Georgetown, the capital of Pulau Pinang (also known as Penang Island), is located at the

north-eastern tip of the island. Skyscrapers, single-storeyed residential houses, modern apartment
buildings and slums are found in this city. Its population of more than one million is made up of the
major ethnic groups in Malaysia. The island is linked to the mainland by the famous Penang Bridge
which is 13 kilometres long. There is also a ferry service between the main and the island.
Pulau Pinang is a small island and because of its rapid development, there are many
environmental problems. There is not enough land and so land has to be reclaimed from the sea.
Much of the reclaimed land is just a few feet above sea level.
Georgetown itself is located in one of the lowest lying areas on the island. Many parts of the
city experience flash floods after a downpour. Flooding in Pulau Pinang is a serious problem now,
especially in areas such as Jalan P.Ramlee in the city centre. Traffic comes to a standstill and there
are long queues for buses and taxis.
Another major problem is traffic congestion. Traffic congestion in the city is also caused by:
poor public transportation - bad driving habits
insufficient and narrow roads - inadequate traffic control
the increasing number of vehicles
Other environmental issues are:-
landslides - haze and pollution
oil spills from ships - flash floods
the dumping of rubbish - waste from factories

Pulau Pinang needs to take care of its environment and pay more attention to these
problems.