HISTORY

The history of modern Penang can be traced back to 1786 when  Francis Light managed to persuade the Sultan of Kedah to cede "Pulau Pinang" (island of the Betel nut) to the British East India Company.

The island was originally named Prince of Wales Island and the settlement was later named Georgetown after King George III.

In 1800, the Sultan of Kedah further ceded a strip of land on the mainland across the channel which Francis Light named Province Wellesley, after the then Governor of India.

CULTURE

Penang is rich in culture and religion with the different  races practicing various religions. Islam is the official religion mostly practiced by the Malays and Buddhism and Daoism are mostly practice by the Chinese.  Hinduism, Christianity and other religions are practiced freely too.