What is Penang?
[[File:Penang state locator.PNG|thumb|Penang in Malaysia]] [[Image:Flag of Penang (Malaysia).svg|thumb|150px|Flag]] [[Image:Coat of arms of Penang.svg|thumb|90px|coat of arms]] '''Penang''' (also known '''''Pulau Pinang''''') is a state in [[Malaysia]]. It is on the northwestern part of [[Peninsular Malaysia|Malaysia]]. The capital city of Penang is [[George Town, Penang|George Town]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tourism.gov.my/en/destinations/state.asp?state=penang|title=Penang: The Pearl of the Orient|work=[[Tourism Malaysia]]|accessdate=October 4, 2010|archive-date=February 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217221919/http://www.tourism.gov.my/en/destinations/state.asp?state=penang|url-status=dead}}</ref> by the [[Strait of Malacca]]. A resident of Penang is known as a Penangite. It has two parts – [[Penang Island]] and Butterworth on the mainland. The state of Penang is next to [[Kedah]] to the north and east, and [[Perak]] to the south. ==History== From the 14th century Portuguese traders set foot on the island of Penang. They were looking for spices to sell. Then, many years later Chinese traders arrived and it was then the island was first put onto a map. On 17 July 1786, Captain [[Francis Light]], an English sailor landed on the island. He built a fort called [[Fort Cornwallis]], On 12 August 1786, Light renamed the island '''Prince of Wales Island''' after the Prince of Wales. He named the new town [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] in honour of King George III of England. * 1941: Penang is heavily bombed by the Japanese invaders. Soon after this the English gave up Penang. * 1945: Japan surrenders and is chased away from Malaysia. Soon after the 2nd World War ended. As a result the English came back to Penang. * In 1957 Malaysia became independent. ==Geography== Penang is a geographically divided into two sections: * [[File:Map-penang.jpg|thumb|Map of Penang]][[Penang Island]] an island located in the Straits of Malacca; * [[Seberang Perai]]: a narrow strip of land. [[File:T