Sungai Ara, Penang

Sungai Ara panorama (26 August 2008)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Sungai Ara is a neighbourhood in the southeastern part of Penang Island. The name translates as "fig river". In Hokkien, Sungai Ara is known as "Sinkang", meaning "new river". Until quite recently, Sungai Ara was a rural community where the inhabitants were vegetable farmers. Today a few of the vegetable plots can still be seen, but much of Sungai Ara has been converted to residential development. It includes the housing estate of Mutiara Perdana. The village of Sungai Ara is located at the junction of Jalan Tengah and Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim (formerly Jalan Sungai Ara), although much of the length of Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim is regarded as Sungai Ara. Taman Sungai Ara, Taman Desa Ria and Mutiara Perdana are some of the housing development here. The Setia Pearl Island Country Club, one of the two golf clubs on Penang Island, is also located in Sungai Ara.

Public Transport

Sungai Ara is served by Rapid Penang Bus No. 302, 305 and 308.

Distance from Magazine Circus: 15.4 km

Amenities

School in Sungai Ara includes Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Sungai Ara, Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Chong Cheng, Sekolah Menengah Sungai Ara and Sekolah Kebangsaan Mutiara Perdana. The nearest market in Sungai Ara is at the Sungai Ara village, which is at the junction with Jalan Tengah. There isn't a shopping mall in Sungai Ara, but Bukit Jambul Complex, Sunshine Square and Giant Hypermarket are all within a short distance from it.

Traffic

So far, the main road is still experiencing moderate traffic volume, although there are two bottlenecks in Sungai Ara, one at the junction with Jalan Relau and another at the junction with Jalan Bayan. Some times these bottlenecks can create traffic queues of over half a kilometer. In addition, Jalan Mahkamah near Bayan Lepas is closed to traffic every Saturday for a night market.