Jelutong 

is a suburb of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. Located south of the Pinang River,

Jelutong has been inhabited since as early as the late 18th century, when traders
from Aceh and India settled around the area.[1]
It was once notorious as a turf for gangsters and triads until the 1980s, when urbanisation
transformed the area into a residential suburb of George Town.

Contents

 1Etymology
 2History
 3Transportation
 4Education
 5Sports
 6Shopping
 7Infrastructure
 8Neighbourhoods
 9References

Etymology[edit]

Cityscape of George Town, as seen from Jelutong.

Jelutong was named after the Jelutong tree, known scientifically as Dyera costulata.[2] It was
believed that this species of trees was once abundant around the area now known as Jelutong.

The Pinang River separates George Town proper to the north and its suburb of Jelutong to the south.
Apartments such as these now occupy much of Jelutong's landscape.

History[edit]
Jelutong was already inhabited before the arrival of Captain Francis Light in 1786. Merchants
from Aceh and India established resting places and villages along the mouth of Pinang River.[1]
In the mid-19th century, the then forested area was first cleared for agricultural purposes.
[1]
 Factories were set up much later in Jelutong, as the urban population spilled southward
from George Town proper. In spite of industrialisation, some fishing communities continued to
exist up until recently and charcoal makers still make a living from the mangrove swamps along
the coast.[1][3]
The growing population in Jelutong led to rampant crime and thugs roaming the streets.[1] It was
only in the 1980s with a rise in the standards of living and urbanisation that Jelutong's criminal
notoriety was eradicated.
It was in the Jelutong parliamentary constituency where Karpal Singh, a prominent Malaysian
lawyer, first entered the national political scene. The Democratic Action Party politician held the
seat for over 20 years until 1999, earning him the nickname the 'Tiger of Jelutong'.

Jelutong Road

The Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway runs along the coastline of Jelutong. Visible in the horizon is
the Penang Bridge.
Transportation[edit]
Jelutong's proximity to George Town, immediately north of the Pinang River that separates both
locations, makes the suburb easily accessible from the city centre by road. Five bridges now
traverse the Pinang River, linking the Jelutong suburb with the city centre.
Historically, Jelutong Road serves as the main thoroughfare within the suburb, allowing motorists
from the city centre to head south towards Bayan Lepas.[4] In recent years, the completion of
the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway has considerably reduced the daily traffic congestion
along Jelutong Road, as motorists now use the coastal expressway to commute between George
Town and Bayan Lepas, bypassing Jelutong Road entirely.[4][5][6]
Rapid Penang buses 11, 12, 301, 302, 303 and 401 serve the residents of the suburb, by
connecting Jelutong with George Town to the north and other destinations within the southern
side of Penang Island, including Bukit Jambul, Bayan Baru, Bayan Lepas, Batu Maung and Balik
Pulau.[7][8][9][10][11][12]
In addition, a cycling lane has been installed within Jelutong as part of the move to encourage
cycling as a form of alternative transportation. The cycling lane along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu
Expressway includes a 1.5 km (0.93 mi) route between Komtar in George Town proper
and Karpal Singh Drive, and a three-lane concrete and steel bridge across the Pinang River.
[13]
 A LinkBike station was placed at Karpal Singh Drive as well in 2017, enabling cyclists to rent
bicycles to commute to the rest of George Town.

Education[edit]

Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jelutong, a national high school situated at Taman Jelutong.[14]

A total of six primary schools and one high school are located within Jelutong. The primary
schools include three Chinese-medium schools and one Tamil-medium school.
The Penang Japanese School is located at Jalan Sungai Pinang, at the southern banks of
the Pinang River.[15] Another international school, the Wesley Methodist International School
at Karpal Singh Drive, is slated for completion in 2018.[16][17]
Primary schools

 SRK Jelutong[18]
 SRK Jelutong Barat[19]
 SRJK (C) Jelutong[20]
 SRJK (C) Moh Ghee[21]
 SRJK (C) Beng Teik[22]
 SRJK (T) Jalan Sungai[23]
High school

 SMK Jelutong
International schools
 Penang Japanese School
 Wesley Methodist International School (under construction)

Sports[edit]
The Nicol David International Squash Centre, located at Dumbar Hill, was previously known as
the Bukit Dumbar Sports Centre. It was here where Nicol David, a top international squash
player, was first trained at a young age.[24][25]