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CHAPTER 2

THE TRAIL

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2.1 STREET OF GEORGE TOWN

The street names of George Town reflect the multicultural heritage of the city, the capital

of a former British settlement of Penang, now part of Malaysia, which has a largely Chinese

population.

Most streets in the city were built and named during the colonial era, and the historic

English names generally remain and are still used by most Penang sites. Since the passage of

the National Language Act 1967, government policy has been to use the Malay language for all

official purposes, and the Malay translations of the street names are the official versions that are

used on street signs.

In addition to the official English and Malay names, many streets in central George Town

have a mostly unrelated and original set of road names in Penang Hokkien, the language of the

majority of Penang's majority Malaysian Chinese community. These are noted in the table below

using the Peh-oe-ji notation common in Taiwan. As the Hokkien names cited here are notofficial, and are based on an oral tradition, they may be out of date. For the derivation of the

Hokkien names, see the reference links at the bottom of this article. Many streets also have

Cantonese names that are less well known and are not documented here.

Since independence, there have been some changes to the official names of some

streets, which are noted below in their Malay forms. However, like Singapore and unlike many

other cities in Malaysia, George Town has retained most of its colonial street names, although

until recently they have been indicated on street signs only in their Malay translations.

Until 2007, street signs in George Town were only written in Malay, as a result of thenational language policy. Unfortunately, this had the effect of confusing tourists, who found it

difficult to match the English names commonly used by Penang sites with the Malay names on

street signs which were often very different. In the case of proper nouns, the English name is

easily recognisable, e.g. Kimberley Street is Lebuh Kimberley. In other cases, the Malay

translation may be unfamiliar to those who do not speak the language, e.g. Church St is literally

translated as Lebuh Gereja (from the Portuguese gereja). A few streets have been given

completely new names in Malay.

Even where official street names have changed, the local population have largely

continued informally to use the old names when referring to streets. This is partly because the

new names are often unwieldy for example Green Lane vs Jalan Masjid Negeri, but also reflects

a strong conservatism in the local population, who see Penang's colonial history as part of their

local identity. Several years ago, when Scott Road was renamed to the tongue-twisting Jalan D

S Ramanathan, after the first Mayor of the City of George Town, the new street signs were

repeatedly defaced and had to be replaced many times, eventually forcing the city authorities to

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fix a replacement street sign fifteen feet up a lamppost (instead of at waist-height, as was then

usual).

In Furthermore, since 2007, street signs have started to indicate the street names in

Malay and English, as well as the town and postcode. There is as yet no official recognition of

the traditional Chinese names of streets, which are now increasingly unfamiliar to youngPenang sites, but it is likely that this will change as a result of political developments in Penang.

In June 2007, while Penang was under the rule of Gerakan, street signs in Chinese were

illegally set up by Penang's DAP Socialist Youth division along several roads in George Town

under the justification it helps attract tourists from China, only to be removed by the Penang

Municipal Council.

On 22 July 2008 following DAP's electoral victory in Penang and George Town's entry

into UNESCO's World Heritage Site list, Gerakan was reported to have placed Chinese

language on existing street signs at six roads, claiming the signs were now vital with GeorgeTown's recognition by UNESCO and serve as a reminder to DAP of its earlier promises to erect

such signs if voted into office. DAP Socialist Youth Secretary Koay Teng Hai had also proposed

to include Tamil and Jawi translations, depending on the cultural background of the area, along

with Chinese street names.

Penang's UMNO Youth division, however, objected to Gerakan's move and called for the

Chinese street signs to be removed, urging the local government and government agencies to

solely allow road signs written in Malay. The state government has since removed the signs, but

announced its intention to put up signs in various languages for the benefit of tourists.

English

name

Malay

(current

official)

name

Etymology Hokkien name Hokkien etymology

Aboo SitteeLane

Lorong Abu

Siti

Sam-seng-hng

Gangsters' lane

AcheenStreet

Lebuh

Acheh

Acheen

StreetGhaut

Gat LebuhAcheh

After the Acheenese

inhabitants.

Phah-chioh- ke

Koi-la-(id.)

Stone-breaking streetSmall high tower (afterthe four-storied corner

house at Acheen &Beach Sts)

Phah-chioh-ke l- thu

Koi-la- l- thu (id.)

Acheen St landing place

Argus LaneLorong

Argus

Sek-ln-ni l-pa-tng-a hng-

Lane behind theEurasian church (RomanCatholic Cathedral of the

Assumption)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acehhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acehhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acehhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aceh

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Argyll Road Jalan ArgyllBang-ka-

l hngBengali lane

ArmenianStreet

Lebuh

Armenian

After the Armenianinhabitants.

W. of Cannon St

Phah-tng-ke

Copper-beaters' street

E. of Cannon St

Pn-thu-kong-hng

kin-gan-ke id.

Gods' lane, after theKong-si house of the To

Peh Kong or Kin Teksecret society (formerly

at the junction ofArmenian & Pitt Streets)

thereKin Tek society origin

street

DukeStreet

Lebuh Duke

AfterPrince Alfred,Duke of Edinburgh,

who visited and

stayed here in 1869.

EsplanadeJalan Tun

Syed Sheh

Barakbah

Self-describing. NewMalay name afterTun Syed Sheh

Barakbah, Governorof Penang (1969-

1975).

K-koan--kak (also KingEdward Place)

Old government officecorner (King EdwardPlace). When GurneyDrive was built, it was

called the newEsplanade even thoughthere are no government

offices there.

EsplanadeRoad

Jalan

Padang Kota

Lama

Road leading fromLight St to the

Esplanade

Chha-p ha-ki-l id.

Grass field (cricketground) shorefront road

FarquharStreet

Lebuh

Farquhar

After R. T. Farquhar,Lieutenant-Governor

of Penang (1804-1805)

W. of Leith Stng-m- l(also Northam Rd,to which it joins)

European road

Leith St - Love Lane

Lin-hoa-h

Sek-ln-ni-oh-chng id.

Lotus-flower pond, aftera lotus-pond formerly at

the side of the old StGeorge's Girl's School,which was filled up on

account of manyaccidents involving

people trying to get atthe lotus.

In front of the Seranischool (St Xavier's

School)E. of Love Lane

ng-m- oh-chng

In front of the old PenangFree School

Glugor Jalan After the area of

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armeniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Alfred,_Duke_of_Edinburghhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Alfred,_Duke_of_Edinburghhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armeniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armeniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armeniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Alfred,_Duke_of_Edinburghhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Alfred,_Duke_of_Edinburghhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Alfred,_Duke_of_Edinburghhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Alfred,_Duke_of_Edinburghhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Alfred,_Duke_of_Edinburghhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Alfred,_Duke_of_Edinburgh

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Road GelugorGlugor, where it

leads

Green Hall Green HallTon p-l

Ki-lin h

Mr Paddy's (land)(phonetic)

Green

Lane

Jalan Masjid

Negeri

Self-describing. NewMalay name after thestate mosque there.

Chh-

chha-hngGreen grass lane

GurneyDrive

Persiaran

Gurney

After SirHenryGurney,High

Commissionerof theFederation of Malaya

(1950-1951)assassinated during

the MalayanEmergency.

Sin-koan--kak

New Esplanade

Hong KongStreet

Jalan

Cheong Fatt

Tze

After the island ofHong Kong. NewMalay name after

Cheong Fatt Tze,19th century

merchant andChinese consul in

Penang, despite thefact that the famousCFT mansion is not

here, but on Leith St.

Hiang-kng-ke

Hong Kong street

HospitalRoad

Jalan

Hospital

After the PenangGeneral Hospital

P-chh-l Hospital road

King Street Lebuh KingAfterKing George III(reigned 1760-1820).

N. of Bishop St

Ka-

keng-chh-a Behind the nine housesBishop St China St

Ku-tang-to-ph-kong-

ke

-phin-kong-si-ke id.

Cantonese HeavenlyEmperor's street, afterthe Cantonese temple

thereOpium farm street, after

the Opium & Spirit Farmsat the junction with China

StChina St Market St

K-

h-seng-kong-si-ke

Old Ho Seng secret

society streetS. of Market St

Kiet-lng--ke (also MarketSt, formerly also

Chulia St (E. of PittSt))

Indian street

Light Street Lebuh Light After Captain FrancisLight, Founder of

Po-l-kha Entrance to the PoliceCourt, now the

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Glugor&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Gurneyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Gurneyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Commissionerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Commissionerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federation_of_Malayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayan_Emergencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayan_Emergencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Konghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheong_Fatt_Tzehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_III_of_the_United_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantonese_(linguistics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Lighthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Lighthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Glugor&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Glugor&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Glugor&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Gurneyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Gurneyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Gurneyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Gurneyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Gurneyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Gurneyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Commissionerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Commissionerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Commissionerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Commissionerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Commissionerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Commissionerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federation_of_Malayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federation_of_Malayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federation_of_Malayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayan_Emergencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayan_Emergencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayan_Emergencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayan_Emergencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayan_Emergencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayan_Emergencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Konghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Konghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Konghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheong_Fatt_Tzehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheong_Fatt_Tzehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheong_Fatt_Tzehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_III_of_the_United_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_III_of_the_United_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_III_of_the_United_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantonese_(linguistics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantonese_(linguistics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantonese_(linguistics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Lighthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Lighthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Lighthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Lighthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Lighthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Light

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Penang andSuperintendent ofthe colony (1786-

1794)

Legislative Assemblybuildings

LoganRoad

Jalan Logan

After J. R. Logan,lawyer and editor of

the Pinang Gazette,to whom the Logan

Memorial in thegrounds of theSupreme Court

Building on Light Stis dedicated.

Love Lane Lorong CintaSek-ln-

n-hng (alsoMuntri St)

Eurasian (Serani) lane,after the inhabitants

MuntriStreet

Lebuh Muntri

Lm-hoa-i -ke

Sin-hi-lm-kong-si-ke

id.

Sek-ln-n-hng id. (also

Love Lane)

Lam Wah Ee Hospitalstreet, after the hospital

formerly hereNew Hainanese

association streetEurasian lane

Rope WalkJalan Pintal

Tali

After the ropewalkformerly there

Phah-soh-hng (also

Kimberley St)

-hok-keid.

Ropemakers' laneGhee Hock society street

S. of Kimberley St

Ien-tng-l Kerosene-lamp tube

road

StewartLane

Lorong

Stewart

Koan-im-tng-a

Sam-pn-hng id.

Behind the Goddess ofMercy temple

Boat lane

Table 2.0: List of street names in George Town.

Source: Khoo, S. N., (1993)

2.2 PENANG HERITAGE TRAILS AND IT SIGNIFICANT

This trip is to full fill our project for conservation paper. Our trip was divided into two

groups in Penang Heritage trail one and Penang Heritage trail two. Our group that consist five

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainanesehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess_of_Mercyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess_of_Mercyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainanesehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainanesehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainanesehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess_of_Mercyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess_of_Mercyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess_of_Mercyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess_of_Mercyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess_of_Mercyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess_of_Mercy

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group member was in trail two that the main visited is Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion that was built

long time ago, while trail one have been visited the Harmony Road that consist many religious

places and we can conclude that all religious can live together in harmony and peace.

Penang Heritage Trail is not enough if just giving education to the people about heritage

building and cultural value there. The trail also conscious us about the entire valuable thing that

belong to us and must be well care to keep the buildings which symbolize our beautiful culture

for the future generation. The buildings might be unimportant to certain peoples but for

UNESCO it is a huge means to the world community and should be much appreciated.

Along the trail, most of the buildings have their own unique characteristics and historical

value. Its obviously will seen by the architectural values, the buildings type and style, beautiful

and rare artworks, decorations, buildings function and many mores. Besides, various culture

and races can be described by the looks of the building which situated side by side, it also

identified that our peoples live in harmony without any conflict even come from different root and

heritage. That why we can see building such a Town Hall, City Hall, High Court, Penang State

Museum, Church of Assumption, St. George Church, shop houses, Blue Mansions, mosques

and many more are built at the same area and close from each other.

The Penang States Government and related parties also give fully cooperation to

conserve the heritage buildings around that area. This kind of works are gladly appreciated

because of the commitment that given by the each parties. As examples, the Cheong Fatt Tze

Mansion was nominated and awarded as the best conservation works done by that particular

year. Other building show the incoming culture and religion to the Penang like St George

Church which built a few years lately from other building around it because of the their religion

different from others. Some of the shop houses along this trail show various kinds of culture and

style in design of the building. They show the cultural value of that area which maybe didnt

have at the other place in the world. As long as this building is in good condition, it must be

maintain and preserve to make sure it can be a good learning method for the future generation

in order that they will appreciate it.