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Batu Maung is a small
town in Penang, Malaysia. It is located
in the southeastern part of Penang
Island. It consists of several smaller villages namely Kampung Seronok
(at the border with Bayan Lepas), Kampung Binjai, Permatang Damar Laut,
Kampung Batu Maung, Kampung Teluk Tempoyak and Kampung Jalan Baru.
Around 20 years ago, Batu Maung was only a small fishing village
accessible only from Bayan Lepas. However,
in the past few years, Batu Maung has experienced a rapid development due
to its proximity to Bayan Lepas Free Trade Zone (FTZ). In 1994, a new
4-lane highway was opened that linked Batu Maung to Gelugor (known as
Coastal Highway). This shortened the journey from Batu Maung to Penang
Bridge to around 15 minutes from almost an hour previously.
There are 3 primary schools and 1 secondary school in this area. The
oldest school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Batu Maung was opened in 1884. The
school has been renovated several times, however due to the limited land
space available, the school lacks most of the common facilities such as
proper playing field and hall.
Due to land reclamation from the sea, the Bayan Lepas Free Trade Zone has
now expanded to Batu Maung. Notable companies with factories in Batu Maung
include Motorola and Nippon Express. This contribute to a population boom
since people start to settle in Batu Maung due to its lower rental rate
compared to established areas like Bayan Lepas and Bandar Bayan Baru.
Batu Maung is home to the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI), a
federal-government agency that focused on marine research. There is also a
medium-size aquarium within its vicinity which is open to public at a
minimal cost. In addition, WorldFish Center, a similar research institute
owned by UNESCO also operated there after moving from The Philippines in
early 2000. Its fishing port has also been designated as a
deep-sea-fishing port by the Malaysian Government.
Other notable attractions in Batu Maung include the War Museum (showcasing
WW2 relics), seafood centre in Kampung Teluk Tempoyak, Tapak Gedembai (a
giant footprint cast in stone) near the fishing port and Kampung Seronok
(a cultural village, winners of the best village in Malaysia in the past).
In August 2006, Malaysian Government has announced that the Penang's
Second Bridge will be built from Batu Kawan (on the mainland) to Batu
Maung (on the island).
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