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30-556: The township was created in the 1970s following the establishment of the zone. Since then, Bayan Baru has evolved into a booming neighbourhood, with various commercial and retail developments. Bayan Baru was first developed by the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) in 1972, in tandem with the construction of the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone . The creation of the new township was aimed at providing

60-579: A Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) hub. These investments include the construction of Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC)-status infrastructure, such as SUNTECH Tower and One Precinct. A number of multinational firms, including Celestica , Keyence , Swarovski , Jabil , Teleperformance , Kuehne + Nagel and Zurich Insurance , have already set up business outsourcing centres within the area as well. The supply of office space in Bayan Baru will also be supplemented by ongoing commercial developments within

90-516: A housing area adjacent to the newly built industries in Bayan Lepas , and erasing social and economic inequalities between the urban and rural inhabitants. The first residential developments in the area were in the form of landed properties, such as terraced houses and semi-detached houses . In recent years, the Penang state government has allocated investments towards the development of Bayan Baru into

120-590: A prince from the kingdom of Minangkabau, Sumatra. Raja Bayan settled in Penang in the 1700s when he was appointed the headman of Penang by the Sultan of Kedah. The 'old town' of Bayan Lepas is located at the intersection of Jalan Bayan Lepas and Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim, to the west of the Penang International Airport . The British also built a fortification at nearby Batu Maung to defend Penang Island and

150-518: A vital role in reversing Penang 's economic crisis. Intel , AMD , Hewlett-Packard , Clarion , National Semiconductor , Hitachi , Osram , and Bosch —collectively known as the Samurai Eight —were the first multinational companies to set up factories within the zone, followed by several other firms including Motorola and Dell . These firms are also supported by smaller, local-owned enterprises and startups , such as Piktochart . Consequently,

180-467: Is Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, which forms part of the Gelugor Highway . The thoroughfare cuts through the neighbourhood, linking Gelugor to the north with Bayan Lepas to the south. Several Rapid Penang bus routes serve the area, including 102, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 401, 401E and AT (Airport Transit). These routes connect the township with the city centre and various destinations within

210-574: Is one of the busiest airports in Malaysia and serves as the major airport within the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia . The airport's proximity to the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone allows for ease of exports, handling an estimated RM295,173 million worth of exports in 2021 alone. Bayan Lepas is connected to the city centre via the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway , and to Balik Pulau via Federal Route 6 . Jalan Bayan Lepas,

240-463: Is one of the major retail destinations in the city. With a gross built-up area of 2,500,000 sq ft (230,000 m ), the mall contains more than 400 outlets, as well as a cinema and other entertainment options. Additionally, Sunshine Square , a department store of local retail chain Suiwah Corporation, serves the immediate neighbourhood of Bayan Baru . The Snake Temple is said to be

270-463: Is one of the major sports venues in Penang , capable of hosting various indoor sports events, including squash, badminton and martial arts. It has also emerged as the preferred venue within Penang for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE). The SPICE Arena was recently renovated and is now complemented in its role as a MICE venue by the GBI -certified SPICE Convention & Exhibition Centre,

300-481: The Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone (Bayan Lepas FIZ) to alleviate an economic crisis and rising unemployment in Penang at the time. Industrialisation necessitated the development of newer townships such as Bayan Baru and accelerated commercial developments at the area. As of 2020 , Bayan Lepas was home to a population of 130,455. Malays constituted over 42% of the suburb's population, while Chinese made up another 40%. Non-citizens comprised more than 9% of

330-462: The Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone and Seberang Perai on the mainland; the three routes mainly cater to industrial workers who reside on the mainland. In 2017, LinkBike , a local public bicycle sharing service , launched its southernmost station at Queensbay Mall . This, along with the Summerton station nearby, provides bikers with an alternative mode of transportation between Bayan Lepas and

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360-571: The Chief Minister of Penang between 1969 and 1990, in response to Penang 's economic downturn at the time. George Town , Penang's capital city, had its free port status revoked by the Malaysian federal government in 1969, leading to massive unemployment which peaked at 16.4%. Lim identified the electronics sector as having the best potential to absorb the state's excess semi-skilled workforce. Nearly 1,000 acres (4.0 km ) of land adjacent to

390-485: The Penang International Airport throughout 2021, the largest among all entry and exit points in Malaysia . Bayan Lepas Bayan Lepas is a suburb of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang . Located near the southeastern tip of Penang Island , 15 km (9.3 mi) south of the city centre , it is home to the Penang International Airport , the third busiest airport in Malaysia, as well as one of

420-463: The Penang International Airport throughout 2021, the largest among all entry and exit points in Malaysia . Owing to the high trade volumes at Bayan Lepas, logistics has become a crucial supporting industry, with several logistics providers such as DHL , Schenker AG and Expeditors International opening branches within the area. Queensbay Mall , the largest shopping mall by area in George Town ,

450-584: The Penang International Airport were acquired for the construction of Malaysia's first free trade zone , as well as the adjacent township of Bayan Baru . The Penang Development Corporation (PDC) was tasked with the construction of both the zone and the township. To attract multinational corporations to the zone, the Free Trade Zones Act was enacted by the Malaysian federal government in 1971 and pioneer tax incentives were offered. The first phase of

480-493: The RAF Butterworth Air Base on the mainland against amphibious invasion. However, the fort was abandoned after the advancing Imperial Japanese Army during World War II . Until the 1970s, Bayan Lepas was a relatively rural village, with rice farming being the main economic activity. As a result, the town was nicknamed the "rice bowl" of Penang . In 1972, the then Chief Minister of Penang , Lim Chong Eu , opened

510-564: The Silicon Valley of the East . Created in 1972 as Malaysia's first free trade zone, the Bayan Lepas FIZ played a critical role in Penang's economic diversification and is now home to various multinational corporations , including Bosch , Motorola , Dell , Intel and Hewlett-Packard . The 1,400-acre (5.7 km ) Bayan Lepas FIZ was the brainchild of Lim Chong Eu , who served as

540-565: The city centre , the Penang Bridge and the Second Penang Bridge via the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway and the pan-island Malaysia Federal Route 6 . The following is an incomplete list of multinational firms within the Bayan Lepas FIZ. In 2021 alone, the Bayan Lepas FIZ received almost RM71 billion of investments, about 93% of Penang's total investments that year. An estimated RM295,173 million worth of exports also passed through

570-635: The FIZ, covering an area between the airport, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and the Keluang River, was opened in 1972. The zone has since been expanded and developed in phases. Phase 2 encompasses an area between Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Bukit Gedung and the Snake Temple . Phase 3 was partially built on reclaimed land, while Phase 4, the largest and final phase, was completed by the 1990s. The FIZ proved successful in attracting multinational firms and its creation played

600-412: The city, such as the Penang International Airport , Batu Maung , Sungai Nibong and Gertak Sanggul . These routes are complemented by Rapid Penang's Congestion Alleviation Transport (CAT), a free-of-charge transit service within Bayan Baru. In addition, Rapid Penang's cross-strait BEST shuttle services, BEST A and BEST B, are available for employees transiting between Bayan Baru and Seberang Perai on

630-587: The main thoroughfare within the suburb, also forms part of the latter road. Rapid Penang bus routes 302, 308, 401 and 401E include stops within Bayan Lepas proper, while the Penang International Airport is served by routes 102, 306, 401, 401E and AT. These routes link Bayan Lepas to various destinations on Penang Island , including the city centre, Balik Pulau and Teluk Kumbar . Aside from these routes, Rapid Penang operates an additional three cross-strait shuttle bus routes - BEST A, BEST B and BEST C - between

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660-457: The mainland. There are two primary schools and two high schools within Bayan Baru. Primary schools High school The 190-bed Pantai Hospital is the sole hospital within Bayan Baru. The private hospital, established in 1997, now forms part of Parkway Pantai 's group of hospitals and offers specialist treatments for a variety of medical conditions. Completed in 2000, the SPICE Arena

690-626: The major economic sectors at Bayan Lepas, while residential and commercial developments have accelerated, including Queensbay Mall , one of the largest shopping malls in George Town. Bayan Lepas was believed to have been named after a wealthy Sumatran family who founded the town in the late 19th century. The folklore goes that upon coming ashore, their parakeet escaped, and was given the name Bayan Lepas, which meant 'escaped parakeet' in Malay . Bayan Lepas could also be named after Raja Bayan or Nakhoda Bayan,

720-399: The manufacturing sector became one of Penang's largest economic sectors, while the zone itself has been described by the international press as the Silicon Valley of the East . The Bayan Lepas FIZ lies next to the Penang International Airport , allowing for ease of exports. This elevated George Town as the top exporter among Malaysian cities . In addition, the FIZ is also connected to

750-482: The neighbourhood, such as Quartermile and the Penang International Commercial City (PICC). The latter, developed by local property developer Hunza, is envisaged as Penang's answer to KLCC , with construction currently in progress within a 17.2-hectare (0.172 km) site. PICC's residential component Muze also contains the third tallest skyscraper in George Town. The main road within Bayan Baru

780-536: The oldest free industrial zones in the country . Established sometime in the 19th century, Bayan Lepas had been an agricultural village, with rice production as its mainstay. The British built what is now the Penang International Airport in 1935, but it was only in the 1970s when Bayan Lepas witnessed widescale transformation with the creation of the eponymous free industrial zone. Today, electronics manufacturing and logistics have replaced agriculture as

810-417: The only Chinese temple in the world to be inhabited by snakes. Built in the 1850s, it has attracted species of pit vipers , which are believed to be rendered harmless by the incense. The temple is also a focal point of the annual Chinese New Year celebrations, during which a flame-watching ceremony is held to predict the fortunes of the following 12 months. The Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas

840-628: The population, followed by Indians at 7%. Known as the Silicon Valley of the East , the Bayan Lepas FIZ is the nucleus of Malaysia's electronics manufacturing industry. Home to hundreds of multinational companies, the FIZ played an instrumental role in Penang 's economic diversification , as well as Bayan Lepas's transformation into an industrial centre. In 2021 alone, the Bayan Lepas FIZ received almost RM71 billion of investments, about 93% of Penang's total investments that year. An estimated RM295,173 million worth of exports also passed through

870-432: The surrounding areas such as Bayan Lepas , Batu Maung and Sungai Nibong . Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone The Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone (Bayan Lepas FIZ) is a free trade zone within George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang . Located adjacent to the Penang International Airport and 12 km (7.5 mi) south of the city centre , it is a high-tech industrial park widely regarded as

900-566: The world's first hybrid solar-powered convention centre. Adjacent to the SPICE Arena, the SPICE Aquatics Centre not only serves as a venue for national and international aquatic sports events such as swimming and diving, it is also put to use as a community swimming facility when not in use for tournaments. A number of shopping centres have been built within Bayan Baru to cater for a relatively sizable catchment area, including shoppers from

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