Farlim

Summary

Farlim, officially Bandar Baru Ayer Itam, is a residential neighbourhood within the city of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located 6 km (3.7 mi) southwest of the city centre, the township was created in the 1980s.[1][2] Over the recent decades, Farlim has witnessed rapid development with several residential and commercial developments within the area.

Bandar Baru Air Itam
Neighbourhood of George Town
Other transcription(s)
 • Mandarin发林 (亚依淡新市镇) (Simplified)
發林 (亞依淡新市鎮) (Traditional)
Fā lín (Yà yī dàn xīn shì zhèn) (Pinyin)
 • HokkienHuat-lîm (A-i-tām Sin-tìn) (Tâi-lô)
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Farlim
Farlim
Location within    George Town in    Penang
Coordinates: 5°23′15.8094″N 100°16′59.0376″E / 5.387724833°N 100.283066000°E / 5.387724833; 100.283066000
Country Malaysia
State Penang
City George Town
Founded1982[1]
Government
 • Local governmentPenang Island City Council
 • Mayor of Penang IslandRajendran P. Anthony
 • Paya Terubong State AssemblymanWong Hon Wai (PH-DAP)
 • Bukit Gelugor Member of ParliamentRamkarpal Singh (PH-DAP)
Time zoneUTC+8 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)Not observed
Postal code
11500
Websitembpp.gov.my

History edit

The area where Farlim is located was previously known as Thean Teik Estate, which was named after Khoo Thean Teik, a local Chinese merchant.[2] The area was owned by the Khoo Kongsi, a Chinese clan association in which Khoo was a director.[2][3]

In 1978, Khoo Kongsi had reached an agreement with Farlim Group to develop Thean Teik Estate into a residential township.[3] At the time, the project was the single largest property development ever undertaken by the private sector on Penang Island, with an area of 356 acres (1,440,000 m2) being originally earmarked for development.[1][4] However, the commencement of construction works in 1982 was met by deadly protests by local residents.[2] In the incident which pitted the residents against the police, one resident was killed and another four were injured.

Transportation edit

Thean Teik Road and Thean Teik Highway are the two major roads that cut through the township.[5][6][7] The former links Ayer Itam Road and the Paya Terubong suburb to the southwest, whereas the latter serves as a major thoroughfare between Paya Terubong and the Batu Lanchang suburb to the east. Construction of the 6 km (3.7 mi) long Ayer Itam–Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway Bypass, part of the Penang Transport Master Plan, is expected to be completed by 2025.[8] The bypass will offer a direct route to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway and it is projected to reduce commuting time by 50%.[9]

was designed to disperse traffic from the expressway by providing a direct route through Gelugor to Paya Terubong.[10]

Rapid Penang bus routes 13, 202, 203 and 306 also include stops within Farlim, thus connecting the township with the city centre, the Penang International Airport and Queensbay Mall, as well as the Paya Terubong and Gelugor suburbs.[11][12][13]

Education edit

There are two primary schools and a high school within the Farlim neighbourhood.

Primary schools

High school

Shopping edit

 
All Seasons Place and All Seasons Park condominiums[17]

All Seasons Place, Penang's first and only strip mall, was completed in 2012 and serves as the sole shopping mall within Farlim.[18][19] It is anchored by HeroMarket,[20] replacing the previous Giant and consists of several eateries and health-related outlets which are arranged along the Thean Teik Highway.

The local community's retail needs are also met by a Bandar Baru supermarket at the heart of the township. In addition, Suiwah Corporation, a local retail firm, has a considerable presence within Farlim. At the time of writing, it operates the Sunshine Farlim hypermarket, while the township's second shopping mall, Sunshine Tower, is under construction.[21][22] In particular, the latter retail complex, scheduled for completion in 2019, will contain the first cineplex within Farlim as well.[22][23]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Farlim Group (M) Berhad – Townships | Bandar Baru Air Itam". www.farlim.com.my. Archived from the original on 2018-11-26. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
  2. ^ a b c d "Farlim, the old tai kor's place – Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
  3. ^ a b A Guide to Selected Chinese Clan Houses in the George Town World Heritage Site. Penang: George Town World Heritage Incorporated.
  4. ^ "New commercial precinct to enhance growth of Bandar Baru Air Itam – Metro News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
  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. 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. ^ "5.7km bypass on island now 42% complete". The Star. 2 Mar 2024. Retrieved 6 Mar 2024.
  9. ^ Arnold Loh (14 Aug 2015). "New Air Itam-Gelugor bypass to cut driving time by half". The Star. Retrieved 16 Apr 2024.
  10. ^ "Bypass now 33% completed". The Star. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  11. ^ Route mapsrapidpg.com.my Archived 2016-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Route mapsrapidpg.com.my Archived 2016-07-02 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Route mapsrapidpg.com.my Archived 2016-07-02 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "SK SERI INDAH – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-19.
  15. ^ "SJK(C) SIN KANG – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-19.
  16. ^ "SMK AIR ITAM – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2017-05-19.
  17. ^ "Autumn Tower @ All Season Park". Penang Property Talk. 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
  18. ^ Yeoh, Winnie. "A place for all seasons – Community | The Star Online". Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  19. ^ "All Seasons Place – Belleview". Belleview. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  20. ^ "New supermarket outlet opens in densely populated township". The Star Online. 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  21. ^ "Sunshine Farlim Mall". Time Out Penang. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
  22. ^ a b "Suiwah plans more outlets – Business News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
  23. ^ Filmer, Andrea (December 2016). "Air Itam: So Busy. So Beguiling". Penang Monthly. Archived from the original on 2017-03-22. Retrieved 2017-12-23.

External links edit