Sungai Pinang
George Town, Penang

Sungai Pinang (East) is a meandering river on the southern side of George Town, Penang. During the British colonial times, it determines the southern end of George Town, after which is just the rural countryside. Today, however, Sungai Pinang (East) is right within the city with development and high rise buildings all around it.

Sungai Pinang (East) flows east into the south channel. For many years, Sungai Pinang is regarded as the filthiest river in Malaysia. It remains in the dubiest Class V category, which means it is a dead river unable to sustain any life form.

The good news for Sungai Pinang is that after a long wait, the state government of Penang began rehabilitating the river. The first phase of the RM25 million Sungai Pinang Beautification Project involves desilting works and placing traps to filter out garbage that flows through the river. At the same time, a new jetty is being built for fishermen and tourists.

The second phase of the Sungai Pinang Beautification involves improving the water quality from Class V to Class II, which would render it clean enough for bathing. This is still a long way to go, as of today, the river still carry a heavy stench from all the pollutants that have been dumped into it for so many decades.

I am keeping a close watch on the development of Sungai Pinang. The photographs you see on this page were taken before any rehabilitation was carried out. At that time, the water was still as black as Indian ink. When I see an improvement, I will document it here for your information.

Early Malay & Sumatran Settlements of Sungai Pinang

Sungai Pinang has one of the earliest settlements in Penang in recorded history. Even before Francis Light landed on Penang Island, there was already riverine settlements along Sungai Pinang. Although not much is known about these early settlers, they are believed to be mostly fishermen from the mainland Kingdom of Kedah as well as from northern Sumatra. They lived along the riverbank where it is easy to get fresh water. Near the estuary of Sungai Pinang was a place where early traders berth their perahus and sampans. There could have been a small pier near to where Masjid Maqbul is located today. The mosque itself came later, around the mid 19th century.

Farther upstream are more settlements, mostly of Malays and North Sumatrans. Kampung Rawa is named after a community of north Sumatrans from Rawa. Masjid Haji Kassim at Kampung Makam was erected by the leader of an Acehnese settlement along Sungai Pinang.

The Malays are North Sumatrans were not the only settlers along the Sungai Pinang riverbanks. Joining them were Tamil Muslims as well as Hindus who also formed their own respective settlements. Masjid Jamek Rawana and Masjid Khan Muhammad are two Indian Muslim mosques within the vicinity of Sungai Pinang. There are numerous small Hindu shrines along the river. Some became full fledged temples such as the Sri Rama Temple near Sungai Ayer Itam, a tributary of Sungai Pinang.

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Sampans reflected on Sungai Pinang, with high rises in the background.

High rise office blocks and apartments line the banks of the Sungai Pinang.

A warehouse and trees by the riverbank.

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Penang Travel Tips is written by the Happy Jobless Guy

Penang Travel Tips is researched and written by Timothy Tye, universally known as Tim. The text is the copyright of Timothy Tye, and may not be copied for commercial use or re-published in another website without the author's permission. Information provided is in goodwill and is believed to be correct and up-to-date at time of writing. Photographs on this website are the copyright of the author and may not be reused without prior permission. For commercial licensing of photographs, read the licensing terms. Tim is a Christian. Click here to know more about his beliefs.

Sungai PinangGeorge Town, Penang