PENANG AND ITS LOCALITY
Introduction to Penang, Malaysia:
 | The State of Penang (Negeri Pulau Pinang) is situated in the northern region of the Peninsula Malaysia. It consists of Penang island (Pulau Pinang) and Province Wellesley (Seberang Perai) on the mainland of Peninsula Malaysia. The Island of Penang is connected to the mainland by a 13.5km bridge, the longest bridge in Asia. The city of Georgetown (the second biggest city in Malaysia), is located on the northeastern cape of the island. The local Malays simply refer the city as "Tanjung". |
| The history of Penang goes back in the year of 1786 when Captain Francis Light established the British trading post on the island for trade between India, China and the archipelago. Few years later, Light went ahead to take possession of the island and an additional strip of land on the mainland known as Province Wellesley from the Sultan of Kedah. In 1832, along with Malacca and Singapore, Penang became part of the British Straits Settlements. With the independence of Malaysia or Malaya on 31 August 1957, Penang became a State, governed by an appointed Head of State and administered by an elected Chief Minister. |
| As a historic city, Georgetown has more than 12,000 old buildings comprising of shophouses, terracehouses, churches, mosques, bungalows, villas, government offices and monuments. In an afford to conserve the historic buildings of Georgetown, the State Government and the local authority have designated 6 conservation areas in the inner city with the Armenian Street - Acheen Street - Cannon Street area as the Cultural Enclave of Penang (see below map). In 1996, the Penang State Conservation Committee consisting of governement agencies, local authority and private sectors was formed to monitor and control any development in the conservation areas. |
| Six conservation areas in the inner city of Georgetown, Penang. The Cultural Enclave area is located in the conservation area # 5. |
