulau Mutiara 2022" (PDF) (in Malay). Jawatankuasa Kebangsaan Nama Geografi (JKNG) Malaysia. p. 15.
  2. ↑ Quay, Straits. "Straits Quay". www.straitsquay.com. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  3. ↑ "Managing Changes in Tanjung Tokong". Managing Changes in Tanjung Tokong. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  4. ↑ "Residents wish for heritage village – Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  5. 1 2 "E & O gains more time to finish Seri Tg Pinang reclamation – Business News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  6. 1 2 "Seri Tanjung Pinang". www.seritanjungpinang.com. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  7. 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.
  8. ↑ "Tanjung Tokong | Property For Sale In Penang Island – The Edge Property Malaysia". news.theedgeproperty.com.my. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  9. ↑ "A peek into Hakka heritage – Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  10. ↑ "Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang – The Official Opening of Straits Quay". www.penang.gov.my. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  11. ↑ "Guan Eng insists Putrajaya's duty to strengthen federal roads in Penang". 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  12. ↑ "Great divide in views – Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  13. ↑ Sekaran, R. "Road reopens ahead of deadline – Nation | The Star Online". Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  14. ↑ Route map rapidpg.com.my
  15. ↑ Route map rapidpg.com.my
  16. ↑ Route map rapidpg.com.my
  17. ↑ The Star Online (2018-02-14), Penang announces RM15m free bus service, archived from the original on 2021-12-19, retrieved 2018-04-01
  18. ↑ "Free shuttle in Pulau Tikus now includes Mount Erskine in its loop – Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  19. ↑ "myPenang – Pulau Tikus Loop". mypenang.gov.my. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  20. ↑ "SK TANJONG TOKONG – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  21. ↑ "SJK(C) HUN BIN – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  22. ↑ "SJK(C) PHOR TAY – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  23. ↑ Quay, Straits. "Straits Quay". www.straitsquay.com. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  24. ↑ Arnold Loh (3 Sep 2022). "New life for Island Plaza". The Star. Retrieved 21 Nov 2023.
  25. ↑ Dermawan, Audrey (14 Jun 2021). "Village Grocer opens first northern region store today". New Straits Times. Retrieved 20 Nov 2023.
  26. ↑ "Tesco Stores (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd". tesco.com.my. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  27. ↑ "Tesco comes to Tanjung Tokong – Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  28. ↑ "Chinese Swimming Club, Penang | www.cscpg.com". www.cscpg.com. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  29. 1 2 "The Cherished Clubs of Penang". The Cherished Clubs of Penang. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
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