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Ayer Itam
Suburb of George Town
Other transcription(s)
• Mandarin	亚依淡 (Simplified) 亞依淡 (Traditional) Yà yī dàn (Pinyin)
• Hokkien	A-i-tām (Tâi-lô)
• Tamil	ஆயர் ஈத்தாம்
Ayer ItamLocation within    George Town in    Penang
Coordinates: 5°24′5.6916″N 100°16′41.343″E / 5.401581000°N 100.27815083°E / 5.401581000; 100.27815083
Country	Malaysia
State	Penang
City	George Town
Government
• Local government	Penang Island City Council
• Mayor of Penang Island	Rajendran P. Anthony
• Air Itam State Assemblyman	Joseph Ng Soon Seong (PH-DAP)
• Bukit Gelugor Member of Parliament	Ramkarpal Singh (PH-DAP)
Area
• Total	1.8 km (0.7 sq mi)
Population
• Total	16,974
• Density	9,400/km (24,000/sq mi)
Demographics
• Ethnic groups	72.6% Chinese 12.5% Bumiputera 12.2% Malay 0.3% indigenous groups from Sabah and Sarawak 11.2% Indian 0.3% Other ethnicities 3.4% Non-citizens
Time zone	UTC+8 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	Not observed
Postal code	11500
Website	www.mbpp.gov.my/en/

Ayer Itam (formerly spelt as Air Itam) is a suburb of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. Nested within the central valleys of Penang Island, it is located approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) southwest of the city centre.

Etymology

Ayer Itam got its name from the murky waters of the Ayer Itam River (Malay: Sungai Ayer Itam). The phrase Ayer Itam means black water in Malay.

History

Soon after the founding of Penang Island in 1786, British East India Company officials, led by Captain Francis Light, began exploring and clearing the interior of the island for agricultural purposes. Pepper and nutmeg farms were then established at the hills of Ayer Itam, while Light also commissioned the planting of strawberries at Penang Hill. The Anglo-Indian Suffolk House, one of Light's residences, was also built within a pepper estate by the Air Itam River.

The agricultural village of Ayer Itam grew throughout the 19th century, populated by farmers who owned the fruit and vegetable farms at the surrounding hills. To this day, fresh produce are produced at the foothills of Ayer Itam and distributed daily to the wet markets all over the city.

Ayer Itam was once home to the Penang Zoological Gardens, the first zoo in Malaysia. Supposedly opened in the 1920s by a monk named Fa Kong, the zoo was shut down for good prior to World War II due to the excessive maintenance costs.

The Great Ayer Itam Fire of 1935 destroyed more than 100 homes in the area. At the time, the residences at Ayer Itam were mostly wooden; this incident led to the construction of brick buildings within the suburb.

The area was also a hinterland which hid refugees fleeing from the episodes of violence that had occasionally erupted in the city. For instance, the Penang Riots of 1867 forced some residents within the city centre to evacuate to Ayer Itam. World War II, however, brought even greater numbers of refugees to the suburb. During the war, when the Imperial Japanese Army implemented the Sook Ching purges, Ayer Itam became one of the sites where Chinese civilians were massacred.

The urbanisation of Ayer Itam since the 1950s has brought about a concurrent increase in living standards and transformed the landscape with more high rises, making the suburb one of the more densely populated areas in George Town.

Geography

Located in the valley between Batu Lanchang Hill, Bukit Penara and Penang Hill, this suburb of George Town is connected to the city centre by two main roads, Ayer Itam Road and Batu Lanchang Lane. It is also connected to Paya Terubong and the south of the island via Paya Terubong Road. The suburb covers an area of 1.8 km (0.69 sq mi) and includes neighbourhoods developed later in the post-independence era such as Rifle Range.

While not situated within the official boundaries of Ayer Itam, certain landmarks such as Kek Lok Si and Ayer Itam Dam are commonly regarded as being located within the suburb.

Demographics

As of 2020, Ayer Itam was home to a population of 16,974, resulting in a population density of 9,430/km (24,400/sq mi). Ethnic Chinese constituted over 72% of the area's population, while Malays formed another 12%. Indians comprised more than 11% of the suburb's population.

Transportation

Ayer Itam Road serves as the main thoroughfare at Ayer Itam, with a total length of about 4.5 km (2.8 mi). Other major roads, such as Batu Lanchang Lane, Thean Teik Road and Thean Teik Highway, have been widened to cope with the increasing traffic.

Rapid Penang buses 13, 201, 202, 203, 204 and 502 serve the residents of the suburb, by connecting Ayer Itam with various destinations within the city, including the city centre, Paya Terubong, the Penang International Airport, Queensbay Mall and Balik Pulau.

Education

Ayer Itam is served by two primary schools.

• SK Padang Tembak
• SJK (C) Kong Min Pusat

References

1. ^ "MyCensus 2020: Mukim/Town/Pekan". Department of Statistics Malaysia. Putrajaya: 174–175. February 2024. ISBN 9789672537069.
2. "Dokumen Gazetir Pulau Pinang Pulau Mutiara 2022" (PDF) (in Malay). Jawatankuasa Kebangsaan Nama Geografi (JKNG) Malaysia. p. 15.
3. "Air Itam Market". 1 May 2014. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-10 – via PressReader.
4. Khoo, Salma Nasution (2007). Streets of George Town, Penang. Penang, Malaysia: Areca Books. pp. 37–38. ISBN 9789839886009.
5. "Road widening will ease traffic jams – Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
6. "Road, drain upgrades to solve flash flood woes | Buletin Mutiara". www.buletinmutiara.com. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
7. "Smoother ride for motorists using Lebuhraya Thean Teik – Malaysia Premier Property and Real Estate Portal". Malaysia Premier Property and Real Estate Portal. Archived from the original on 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-07-22. Retrieved 2017-05-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
9. "Rapid Penang". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-07-02. Retrieved 2017-05-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-07-02. Retrieved 2017-05-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-07-02. Retrieved 2017-05-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-07-02. Retrieved 2017-05-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-07-02. Retrieved 2017-05-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
15. "SK PADANG TEMBAK – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-19.
16. "SJK(C) KONG MIN PUSAT – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-19.

External links

• Air Itam travel guide from Wikivoyage

v t e Places adjacent to Ayer Itam
Penang Hill Penang Hill Ayer Itam City centre Paya Terubong

v t e State of Penang
Capital: George Town
Topics	Constitution Elections 2008 2013 2018 2023 Constituencies Government Executive Governor Chief Minister Deputy Chief Minister Legislature Speaker Geography History George Town Symbols Anthem Coats of arms Flag
Society	Architecture Tallest skyscrapers in George Town Cuisine Demographics Chinese Indians Economy Education List of schools Transportation Streets in George Town Tourist attractions
Administrative divisions	Metropolitan area George Town Conurbation George Town Local government Penang Island City Council Downtown and suburbs Ayer Itam Balik Pulau Batu Ferringhi Bayan Lepas FIZ Downtown George Town CBD Gelugor Gertak Sanggul Jelutong Pantai Acheh Paya Terubong Penang Hill Relau Tanjong Bungah Tanjong Pinang Tanjong Tokong Teluk Bahang Teluk Kumbar Residential neighbourhoods Ayer Rajah Bandar Baru Air Itam Bandar Sri Pinang Batu Lanchang Batu Maung Batu Uban Bayan Baru Bukit Jambul Clan Jetties Kampong Serani Kampung Siam Macallum Street Ghaut Minden Heights Mount Erskine People's Court Pulau Tikus Rifle Range Sungai Ara Sungai Dua Sungai Nibong Sungai Pinang Taman Free School Taman Tun Sardon The Light Villages Kampung Buah Pala Kampung Seronok Permatang Damar Laut Teluk Tempoyak Islands Andaman Betong Gazumbo Jerejak Kendi Lovers' Penang Rimau Silicon Tikus Districts Northeast Southwest Seberang Perai Local government Seberang Perai City Council Downtown and suburbs Batu Kawan Bukit Mertajam Bukit Minyak Bukit Tambun Bukit Tengah Butterworth Juru Kepala Batas Mak Mandin Nibong Tebal Perai FIZ Permatang Pauh Seberang Jaya Sungai Bakap Sungai Jawi Tasek Gelugor Teluk Air Tawar Residential neighbourhoods Alma Bagan Ajam Bagan Dalam Bagan Jermal Bagan Luar Cherok Tok Kun Penanti Pinang Tunggal Simpang Ampat Sungai Dua Val d'Or Villages Machang Bubok New Village Mengkuang Titi Permatang Pasir Permatang Rambai Permatang Tinggi Islands Aman Gedung Districts North Seberang Perai Central Seberang Perai South Seberang Perai
Commons Wikisource Category Tourist attractions

• Populated places in Penang
• George Town, Penang