Penang

Penang (Jawi: ڤينڠ‎) is one of the 11 states of Malaya. It is located in the north-western region of Malaya. It borders Kedah to the north and east, and Perak to the south. It is one of the two states which do not have a monarchy (the other being Malacca).

Penang is divided into two halves, Penang Island and Seberang Perai (formerly known as Province Wellesley), with around 40% of the population living on Penang Island. The entire state is considered to be the second most populous metropolitan area in Malaya after Kuala Lumpur.

The capital of Penang is George Town, located on the eastern tip of Penang Island, and the western end of the Penang Bridge. The main town on the mainland is Butterworth.

Districts
Penang is divided into 5 districts:
 * Penang Island:
 * George Town
 * Penang Island


 * Mainland:
 * Seberang Perai North
 * Butterworth
 * Seberang Perai South

Penang makes up 13 of the 165 seats in the Malayan Parliament.

Penang Island
See: Penang Island

Penang Island is geographically similar to the Langkawi Islands. There are areas of flat land along the western and eastern coasts of the island, and small mountains run north-south on the island. The island's highest peak is Penang Hill (Malay: Bukit Bendera, Flag Hill), which is home to a hill station resort and a hill-climbing railway from the suburbs of George Town.

Mainland (Seberang Perai)
Mainland Penang is much flatter than its island counterpart, with only small hills in the east of the state. The mainland makes up about ⅔ of the state's total area.

History
Penang Island was annexed by the British from the Sultanate of Kedah in 1786, and named it Prince of Wales Island. It was one of the first areas in Malaya to be under British control. From 1800, the British also annexed the mainland area from the Kedah Sultanate, and named it Province Wellesley.

It later became a part of the British Colony of the Straits Settlements, along with Dindings (Now Manjung, Perak, Malacca, and Singapore.

Upon independence it became one of the 11 states of Malaya, and one of only two not to be ruled by a monarchy. (the other being Malacca)