Sungai Ara (GPS: 5.32429, 100.27191) (Traditional/Simplified Chinese: 新港; Pinyin: Xīnjiāng; Penang Hokkien: Sin3kang4) 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.
The namesake Sungai Ara river flows through the village near Masjid Al-Huda. Its source is somewhere between Lorong Kenari 8 and Jalan Sungai Ara 1. From there, it winds its way heading east, under Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim, then under Jalan Tun Dr Awang. Behind Sekolah Menengah Raja Tun Uda in Bayan Baru, it merges with Sungai Relau to form Sungai Keluang, and continues east until it empties into the sea.
Today much of Sungai Ara has been converted to residential development. 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.
Getting to Sungai Ara
Sungai Ara is 15.4 km from Komtar, so it can be considered far from the city centre, but near the Bayan Lepas area. Sungai Ara is served by Rapid Penang Bus No. 302, 305 and 308.
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.