Farlim, Penang

Farlim (25 September 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Bandar Baru Ayer Itam, better known as Farlim, is a township that was developed in Air Itam, Penang. It is located on land that belonged to Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, and was previously known as Thean Teik Estate. The name Farlim comes from the name of the company that developed the township. The development of Farlim is a mixed of low cost, medium cost and upmarket residential properties. The presence of the Khoo Kongsi is still very much apparent at Farlim, with a Chinese school, Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Sin Kang, and the Sin Kang Estate Funeral Parlour among the institutions established by the clan association located there.

To support the booming population of Farlim, a number of community supermarkets and hypermarkets have been built there including Sunshine Farlim and Econsave. The Permata Sports Complex provides a venue for sports.

Getting there

Rapid Penang Bus Nos. 202 and 203 pass through Farlim.

Amenities

The nearest market is the Bandar Baru Ayer Itam Market along Lebuhraya Thean Teik. Econsave is a supermarket along Lebuhraya Thean Teik, near the junction with Jalan Paya Terubong. Sunshine Farlim is a hypermarket along Jalan Thean Teik. There are a number of petrol stations in Farlim, just click to link to view them. There isn't a hospital in Farlim; the nearest are Lam Wah Ee in Green Lane and the Penang General Hospital, both a good twenty minutes away. There are a number of schools in Farlim including Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Aman, Sekolah Menengah Seri Indah, Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Air Itam, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Air Itam and Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Sin Kang.

Traffic

The main access to Farlim is from Lebuhraya Thean Teik, which runs from Lorong Batu Lanchang to Jalan Paya Terubong, and from Jalan Thean Teik, which links to Jalan Ayer Itam. It is also possible to access Farlim through Jalan Kampung Melayu off Jalan Air Itam, and Jalan Kampung Pisang off Jalan Paya Terubong. Traffic is slow during rush hour, in the mornings and evenings, as commuters leave the township to head to work, either eastward to George Town, or southward to Bayan Lepas. The infrastructure around Farlim still need to be improved, considering new residential projects are still taking place there, otherwise the traffic situation will worsen. Both Jalan Air Itam and Lorong Batu Lanchang should be further widen to prevent bottlenecks.