Magazine Circus, Penang

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Magazine Circus is the traffic junction in front of Komtar, where Magazine Road meets Penang Road. The name refers to a six-pointed roundabout that used to be there. It was known to the Malays as Simpang Enam, and to the Hokkiens as Goh Pah Teng, or "Five Lanterns", in reference to a lamp post with five lamps located at the roundabout.

Magazine Circus, viewed towards Komtar (8 August 2006)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Until the mid 20th century, Magazine Circus was the meeting point of six major roads in George Town, namely Penang Road, Gladstone Road, Magazine Road, Brick Kiln Road, Dato Kramat Road and Macalister Road. It is also the northwestern tip of the Seven Streets Precinct.

Due to its strategic location, Magazine Circus is regarded as the "Charing Cross" of George Town, that is to say, the centrepoint of the city from where all distances are measured. Today the roundabout, or "circus", has been replaced by a junction. Penang Road, Magazine Road and Brick Kiln Road have been turned into one-way streets. Brick Kiln Road has been renamed Jalan Gurdwara. Gladstone Road was erased when Komtar was developed. Even the very existence of Magazine Circus is no longer familiar to the locals.