by Carolyn K
Khoo Salma Nasution launches her new book, ‘Exploring Seberang Perai’, to introduce more people to the attractions of the state’s mainland.
SEBERANG PERAI : While most people are familiar with what Penang island is famous for, little is known about what the state’s mainland, or Seberang Perai, has to offer.
To overcome this, heritage activist Khoo Salma Nasution has compiled a guidebook that outlines the historical facts, cultural aspects, and places of interest on the “other side” of Penang.
“Seberang Perai accounts for over 70% of Penang’s land area and more than half of its population, yet is often overshadowed by Penang island,” Khoo said at the launch of her book, “Exploring Seberang Perai”, yesterday.
She said the territory was originally part of Kedah. It came under British rule in 1800 and renamed Province Wellesley as part of the colony of Penang.
Province Wellesley remains the mainland’s gazetted English name in legal documents and government publications, while Seberang Perai is used in official Malay documents.
Khoo said Seberang Perai is referred to by many names – Province Wellesley, Butterworth, or simply “the mainland” by English-speaking residents, “koe kang (crossing the port)” or “pa hai (north sea)” by Hokkien-speaking residents, and simply “Seberang” by Malay-speaking folk.
“However, Seberang Perai rolls off the tongue more easily, and the original British name transitioned naturally to what it is known as now.
“All these different names have led to a lot of confusion and a lack of what might be called ‘destination branding’,” she said.
In 2016, Khoo researched and produced a bilingual book called “Province Wellesley: A Pictorial History”, deepening her understanding of Penang’s “other half”.
While working on her new book, she discovered that many Penangites did not know much about Seberang Perai, and said it would serve to bridge that gap.
“What surprised me was that even Seberang Perai residents may not really know other parts of Seberang Perai that well,” she said. Many of its residents prefer to visit the island instead of exploring places nearer to them.
She said Seberang Perai, being one of the biggest city councils in Malaysia, is now enjoying a fast pace of growth.
“We can say the future of Penang is going to be in Seberang Perai,” she said, noting the placement of most homegrown manufacturing plants in Seberang Perai, as well as the expansion of new housing and commercial development projects.
Seberang Perai mayor Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid, who was present at the launch, said the book was a mini-encyclopedia suitable for everyone from schoolchildren to travellers.
