Monday, July 15, 2024

PULAU PINANG : PADANG KOTA LAMA

HJ ZULHEIMY MAAMOR
14 JULY 2024 

PADANG KOTA LAMA
PULAU PINANG
19 APRIL 2015
Padang Kota Lama or The Esplanade is a seafront city square in the heart of George Town, Penang. It covers the field adjacent to Fort Cornwallis. 
The Esplanade was the site of a significant event in Penang's history. It was here where Captain Francis Light, the founder of George Town first landed on 17 July 1786. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of George Town and is famous for its cooling sea breeze and vibrant food scene. Located between Light Street and the seafront (Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah).
My memory of the first time in Padang Kota was in 1981 when serving with the KD Ganas Navy ship arriving at the port of Penang.






RNO Penang - Representative Naval Officer Penang, one of the Royal Malaysian Navy Bases located in Penang. Two more Naval Bases in Penang are at TLDM Sungai Nyior in Butterworth and KD Sri Penang, Navy Reserve Unit in Bayan Lepas.




Being at Padang Kota Lama brings back memories of serving with the Royal Malaysian Navy. This is where the International Royal Fleet Review took place in 1990, during which I served with the Navy Warship KD Lekir. To learn more about the Fleet Review, please visit my Blog below...

Down Memory Lane: 1990 - International Royal Fleet Review



Street Food hunting is one of the best things to do in Penang especially in Padang Kota Lama (Esplanade). Pasembur is one of the menu WAJIB to try when you're visiting Padang Kota Lama. 
Pasembur is a Malaysian salad consisting of shredded cucumber, potatoes, bean curd, turnip, bean sprouts, prawns fitters, spicy fried crab, fried squid or other seafoods and dressed with a sweet and spicy nut sauce. 






Fort Cornwallis is a bastion fort in George Town, Pulau Pinang. Built by the British East India Company in the late 18th century. Named after the then Lieutenant-General The 2nd Earl Cornwallis (1738-1805), the Governor-General of Bengal at the time of the fort's construction. It is the largest standing fort in Malaysia. 
Fort Cornwallis is a location where Captain Sri Francis Light of the British East India Company first landed on the island in 1786. 
The fort is a preserved historical landmarks within the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site. 


The statue of Captain Sir Francis Light overlooking the fort entrance, a total of 17 cannons including Sri Rambai cannon that supposedly has the power to grant the wishes of woman, army barracks and the first ever Christian chapel. 


Located south of Fort Cornwallis, the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower was commissioned in 1897 bby local millionaire,Cheah Chen Eok to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.


The Cenotaph also known as Penang War Memorial, is a cenotaph located at the Esplanade in GeorgeTown, Penang. The present cenotaph is a 1948 reconstructions of the original built in 1929. 
The original cenotaph was intended to commemorate Allied serviceman from Penang who lost their lives in the Great War. 


We left our office in Kuala Lumpur for Padang Kota, Penang on 18 April 2015 with 2 YJM vehicles. The travel distance from Kuala Lumpur to Padang Kota in Penang is 258 km and takes 4 hours 7 minutes.


The two vehicles belonging to YJM while in Padang Kota

PENANG FERY
The oldest ferry services in Malaysia, a cross-strait icon that has linked George Town (Island) and Butterworth (mainland) for over 130 years. 
Its history is a journey from small steam launches to the legendary double-decker yellow vessels, and finally to the modern catamarans used today.


1. The Early Years (1894 – 1924)
  • The Beng Brothers: The service was founded in 1894 by a local entrepreneur, Quah Beng Kee, and his brothers. Initially, it was a private enterprise using small steam launches to transport passengers and goods.
  • The Route: Ferries originally ran between Kedah Pier (near Fort Cornwallis) on the island and Mitchell’s Pier in Butterworth.
  • Takeover: In 1924, management was transferred to the Penang Harbour Board (the predecessor to the Penang Port Commission), marking the start of its life as a formal public utility.
2. The Golden Age of the "Double-Decker" (1925 – 1985)
  • Vehicular Ferries: In 1925, the first ferries capable of carrying cars were introduced. The first purpose-built steam vessel for cars was named the Seberang.
  • Post-War Modernization: After WWII, the iconic double-ended, double-decker design was introduced in the late 1950s. This allowed cars to drive on and off from either end without turning around.
  • New Terminals (1959): The current terminals—Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda (Island) and Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (Mainland)—were opened on September 24, 1959, to accommodate the growing fleet.
  • The Fleet: The ferries were famously named after Malaysian islands, such as Pulau Pinang, Pulau Payar, and Pulau Angsa.
3. The 1988 Terminal Tragedy
On July 31, 1988, a major disaster occurred when the bridge at the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Butterworth collapsed due to extreme overcrowding.
  • Cause: Thousands of people were packed onto the terminal for two simultaneous festivals (the Kwan Yin Goddess festival and St. Anne’s Feast).
  • Casualties: 32 people died and over 1,600 were injured. The disaster remains one of the darkest days in Penang's history and led to major structural changes in how terminals were managed.
4. The Decline and Retirement (1985 – 2020)
  • Bridge Competition: The opening of the Penang Bridge (1985) and the Second Penang Bridge (2014) drastically reduced the ferry's importance for cars.
  • Operational Loss: By the 2010s, the aging fleet was suffering from high maintenance costs and frequent breakdowns.
  • Final Voyage: On December 31, 2020, the iconic double-decker ferries officially ceased regular service for cars, sparking a wave of nostalgia and public protest from heritage lovers.
5. The Modern Era (2021 – Present)
  • Interim Period: Between 2021 and 2023, fast speedboats (water buses) were used while the old terminals were renovated.
  • New Catamarans (2023): In August 2023, a new fleet of four modern catamarans (Teluk Bahang, Teluk Kumbar, Teluk Duyung, and Teluk Kampi) was launched. These carry pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles, but no cars.
  • Legacy: Some of the old double-decker ferries have been earmarked to be repurposed as floating museums or restaurants to preserve their heritage value.
FeatureOld Iconic Ferry (Pre-2021)New Catamaran (Post-2023)
CapacityCars, Motorcycles, & PedestriansMotorcycles & Pedestrians only
Travel Time20–30 minutes10–15 minutes
DesignDouble-decker, Yellow/OrangeSingle-deck, Sleek & Air-conditioned
ComfortOpen-air, Breezy, NostalgicIndoor, High-speed, modern
GREAT EASTERN
COLOUR MY HEART RUN
19 APRIL 2015
The Great Eastern Colour My Heart Run 2015, held in Penang for the first time was a resounding success. Over 2,500 participants attended the 5km fun run at the Padang Kota Lama, George Town and from their first arrival it was clear they were there to have fun!

Within moments of runners receiving their bowls of coloured powder for the start-line countdown, Jalan Padang Kota Lama and everyone on it quickly became a different shade of a colour in the rainbow. Young to old, everyone got into the spirit of the run and set about getting themselves and each other as colourful as possible.

The event was officially flagged off in a blaze of colours at 8.00am with the Governor of Penang state, TYT Tun Dato' Seri Utama (Dr) Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abbas leading the way. Chief Minister of Penang; Yang Amat Berhormat, Tuan Lim Guan Eng, Director and Chief Executive Officer of Great Eastern Life, Dato Koh Yaw Hui and Datuk Dr. Sambhi, Chairman of the Heart Foundation of Malaysia were also in attendance.

The next two hours saw runners making their way around the five kilometre course, passing through each of the five fun zones along the way. Many were seen to re-enter time and time again, getting more and more colourful each time.

"It was an experience like none other for me as I am an ardent runner and it was great to have my family run along with me. My kids truly enjoyed the colour component in the run and we all took part in the activities that were put on today. Hope to see this run in Penang next year," said Kenny Chu, 33.

Then with everyone literally covered from head to toe it was back to the Carnival being held at the finish line to enjoy the free milo, Revive, other snacks and entertainment put on to add to the enjoyment of the day. This was crowned by a special guest appearance from Penang's very own starlet Chelsia Ng and breakdancing crew - GCL.

It wasn't until gone midday that the party began to wind down and runners headed home for a clean-up and a much deserved rest!




The Heart Foundation of Malaysia Awareness Team at Padang Kota, Penang





The Chief Minister of Penang, Mr. Lim Guan Eng.

Datuk Dr. J.S. Sambhi, Chairman, Yayasan Jantung Malaysia









We stayed at the Penang Old Hotel located in Penang Times Square, George Town, Penang. Operated by a team of caring, dedicated and hardworking staffs, the hotel strikes to provide affordable and comfortable stay to all guests in various states of Malaysia. Conveniently located within 5-minutes walk from Penang Times Square, Old Penang Hotel houses beautiful rooms fitted with modern amenities and free Wi-Fi. 




Located at Jalan Kampung Jawa Lama, this hotel is remembered for its unique location and its role in the revitalization of that specific corner of George Town. I still remember the Putumayam stall just a few step from this hotel, I was told that it has been a local favorite for over 30 years. 




Penang, especially the Esplanade (Padang Kota Lama) has a special place in my heart because of its delicious food. Love the variety of Pasembur choices they have, plus this place is by the sea. The Esplanade waterfront and its surroundings are a major area for public events such as military parade of celebrations. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor
Lembah Keramat, K.L
15 July 2024 > 9 Muharram 1446H: 2.34 p.m

By Hj Zulheimy Maamor at
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