Kepala Batas (GPS: 5.51666, 100.42552), (Traditional/Simplified Chinese: 甲抛峇底; Pinyin: Jiǎpāo Bādǐ) is a township in Seberang Perai Utara. It is the northenmost major town on Penang Mainland. The name Kepala Batas means "head of the bund". It is a common name in agricultural villages where rice is grown. There is another town called Kepala Batas in Kedah.
Kepala Batas in Penang is the hometown for Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, a former prime minister of Malaysia, who was also the Member of Parliament for Kepala Batas from 1978 until 2013.
Jalan Tun Hamdan Sheikh Tahir, formerly known as Jalan Kubang Menderung, is the main road through Kepala Batas. It runs east-west, connecting the Federal Route 1 to the west with the North-South Expressway Northern Route. The other main road in town was named Jalan Datuk Haji Ahmad Badawi.
To serve as catalyst for development in Seberang Perai Utara, the plantation land of Bertam Estate was earmarked for redevelopment. The land is now progressively cleared to make way for the new township of Bertam, which will have various modern amenities.
Location of Kepala Batas
Measured from the intersection of Jalan Datuk Haji Ahmad Badawi (P203) with Jalan Padang Kelab/Jalan Tun Hamdan Sheikh Tahir (P123) (GPS: 5.516832, 100.430067), Kepala Batas is 21.6 km to Penang Sentral, 22.9 km to the Penang Bridge, 43.4 km to the Second Penang Bridge and 40.7 km to the Penang International Airport.
Check list of businesses listed under the road pages. Below are the ones not listed there.
Ban Li Spray Painting and Parts, TBP 4850 Lahar Ikan Mati, Paya Keladi, 13200 Kepala Batas, Penang.
Getting there
If you are coming by car, get out of the North-South Expressway at Exit 166 (Bertam Interchange). Rapid Penang bus 601, 604A and 610 serve Kepala Batas. The bus stops are along Federal Route 1 (called Jalan Kedah here), Jalan Kubang Menderung and Lorong Bertam Indah 15.