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Historian wants George Town, Butterworth replaced with original Malay names
Thursday October 6, 2016
08:38 AM GMT+8
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The name of Tanjong was changed to George Town in 1786 by Francis Light and Baga
n's name was changed to Butterworth in 1800 by former Governor of Prince of Wale
s Island, Alexander William Leith.
Picture by K.E. OoiThe name of Tanjong was ch
anged to George Town in 1786 by Francis Light and Bagan's name was changed to Bu
tterworth in 1800 by former Governor of Prince of Wales Island, Alexander Willia
m Leith. Picture by K.E. OoiKUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 ? Local Malay historians, academ
icians and non-governmental organisations (NGO) have urged Unesco, National Heri
tage Department and the state government to change George Town and Butterworth b
ack to their original names.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Centre for Policy Research and International Stu
dies (Cenpris) faculty member Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Murad Marican said that George
Town' original name was Tanjong and Butterworth's original name was Bagan.
"The name proves that the Malay community has been here even before Francis Ligh
t came and by acknowledging the name, it means that the earlier history is being
acknowledged as well. I hope the relevant authorities will be open to this," he
said at a press conference, here today.

The name of Tanjong was changed to George Town in 1786 by Francis Light and Baga
n's name was changed to Butterworth in 1800 by former Governor of Prince of Wale
s Island, Alexander William Leith.
"As we all know that George Town has been bestowed with the Unesco status as a c
ity rich with history, we hope that the early part of the city's history and nar
rative will also be included as well," he said.
The idea to change the name had been mooted by Hashim Awang, a local assemblyman
in 1958 but no follow up had been done by anyone till now.
Besides the name of George Town and Butterworth, Ahmad Murad also said that the
state government could name the streets and roads according to the name of old M
alay settlement founders such as Datuk Nakhoda Intan and Datuk Nakhoda Kecil.
Datuk Nakhoda Intan, or its original name Raja Nan Intan from Paya Kumbuh, Sumat
era Barat had opened the Batu Uban port and built a settlement in the area in 17
34 after getting approval from the Kedah sultanate, Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal
Abidin Muazzam Shah II.
After his arrival, his relatives, Nakhoda Bayan and Nakhoda Kecil had come to op
en a settlement in Bayan Lepas and Jelutong.
According to previous research done by USM, Francis Light had only arrived at th
e state some 52 years after they (Nakhoda Bayan and Nakhoda Kecil) had reached a
nd till now, the Batu Uban mosque is still standing strong even though it is mor
e than 200 years old.
Ahmad Murad who is also the president of Penang Heritage and History Society als
o said that the move was needed to decolonise George Town as currently the early
settlement in Penang before Francis Light was not being recognised by any parti
es.
"It would be an honour for them as they had also contributed to the history of t
he state. Don't only look at the white-man's history. Look beyond it," he said.
? Bernama
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+1
kaki_STELVIO's avatar - Go to profile
kaki_STELVIO
123p 42 minutes ago
what's in a name ? historical names great, let's start with Parameswara, Yap Ah
Loy or perhaps, Hang Tuah got evidence bring it on, forget hearsay. History dist
orted is worthless.
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+1
Giammatti's avatar - Go to profile
Giammatti
124p 1 hour ago
I wonder why is there no effort to recognise the contributions of the indentured
aboures from China and India who toiled in the tin mines and rubber estates and
the construction sites of Port Klang, the railroads etc. Malaysian hisotrians s

eem to be happy keeping them faceless and unknown, in fact when a clolumnist in
The Sun highlighted the lack of exhibits on the non-Malays in the Muzium Negara,
some scholar slammed her.
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+1
clancywong's avatar - Go to profile
clancywong
104p 2 hours ago
I see a sinister ploy by Umno paid clowns disguised as Historians. They did that
to Malacca and it sucks.They never fail to play the Race card.
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+1
tomasina1's avatar - Go to profile
tomasina1
136p 3 hours ago
I disaggree that the beautiful name Georgetown be changed to Tanjong (in malay)
Tanjong should remain as a beautiful part of history to be revealed when tourist
visit Georgetown
Singapore would be drastically held back should it be renamed Temasek or even Si
ngapura
History must always remain where it belongs to....the past
The tourism industry in Penang is doing exceptionally well with the State Govt w
ise endeavour
Lets not rock the boat or go bachwards
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+1
Yeongkor's avatar - Go to profile
Yeongkor
94p 5 hours ago
another idiot.
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+27
Jaramak's avatar - Go to profile
Jaramak
93p 6 hours ago
Looking beyond current history knowledge? What a fine statement from a person wh
o is also ignorant of the history. Even now our history textbooks is starting to
read fictional.
Looks like another prof beginning to sound like a broken political record. Pleas
e go read about the marican background before speaking for the malay background.
First collectively decide on a progressive method for our education system. When
this is done all will be well.
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