Sungai Nibong, Penang

Sungai Nibong (2 October 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Sungai Nibong is a neighbourhood on the east central side of Penang Island. Also written Sungai Nibung, it is best known as the Pesta Site as well as the location for the Sungai Nibong Express Bus Terminal. It was named after the river (sungai) that flowed through the area where in the old days, nibung palms grew. Nibung palms (Oncosperma tigillarium) produce wood suitable as building material. The district called Sungai Nibong comprises Sungai Nibong Besar and Sungai Nibong Kecil. Sungai Nibung Kecil stretches from the Relau junction to the Bayan Baru Roundabout, and is often taken as part of Bukit Jambul and Bayan Baru. Until the late 1970's, Sungai Nibong was an outskirt of George Town. It has since been absorbed as one of the residential suburbs. The housing estates here include Century Garden, Pantai Jerejak and Taman Sri Nibung. Much of the traditional Malay and Chinese villages in Sungai Nibong have been erased, except for the Malay kampung of Bukit Kecil.

Public Transport

Sungai Nibong is centrally located. The many buses that pass by it include Rapid Penang Bus 303, 304, 305, 306, 308, 401, 401A and 705

Distance from Magazine Circus: 10.9 km

Amenities

The nearest school in Sungai Nibong includes Kwang Hwa Primary School, Shih Chung (Primary) Branch School and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sungai Nibong. Nearby schools include Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Phor Tay and Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Keong Hoe in Sungai Dua. The nearest market in Sungai Nibong is the Lip Sin Market and Super Tanker Market. The nearest shopping mall is Queensbay Mall. Petrol stations in Sungai Nibung includes the Mobil at Pantai Jerejak, the Caltex and the two Shell stations near the Bayan Baru Roundabout. The nearest hospital is Hospital Pantai Mutiara in Bayan Baru.

Traffic

Traffic is usually smooth along Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, the main thoroughfare through Sungai Nibung. The Bayan Lepas Elevated Highway further helps to reduce the congestion. Having said that, one exception to the rule is on Friday evenings, when the traffic slows to a crawl due to commuters heading towards the Penang Bridge north of Sungai Nibung, and the traffic lights at Jalan Sungai Dua, near USM. The junction at Jalan Aziz Ibrahim also experiences slow traffic on Wednesday nights where the Pasar Malam at Pantai Jerejak is in session.