Paya Terubong, Penang

Paya Terubong is a working-class neighbourhood in the central part of Penang Island. According to my research, Paya Terubong is named after terubong, a type of grass known scientifically as Cyrtococcum oxyphyllum. Located at the heart of Penang Island, to the south of Air Itam, Paya Terubong is surrounded by hill ranges. The main road through this neighbourhood is Jalan Paya Terubong, which links Air Itam to the north with Relau on the lowlands to the south.

Until the mid 1970's, Paya Terubong was still very much undeveloped, with most of its inhabitants being farmers working the hill slopes. A good portion of Paya Terubong is taken up by a big Chinese cemetery managed by the United Hokkien Association. As scarcity of land in Penang becomes more pressing, the hill slopes in Paya Terubong began to be cleared for residential development since the beginning of the 1980's. The result is one of the most densely populated high rise apartments in Penang. The majority of the population here are the working class wage earners living in low cost and low-medium cost apartments, many of which could use a new coat of paint. There are also some landed properties constructed in Paya Terubong, with a few upmarket ones being developed in the last few years.

Public Transport

Paya Terubong is served by Rapid Penang Bus 201, 202, 203, 301 and 306.

Distance from Magazine Circus: 7.6 km

Amenities

Excluding Sekolah Asrama Paya Terubong, a boarding school, the nearest public schools in Paya Terubong include Kong Min Primary School and a few schools in neighbouring Farlim. There is a makeshift market along Jalan Paya Terubong. Econsave Supermarket is in neighbouring Farlim. Sunshine Farlim is further away in Farlim. Nearest hospital is Lam Wah Ee, about 40 minutes away. There is a Shell petrol station near the junction with Lebuhraya Thean Teik and a Petronas station opposite the Paya Terubong Mosque.

Traffic

Jalan Paya Terubong, the main artery for the neighbourhood is only two lanes in most sections, making traffic movement slow. This neighbourhood is quite landlocked, with the hills surrounding it, and access only thorugh Air Itam, Farlim and Relau, over the hills. The nearest hospital is too far away. The low-cost housing here is the most affordable on the island. If that's all you can afford, I have nothing to say. But if you can afford it, and are looking for medium or high cost properties, I would advise that you weigh the traffic congestion in Paya Terubong before deciding.