Butterworth, Seberang Perai
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Butterworth is the
city centre A city centre, also known as an urban core, is the Commerce, commercial, Culture, cultural and often the historical, Politics, political, and geographic heart of a city. The term "city centre" is primarily used in British English, and closely e ...
of
Seberang Perai Seberang Perai is a city in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located on the Malay Peninsula and separated from Penang Island by the Penang Strait, it shares borders with Kedah to the north and east and Perak to the south. The city spans an are ...
in the
Malaysian state Malaysia is a federation of thirteen states and three federal territories, which form the primary administrative divisions of the country. Eleven states and two territories are part of Peninsular Malaysia, while two states and one territory ...
of
Penang Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Th ...
. It lies about east of George Town, the capital city of Penang, across the
Penang Strait The Penang Strait is an 11 kilometre-wide strait that separates Penang Island from mainland Malay Peninsula. Penang Island is to the west of the channel, while Seberang Perai, the mainland half of the State of Penang, is to the east. The northe ...
. , Butterworth had a total population of 80,378 residents. Butterworth was named after
William John Butterworth Major-General William John Butterworth (10 June 1801 – 4 November 1856) was the governor of the Straits Settlements from August 1843 to 21 March 1855. In 1851, when the Straits Settlements were transferred from the authority of the Gov ...
, a former Governor of the Straits Settlements during the mid-19th century. Under the
British Raj The British Raj ( ; from Hindustani language, Hindustani , 'reign', 'rule' or 'government') was the colonial rule of the British The Crown, Crown on the Indian subcontinent, * * lasting from 1858 to 1947. * * It is also called Crown rule ...
, the town came into being as a transportation hub, due to its proximity to George Town. While the
British East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...
initially obtained Seberang Perai (then named ''Province Wellesley'') for agricultural purposes, Butterworth has also witnessed massive industrialisation during the latter half of the 20th century. In 1974, the
Port of Penang The Port of Penang is a deepwater seaport within the Malaysian state of Penang. It consists of terminals along the Penang Strait, including five in Seberang Perai and one in George Town. The Port of Penang was the third busiest harbour in Malay ...
was relocated into the town. A cross-strait ferry service provides a direct link between Butterworth and George Town. The Port of Penang handled 1.52 million TEUs of cargo , making it one of the busiest seaports in Malaysia. In addition, the
Butterworth railway station The Butterworth railway station is a Malaysian railway station located at and named after the town of Butterworth, Penang. The station is served by the KTM ETS and the KTM Komuter Northern Sector trains. It previously served as the southern en ...
, situated adjacent to the town's
ferry terminal A passenger terminal is a structure in a port which services passengers boarding and leaving water vessels such as ferry, ferries, cruise ships and ocean liners. Depending on the types of vessels serviced by the terminal, it may be named (for e ...
, is a major
Malayan Railway Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) (; Jawi script, Jawi: ) or colloquially referred to simply as KTM, is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The railway system dates back to the British colonial era, when it was first built to tra ...
station, with train services operated by both the Malayan Railway and the
State Railway of Thailand The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) (, abbrev. รฟท., ) is the state-owned rail operator under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport (Thailand), Ministry of Transport in Thailand. History The SRT was founded as the Royal State Rail ...
.


Etymology

The town of Butterworth was named after
William John Butterworth Major-General William John Butterworth (10 June 1801 – 4 November 1856) was the governor of the Straits Settlements from August 1843 to 21 March 1855. In 1851, when the Straits Settlements were transferred from the authority of the Gov ...
, who was the Governor of the Straits Settlements from 1843 to 1855.


History

A fishing village named Bagan had existed prior to the acquisition of the area by the
British East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...
. The town of Butterworth only came into being in the
British Raj The British Raj ( ; from Hindustani language, Hindustani , 'reign', 'rule' or 'government') was the colonial rule of the British The Crown, Crown on the Indian subcontinent, * * lasting from 1858 to 1947. * * It is also called Crown rule ...
and was concurrently named after the then Governor of the Straits Settlements,
William John Butterworth Major-General William John Butterworth (10 June 1801 – 4 November 1856) was the governor of the Straits Settlements from August 1843 to 21 March 1855. In 1851, when the Straits Settlements were transferred from the authority of the Gov ...
. Butterworth was developed as a mainland counterpart to the bustling
entrepôt An entrepôt ( ; ) or transshipment port is a port, city, or trading post where merchandise may be imported, stored, or traded, usually to be exported again. Such cities often sprang up and such ports and trading posts often developed into comm ...
of George Town on
Penang Island Penang Island is the main constituent island of the Malaysian state of Penang. It is located off the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Malacca Strait, with the Penang Strait separating the island from Seberang Perai on the mainla ...
, directly across the
Penang Strait The Penang Strait is an 11 kilometre-wide strait that separates Penang Island from mainland Malay Peninsula. Penang Island is to the west of the channel, while Seberang Perai, the mainland half of the State of Penang, is to the east. The northe ...
. During the
British Raj The British Raj ( ; from Hindustani language, Hindustani , 'reign', 'rule' or 'government') was the colonial rule of the British The Crown, Crown on the Indian subcontinent, * * lasting from 1858 to 1947. * * It is also called Crown rule ...
, Butterworth grew into a major transportation hub. Passengers and goods were transported across the strait by
sampan A sampan is a relatively flat-bottomed wooden boat found in East, Southeast, and South Asia. It is possibly of Chinese or Austronesian origin. Some sampans include a small shelter on board and may be used as a permanent habitation on in ...
s, and in 1894, the first cross-strait ferry service between Butterworth and George Town was introduced. By 1900, a nascent railway line running the length of
British Malaya The term "British Malaya" (; ) loosely describes a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the island of Singapore that were brought under British Empire, British hegemony or control between the late 18th and the mid-20th century. Unlike the ...
was extended to Butterworth. These developments allowed tin to be transported more efficiently to Butterworth, which functioned as a transit point whereby the tin would then be shipped to George Town for smelting and export. As with the rest of
Penang Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Th ...
, Butterworth was occupied by the
Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...
between December 1941 and September 1945. During the early days of the
Japanese invasion of Malaya The Malayan campaign, referred to by Japanese sources as the , was a military campaign fought by Allied and Axis forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 15 February 1942 during the Second World War. It was dominated by land battles between ...
, the
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
and the
Royal Australian Air Force The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the principal Air force, aerial warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army. Constitutionally the Governor-Gener ...
units stationed at
RAF Butterworth Butterworth may refer to: Places * Butterworth, Greater Manchester, a former township and civil parish centred on Milnrow, England, formerly in Lancashire * Butterworth, Eastern Cape, now also known as Gcuwa, a town located in South Africa * Bu ...
struggled to counter Japanese air raids over
Penang Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Th ...
and took heavy casualties. These Allied units had to withdraw southwards by 15 December, while RAF Butterworth was seized by the Imperial Japanese 25th Army on 20 December. After
Malaya Malaya refers to a number of historical and current political entities related to what is currently Peninsular Malaysia in Southeast Asia: Political entities * British Malaya (1826–1957), a loose collection of the British colony of the Straits ...
's independence in 1957, as part of an effort to advocate import substitution industries in the 1960s, the
Alliance An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or sovereign state, states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not an explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an a ...
-led Penang state government, led by the then
Chief Minister A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union ter ...
Wong Pow Nee Wong Pow Nee (7 October 1911 – 31 August 2002) was a Malaysian politician and diplomat. He was Penang's first Chief Minister,Ng 2007 serving from 1957 to 1969 and Malaysia's first Ambassador to Rome. Early history He was born in Bukit Mert ...
, developed
Mak Mandin Mak Mandin is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital c ...
as the first industrial estate in
Penang Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Th ...
. The Mak Mandin Industrial Estate was founded in 1961. In 1974, the Port of Penang was relocated from George Town to Butterworth, substantially boosting the town's economy. The Butterworth Town Council had been established in 1953. However, the town council was amalgamated with the Seberang Perai North Rural District Council in 1962. The local governments in
Seberang Perai Seberang Perai is a city in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located on the Malay Peninsula and separated from Penang Island by the Penang Strait, it shares borders with Kedah to the north and east and Perak to the south. The city spans an are ...
were eventually merged and upgraded into the
Seberang Perai Municipal Council The Seberang Perai City Council ( ) is the local government that administers the city of Seberang Perai, which encompasses the mainland half of the Malaysian state of Penang. The city council, which has jurisdiction over an area of , falls under ...
in 1976. Towards the end of the 20th century, Butterworth underwent a period of decline. The town suffered significantly due to administrative decentralisation. The
North Seberang Perai District The North Seberang Perai District is a district in Seberang Perai within the Malaysian state of Penang. The district covers the northern third of Seberang Perai, including the city centre of Butterworth. It borders Kedah Kedah (), also kno ...
Office, along with the district's police headquarters and a government-run hospital, was moved out of the town. By the time of the relocation of the Seberang Perai Municipal Council from Butterworth to
Bukit Mertajam Bukit Mertajam is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It also serves as the seat of the Central Seberang Perai District. , Bukit Mertajam had a population of 12,079. Whilst founded in the 19th century as an agricultural ...
in 2006, the town's infrastructure had deteriorated extensively. In 1988, the passenger platform of the town's ferry terminal collapsed, costing 32 lives, while in 2001, a fire destroyed a three-storey bus station near the ferry terminal. In recent years, more efforts have been undertaken to revive the town's fortunes. At present, the ongoing infrastructure projects within Butterworth include
Penang Sentral Penang Sentral is an intermodal transit-oriented development in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. Proposed as the main transportation hub within the George Town Conurbation, the first phase of the Penang Sentral project opened on 22 November 2 ...
, which is mooted as the main transportation hub within the State of Penang, and by extension, northern Malaysia. Plans to rejuvenate parts of the town centre through the promotion of arts and culture have also been implemented through public-private partnerships.


Geography

Butterworth lies at the southernmost tip of the
North Seberang Perai District The North Seberang Perai District is a district in Seberang Perai within the Malaysian state of Penang. The district covers the northern third of Seberang Perai, including the city centre of Butterworth. It borders Kedah Kedah (), also kno ...
, between the
Perai River The Perai River () is a major river in Penang, Malaysia. It also acts as the mother river of Butterworth. The course of the river separates Perai and the Seberang Jaya suburb. See also * List of rivers of Malaysia This is an incomplete list ...
to the south and the
Penang Strait The Penang Strait is an 11 kilometre-wide strait that separates Penang Island from mainland Malay Peninsula. Penang Island is to the west of the channel, while Seberang Perai, the mainland half of the State of Penang, is to the east. The northe ...
to the west. The Perai River forms a natural boundary between Butterworth and the neighbouring suburb of
Perai Perai is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the States and federal territories of Malaysia, Malaysian state of Penang. It lies at the southern bank of the Perai River and borders Butterworth, Seberang Perai, Butterworth to the north. The area now know ...
, with the latter situated on the southern banks of the river. Both areas are connected via the
Prai River Bridge Perai River Bridge is a dual-three lane cable stayed bridge that straddles the Perai River in Seberang Perai, Penang, Malaysia. It is part of the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR). Designed by Dar Al-Handasah Consultants, it won the IStructE Aw ...
, which spans the width of the Perai River. Butterworth spans an area of , and includes neighbourhoods such as
Bagan Ajam Bagan Ajam is a residential neighbourhood within the city of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It is best known for its morning market, where most residents will be, especially on weekends. Pantai Bagan Ajam is a beach here that is ...
, Bagan Dalam, Bagan Jermal and
Bagan Luar Bagan Luar is an area of the town of Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia, between Bagan Jermal to the north and Bagan Dalam to the south. It is named after Kampung Bagan Luar, a former village in the area. Jalan Bagan Luar, or Bagan Luar Road, is a majo ...
.


Demographics

, Butterworth was home to a population of 80,378, resulting in a population density of . Ethnic Chinese constituted more than half of the city centre's population, while Malays formed another 24%.
Indians Indian or Indians may refer to: Associated with India * of or related to India ** Indian people ** Indian diaspora ** Languages of India ** Indian English, a dialect of the English language ** Indian cuisine Associated with indigenous peoples o ...
also comprised over 14% of the population, followed by non-citizens at nearly 10%.


Economy

The economy of Butterworth is primarily driven by its industries and the maritime trade at the
Port of Penang The Port of Penang is a deepwater seaport within the Malaysian state of Penang. It consists of terminals along the Penang Strait, including five in Seberang Perai and one in George Town. The Port of Penang was the third busiest harbour in Malay ...
. The Mak Mandin Industrial Estate forms the heart of Butterworth's manufacturing sector and is home to a number of major local firms, including Federal Oats Mills, Fujikura Federal Cables and Zenman Industries. In addition, Butterworth has active steel and tin industries. The former includes steel fabrication, and smaller businesses dealing with automotive parts and scrap metal. The town's tin industry players include Malaysia Smelting Corporation, the world's second largest supplier of tin and a subsidiary of the
Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
-listed
Straits Trading Company The Straits Trading Company Limited is a Singapore-based corporation with operations in Singapore and Malaysia, as well as various localities in Asia and Australia. Founded in 1887, the company was the result of a partnership for tin smelting bet ...
. Meanwhile, the Port of Penang is the third busiest seaport in Malaysia, handling 1.52 million TEUs of container in 2017. The Port's strategic location enabled it to service not just northern Malaysia, but also southern
Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
.


Transportation

Butterworth is the main transportation hub within the State of Penang, due to its location by the
Penang Strait The Penang Strait is an 11 kilometre-wide strait that separates Penang Island from mainland Malay Peninsula. Penang Island is to the west of the channel, while Seberang Perai, the mainland half of the State of Penang, is to the east. The northe ...
and its close proximity to George Town on
Penang Island Penang Island is the main constituent island of the Malaysian state of Penang. It is located off the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Malacca Strait, with the Penang Strait separating the island from Seberang Perai on the mainla ...
.


Sea

In 1974, the
Port of Penang The Port of Penang is a deepwater seaport within the Malaysian state of Penang. It consists of terminals along the Penang Strait, including five in Seberang Perai and one in George Town. The Port of Penang was the third busiest harbour in Malay ...
moved its cargo and container operations from George Town on
Penang Island Penang Island is the main constituent island of the Malaysian state of Penang. It is located off the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Malacca Strait, with the Penang Strait separating the island from Seberang Perai on the mainla ...
to Butterworth. Currently the most important harbour within northern Malaysia, the Port of Penang now operates four facilities within Butterworth. * North Butterworth Container Terminal * Butterworth Wharves * Vegetable oil tanker pier * Bagan Dalam Dockyard Penang Ferry is a shuttle ferry service that links Butterworth with George Town. The oldest ferry service in Malaysia commenced operations in 1894, and to this day, serves as a convenient mode of transportation across the
Penang Strait The Penang Strait is an 11 kilometre-wide strait that separates Penang Island from mainland Malay Peninsula. Penang Island is to the west of the channel, while Seberang Perai, the mainland half of the State of Penang, is to the east. The northe ...
for the residents of Butterworth. At present, six ferries ply the Penang Strait between the
Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal The Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal is a ferry slip within Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. Situated at Butterworth, this docking facility is used for the state's ferry service between the city and George Town, which lies acr ...
in Butterworth and George Town daily.


Land

The
Butterworth railway station The Butterworth railway station is a Malaysian railway station located at and named after the town of Butterworth, Penang. The station is served by the KTM ETS and the KTM Komuter Northern Sector trains. It previously served as the southern en ...
is one of the major stations along the
Malayan Railway Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) (; Jawi script, Jawi: ) or colloquially referred to simply as KTM, is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The railway system dates back to the British colonial era, when it was first built to tra ...
's west coast route. As such, regular Malayan Railway services are available to other cities along western
Peninsular Malaysia Peninsular Malaysia, historically known as Malaya and also known as West Malaysia or the Malaysian Peninsula, is the western part of Malaysia that comprises the southern part of the Malay Peninsula on Mainland Southeast Asia and the list of isla ...
, including
Ipoh Ipoh (, ) is the capital city of the Malaysian States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Perak. Located on the Kinta River, it is nearly north of Kuala Lumpur and southeast of George Town, Penang, George Town in neighbouring Penang ...
,
Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...
,
Malacca Malacca (), officially the Historic State of Malacca (), is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state in Malaysia located in the Peninsular Malaysia#Other features, southern region of the Malay Peninsula, facing the Strait of Malacca ...
and
Johor Bahru Johor Bahru, abbreviated as JB, is the capital city of the Malaysian state of Johor. It is the core city of Johor Bahru District, Malaysia's second-largest district by population and the second-largest district economy. Covering an area of ...
, as well as on to Woodlands in northern
Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
. Aside from these, the Butterworth railway station is also the terminus of the
State Railway of Thailand The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) (, abbrev. รฟท., ) is the state-owned rail operator under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport (Thailand), Ministry of Transport in Thailand. History The SRT was founded as the Royal State Rail ...
's Southern Line (via
Padang Besar __NOTOC__ Padang Besar may refer to: Places Towns * Padang Besar, Malaysia, a town on the Malaysian side of the Malaysia-Thailand border * Padang Besar, Thailand, a town on the Thai side of the Malaysia-Thailand border Railway Stations *Padang Bes ...
) and the
International Express The ''International Express'' (; ) is an express train between Bangkok, Thailand and Padang Besar, Malaysia. The train formerly traveled to Butterworth, Penang. This train's passenger cars include 2nd-class air conditioned sleepers, and an ...
from
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...
. Notably, the train station is one of the main stops of the
Eastern and Oriental Express The ''Eastern & Oriental Express'' is a luxury cruise train that carries passengers between Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. The train is operated by Belmond Limited. As of 2024, only two seasonal routes are operated between Singapore and ...
service between Bangkok and Singapore as well. In recent years, the
Penang Sentral Penang Sentral is an intermodal transit-oriented development in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. Proposed as the main transportation hub within the George Town Conurbation, the first phase of the Penang Sentral project opened on 22 November 2 ...
project has been underway at a site adjacent to both the Butterworth railway station and
Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal The Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal is a ferry slip within Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. Situated at Butterworth, this docking facility is used for the state's ferry service between the city and George Town, which lies acr ...
. Mooted as the main transportation hub in the State of Penang and as Penang's answer to
Kuala Lumpur Sentral Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station (KL Sentral) is a transit-oriented development that houses the main railway station of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Opened on 16 April 2001, KL Sentral replaced the old Kuala Lumpur railway station as t ...
, Penang Sentral is intended to serve as a termini for both public bus and longer-distance intercity bus services. Public bus services are provided by two firms -
Rapid Penang Rapid Penang (stylised as ''rapidPenang'') is a public bus brand operating within the George Town Conurbation in Malaysia. Established in 2007 as a subsidiary of Prasarana Malaysia, it serves as the main public transport system within the sta ...
and Cityliner. Due to Butterworth's importance as a transportation hub, most of the Rapid Penang's routes originate and terminate within the town. Rapid Penang's bus routes 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 608, 701, 702, 703, 709 and 801 connect Butterworth with other towns within
Seberang Perai Seberang Perai is a city in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located on the Malay Peninsula and separated from Penang Island by the Penang Strait, it shares borders with Kedah to the north and east and Perak to the south. The city spans an are ...
, including
Perai Perai is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the States and federal territories of Malaysia, Malaysian state of Penang. It lies at the southern bank of the Perai River and borders Butterworth, Seberang Perai, Butterworth to the north. The area now know ...
,
Bukit Mertajam Bukit Mertajam is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It also serves as the seat of the Central Seberang Perai District. , Bukit Mertajam had a population of 12,079. Whilst founded in the 19th century as an agricultural ...
, Kepala Batas and
Nibong Tebal Nibong Tebal is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located at the northern bank of the Kerian River within the Southern Seberang Perai District, it is the southernmost populated place of Penang. Nibong Tebal containe ...
, whilst the company's Intercity routes link Butterworth with
Sungai Petani Sungai Petani ( abbr. Sg. Petani or SP) is a city in Kuala Muda District, Kedah, Malaysia. The population of the municipal area of Sungai Petani is larger than Kedah's state capital, Alor Setar. It is located about 55 km south of Alor Set ...
in
Kedah Kedah (), also known by its honorific Darul Aman (Islam), Aman (دار الأمان; Arabic for 'The Safe Abode') and historically as Queda, is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of ...
and
Parit Buntar Parit Buntar (Kedah Malay: ''Paghit Buntaq'') is a town in Kerian District, Perak, Malaysia. It borders Nibong Tebal in Penang and Bandar Baharu in Kedah. It is also the district capital of Kerian District. This district is known as the Ric ...
in
Perak Perak (; Perak Malay: ''Peghok'') is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Perak has land borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kel ...
. Cityliner operates another six bus routes which link Butterworth with a handful of destinations in Seberang Perai, Kedah and Perak. Meanwhile, the
Butterworth Outer Ring Road Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR) ( Malay: ''Lebuhraya Lingkaran Luar Butterworth'') is a coastal expressway located in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. This expressway connects Sungai Dua in the north until Perai in the south. Route background ...
(BORR) was completed in 2005 in order to reduce traffic congestion along the North–South Expressway east of the town, as well as facilitating traffic dispersion within Butterworth itself. The BORR includes the
Prai River Bridge Perai River Bridge is a dual-three lane cable stayed bridge that straddles the Perai River in Seberang Perai, Penang, Malaysia. It is part of the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR). Designed by Dar Al-Handasah Consultants, it won the IStructE Aw ...
, a cable-stayed bridge that links Butterworth and
Perai Perai is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the States and federal territories of Malaysia, Malaysian state of Penang. It lies at the southern bank of the Perai River and borders Butterworth, Seberang Perai, Butterworth to the north. The area now know ...
to the south. Another major expressway within Butterworth is the
Butterworth–Kulim Expressway Butterworth–Kulim Expressway, BKE, ( Malay: ''Lebuhraya Butterworth–Kulim''), is the only opened toll system's expressway in Penang, Malaysia. The expressway connects Butterworth, Penang in the west to Lunas, Kedah in the east. It is als ...
, an interstate highway that connects Butterworth with
Kulim The Kulim District is a district and town in the state of Kedah, Malaysia. It is located on the southeast of Kedah, bordering Penang. The town of Kulim, a mere east of Penang's capital city, George Town, also forms part of the George Town Conu ...
in Kedah.


Education

Butterworth contains a total of 20
primary school A primary school (in Ireland, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, South Africa, and Singapore), elementary school, or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ...
s, nine
high schools A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., b ...
, a government-run
vocational college A vocational school (alternatively known as a trade school, or technical school), is a type of educational institution, which, depending on the country, may refer to either secondary or post-secondary education designed to provide vocational ...
and three private tertiary institutions. Primary schools High schools Vocational college * Butterworth Vocational College Private colleges * Penang International Dental College * Golden Chef College of Culinary Arts * Surya College


Health care

Butterworth is served by one
private hospital A private hospital is a hospital not owned by the government, including for-profit and non-profit hospitals. Funding is by patients themselves ("self-pay"), by insurers, or by foreign embassies. Private hospitals are commonly part, albeit in var ...
- the Bagan Specialist Centre. Established in 1988, the 150-bed hospital also contains nine operating theatres and offers, among others,
orthopaedic Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics ( alternative spelling orthopaedics) is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal ...
and
endocrinology Endocrinology (from ''endocrine system, endocrine'' + ''wikt:-logy#Suffix, -ology'') is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions known as hormones. It is also concerned with the ...
treatments.


Tourist attractions

The Tow Boo Kong Temple is a
Taoist Taoism or Daoism (, ) is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China, emphasizing harmony with the Tao ( zh, p=dào, w=tao4). With a range of meaning in Chinese philosophy, translations of Tao include 'way', 'road', ...
temple which is dedicated to the Taoist principal Deity,
Doumu Dǒumǔ (), also known as , and , is a goddess in Chinese religion and Taoism. She is also named through the honorific Tiānhòu ( "Queen of Heaven"), shared with other Chinese goddesses, especially Mazu, who are perhaps conceived as her aspect ...
and the Nine Emperor Gods. Built in stages between the 1970s and 2009, the temple at Jalan Raja Uda now serves as a focal point for the grand celebration of
Nine Emperor Gods Festival The Nine Emperor Gods Festival (; ; ) or Vegetarian Festival or Jay Festival is a nine-day Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, celebrated primarily in Southeast Asian countries such as Malays ...
, which occurs annually on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month in the
Chinese calendar The traditional Chinese calendar, dating back to the Han dynasty, is a lunisolar calendar that blends solar, lunar, and other cycles for social and agricultural purposes. While modern China primarily uses the Gregorian calendar for officia ...
. The Sree Maha Mariamman Devasthanam Temple, at
Bagan Luar Bagan Luar is an area of the town of Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia, between Bagan Jermal to the north and Bagan Dalam to the south. It is named after Kampung Bagan Luar, a former village in the area. Jalan Bagan Luar, or Bagan Luar Road, is a majo ...
, is the oldest Hindu temple in Butterworth. Founded in 1853, the temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity,
Mariamman Mariamman, often abbreviated to Amman (), is a Hindu Dravidian folk religion List of rain deities, goddess of weather, predominantly venerated in the rural areas of South India. Her festivals are held during the late summer/early autumn season ...
, a goddess of rain. Urban legend has it that the temple was built when a statue of Mariamman was found by the seaside. As part of efforts to revive the fortunes of Butterworth, a number of alleys within the town centre have been decorated with wall murals, similar in style to the street art in George Town. In addition, the Butterworth Fringe Festival, inaugurated in 2015 as a spin-off to the
George Town Festival The George Town Festival is an annual cultural festival held within the city of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. Inaugurated in 2010, the festival was initially mooted to celebrate the inscription of George Town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. ...
, is an annual arts festival held within the town centre every August.


Military

A
Royal Malaysian Air Force The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF, ; Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ) was formed on 2 June 1958 as the Royal Federation of Malaya Air Force (; ). However, its roots can be traced back to the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force formations of the British Royal A ...
airfield -
RMAF Butterworth RMAF Butterworth () is an active Military airbase, Air Force Station of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) situated from Butterworth, Penang, Butterworth in Penang, Malaysia. It is currently home to the ''Headquarters Integrated Area Defenc ...
- is located to the north of Butterworth proper. Completed by the British in 1941 just prior to the
Japanese invasion of Malaya The Malayan campaign, referred to by Japanese sources as the , was a military campaign fought by Allied and Axis forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 15 February 1942 during the Second World War. It was dominated by land battles between ...
, the airfield served both the
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
and
Royal Australian Air Force The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the principal Air force, aerial warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army. Constitutionally the Governor-Gener ...
squadrons tasked with defending the airspace over
Penang Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Th ...
. However, the Japanese immediately gained air superiority, damaging the Butterworth airfield in the process. The station was then captured by the Imperial Japanese 25th Army on 20 December 1941. During the post-war period, the Butterworth airfield was put to use by the Royal Air Force, and subsequently, the Royal Australian Air Force, to combat the communist threat in Malaya at the time. The Australian squadrons based in Butterworth also saw action during the
Indonesian Confrontation Indonesian is anything of, from, or related to Indonesia, an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. It may refer to: * Indonesians, citizens of Indonesia ** Native Indonesians, diverse groups of local inhabitants of the archipelago ** Indonesian ...
in the 1960s. In 1988, the Butterworth airfield was handed over to the Royal Malaysian Air Force. Now renamed as RMAF Butterworth, the airfield housed the headquarters of the Integrated Area Defence System that covers both
Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
and
Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
under the
Five Power Defence Arrangements The Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) are a series of bilateral defence relationships established by a series of multi-lateral agreements between Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, all of which are Commonwe ...
.


Neighbourhoods

The following neighbourhoods are situated within Butterworth.


References


External links

{{Authority control North Seberang Perai District Towns in Penang