Do You Know The Old & Localised Names Of Malaysian Towns?
After the call to change the name of Penang’s capital George Town to Tanjung Penaga, people started digging out the old and localised names of places in Malaysia.
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Fresh after the George Town Festival 2024 promotional video drama, a PAS MP called for Penang’s capital city George Town to be renamed Tanjung Penaga.
Permatang Pauh MP Fawwaz Jan said the state’s capital city should be renamed to reflect Malaysia’s identity. He believes we should not take pride in an identity given by the colonisers.
His suggestion was shot down by Penang State exco for Tourism and Creative Economy Wong Hon Wai. Wong said Tanjung is a parliamentary constituency in Penang and is represented by Penang DAP leader, Lim Hui Ying. Additionally, no issues or problems have stemmed from the name of the place.
The call for a name change isn’t new. In 2022, International Islamic University Malaysia’s Ahmad Murad Merican suggested the name change. Merican also suggested that Butterworth and Port Dickson be renamed Bagan and Tanjung respectively.
However, the then-state executive councillor Yeoh Soon Hin said changing George Town’s name would negatively affect its Unesco heritage site status.
In addition, Yeoh said there’s no justification for the name change since Penang’s capital has been known globally as George Town for more than 200 years.
READ MORE: “Get Rid Of Colonial Names, Use Local Names For Places” Suggests Professor After Bukit Melaka Change
READ MORE: Georgetown Won’t Be Renamed Tanjong Penaga
What are the “localised” names for the other places in Malaysia?
The call to change the names of places to their localised or original names has been brought up several times.
The suggestion of reverting places to their original names has brought up an interesting conversation among people. Some people said if Penang’s name is changed, so should the names of other places such as Shah Alam.
Here are the current names of places with their localised or original names:
- Kuala Lumpur -> Muara Bustak or Pengkalan Lumpur
- Shah Alam -> Sungai Renggam
- Seri Kembangan -> Kampung Baru Cina Serdang
- Cyberjaya -> Air Terentang
- Putrajaya -> Prang Besar
- Dato Keramat -> Tangga Cina
- Teluk Intan -> Teluk Anson, Teluk Mak Intan
- Kota Kinabalu -> Api-Api, Jesselton
- Sandakan -> Elopura
- Kuching -> Santubong
- Samarahan -> Samadong
- Mont Kiara -> Kampung Segambut
- Bangsar -> Kampung Kerinchi
- Bangsar South -> Kerinchi
- Sunway -> Sungai Way
- Bandar Tun Razak -> Kampung Congo/Konggo
- Plaza Rakyat -> Ang Seng
- Tun Sambanthan -> Thambipillay
- Bukit Dukung -> Balakong
- Batu Caves -> Pattu Caves
- Persiaran KLCC -> Binjai
- Putra Heights -> Bukit Lanchong
- Manjung -> Gangga Negara (the City of Ganges)
- Bestari Jaya -> Batang Berjuntai
- Pantai Cahaya Bulan -> Pantai Cinta Berahi
- Taiping -> Klian Pauh
- Port Dickson -> Tanjung Tin
- Puncak Alam -> Bukit Cerakah
- Bukit St. Paul -> Bukit Melaka
- Sentul Barat -> Kasipillai
- KL Eco City -> Sungai Putih
And the list goes on because everything has a past!
Ok but tukar juga nama2 tempat ni kpd nama asal
— ng(Gua+Pi) (@xgpingx) July 16, 2024
Shah Alam ➔ Sungai Renggam
Cyberjaya ➔ Air Terentang
Putrajaya ➔ Prang Besar
Dato Keramat ➔ Tangga Cina
Seri Kembangan ➔ Serdang
Teluk Intan ➔ Teluk Anshun
Kota Kinabalu ➔ Api https://t.co/hgZtSWuoP2
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