The Star LED Art Sculpture

I had a chance to visit The Star LED sculpture which is a recent attraction at Jalan Raja Uda, Butterwoth, Penang designed by Ong Jun Hao in conjunction with Urban Xchange 2015. It was launched on 7 November 2015. This star-shaped art installation is set in an abandoned building along Jalan Pusat Perniagaan Raja Uda 1, taking centre stage among rows of shophouses and flats within the commercial area of Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth.

The objective is part of urban renewal of Butterworth through creating a new community art space. The 3-storey high art installation appears as if light emanates from inside the building and the light is able to penetrate through the solid thick concrete floor slab of the abandoned building.

This dazzling LED light display along with occasional performances, markets and music concerts plays a pivotal role as a new community space, which helps rejuvenates and revitalise the existing dead space behind the newly-built shopwhouses along Jalan Raja Uda. This art installation illuminates a previously abandoned building and quiet dark alley, creating a vibrant urban landmark which draws many visitors. Recently, Penang state government also launched Bamboo Square at the open area next to the art installation, decorated with planted bamboos and illuminated with mini red lanterns and red ribbon wishing tree as part of the Chinese New Year celebration. 

How to get there

The Star LED sculpture is located at Jalan Pusat Perniagaan Raja Uda 1, off Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth, behind Coffee Venture. Entrance is free for all visitors. 

Hutan Pelajaran Air Hitam Dalam (Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest)

Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest is a fresh water swamp reserve in Sungai Dua, Butterworth, Penang. The park is managed by the Penang State Forestry Department and has an area of about 10 hectares. According to the park ranger, this park has opened to the public about 2-3 years ago. This park has been a centre of attraction for many bird watchers and nature lovers as this place is home to many migratory birds and various faunas.The trip to the park with my parents is one of the many off beaten tracks as this park is still very much unknown to many locals. 

Prior to this trip, my parents and I have never heard of this place until I stumbled upon a website which featured the place on the internet. We decided to go there as we wanted to go for an evening walk. 

Unlike many other popular parks in Malaysia where many of the facilities were damaged, and disused due to neglect and poor maintenance, much to our surprise, many of the facilities there including the concrete-paved boardwalks, suspension bridge, observation tower and the gazebos were in good condition. Besides that, there is also a dyke with a footpath that runs along the Sungai Air Hitam and Sungai Jarak which flows into Prai River. The riverbanks and swamp area are mainly covered with nipa palms. However, there was no caretaker or staff manning the information counter. 

This habitat hosts a myriad of wildlife such as crab-eating macaques, squirrels, monitor lizards, otters and different species of birds. 

Overall, it is a serene and tranquil park worth visiting. 

Information board at the front car park

Gazebo overlooking the swamp area

Barringtonia racemosa fruit (Powder-puff tree or putat in Malay)

Concrete-paved boardwalk leading towards the suspension bridge and observation tower

Squirrels at the park

Monitor lizard swimming in the swamp under the boardwalk 

Suspension bridge 

Boardwalk leading towards the riverbank

Meandering Sungai Air Hitam with nypa fruticans (nipa palms) thriving along the riverbanks

Gazebo along the riverbank

Observation tower

Crab-eating macaque

Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest can be accessible easily by the North-South Expressway (E1) via the Sungai Dua interchange. If you were coming from Penang Island or the south, turn left into Jalan Sungai Dua (P198) at the interchange. After about 1.2km from the interchange, take a left turn into a road (P205) towards Kepala Batas and Tasek Gelugor. Upon reaching a junction which after about 3km, turn right into a road (P3) towards Kubang Semang direction. After that, take a right turn into an open car park next to the park before the bridge. 

More information and details about Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest can be accessed through the Penang State Forestry Department website here. 

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Suling Hill

Suling Hill is a private hilltop retreat near Mengkuang Dam, Bukit Mertajam. Although this place is a privately owned property, it is open to the public to enjoy the facilities and benefits the hill has to offer. The hill includes a observatory platform, reading room, conference room, bathroom, chalets and a durian orchard. The hill offers a breathtaking view of Mengkuang Dam, Butterworth-Kulim Expressway, Kampung Mengkuang, Sungai Lembu and Bukit Mertajam Hill. The hill commands a picturesque and enthralling view of the natural landscape as far as the paddy fields in Permatang Pauh and the sunset. Among the activities that you can do here include camping, mountain biking, picnicking, hiking and savouring local fruits. This rural retreat is still largely unknown to many urban dwellers. Suling Hill offers a wide variety of local fruits such as durian, rambutan, nutmeg, mango and mangosteeen which are cultivated on this hill. 

If you are travelling from Bukit Mertajam, the hill can be reached through Jalan Berapit towards Mengkung Dam. The moment you reach the traffic lights at the end of Jalan Berapit, turn right and shortly after that, turn left into a small, narrow road which bears the Suling Hill signboard, follow the signboard up the steep slope until you reach the summit. 

If you are travelling from Butterworth and Penang Island, take the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway until you exit at the EXIT1505 Tasik Mengkuang interchange which bears the signboard that leads to Penanti and Berapit. When you reach the traffic lights, turn right. After 1.3km you will reach a small, narrow road on the left just before the Kampung Mengkuang traffic light junction. You will see a signboard that leads to Suling Hill. If you have a smartphone, you can use Waze, a navigation app which can lead you to the place. 

Water Taxis In Penang

In view of the introduction of water taxis in Penang, the fellow Penangites are able to travel around Penang island and mainland faster if that takes off by the end of next year.

According to Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Tan Cheng Liang, who had suggested the idea, the coastal points are Bagan Ajam, Butterworth, Pulau Aman and Nibong Tebal which is on the mainland, Teluk Bahang, Tanjung Bungah, Tanjung Tokong, Weld Quay, Pantai Jerejak and Batu Maung on the island.

She added that the Federal Government, especially the Prime Minister, had approved the project in sync with the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).

Water taxis has been operated by many major cities around the world, include Amsterdam, Auckland, Bangkok, Brisbane, Capetown, Chicago, Copenhagen, Dubai, Hamburg, Istanbul, Kobe, London, Manila, New York, Osaka, Oslo, Paris, Rotterdam, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Vancouver and Venice. Penang would be the first in Malaysia to have its very own water taxi.

I actually pledge in full support, as these water taxis is another form of efficient public transport which saves travel time for those people who are travelling from the mainland to the island. These commuters would not have to take the trouble to face traffic jams on the Penang Bridge which sometimes would take 45 minutes to get to the island, especially during peak hours.

Water taxis would be very useful to those who travel from Nibong Tebal or Bagan Ajam to Batu Ferringhi, which the usual journey either drive along the bridge or take a ferry and then a bus takes more than 2 hours.

With the implementation of the water taxi, they serve as an alternative public transport as it will ease the traffic congestion on roads and highways, especially on the Penang bridge. In this way, a proportion of travelling commuters would be diverted to water taxis.

Water taxis would also be useful as it also provides new job opportunities and boost the tourism industry.

Currently, the mainland and the South Seberang Perai district are deliberately being cut off from Penang island as not many tourists who visited Penang had even step on the mainland soil just to catch a glimpse of several tourism areas on the mainland, namely Pulau Aman, Bukit Tambun village, fireflies and food haven in Nibong Tebal.

However, there are several conditions to be considered before implementing the project. Feedback from residents living along the coast on whether the water taxis is a necessity to the residents should be considered, or otherwise, if the idea is mooted but the residents are showing their displeasure, then the water taxis facility would be gone to waste and the company who run the water taxis would end up losing money and gone bankrupt.

Besides that, environmental-friendly water taxis should be considered so as not to have any environmental impact. Jetties or pick-up points should be built in such a way that it would not bring any geographical impact. Furthermore, water taxi pick-up points are to be built at high population density areas and easily accessible to bus stops, convenience stores, tourist attractions, towns or roads. This is to improve the popularity of the routes.

Source: The Star online "Penang To Have Water Taxis" (updated 15 July 2009)