Historic Background Of Penang

The early Malays used to call Penang `Pulau ka Satu’ (Single Island), but this name later changed to `Pulau Penang’ (Island of the betel nut- in recognition of the betel palm commonly found on the island). Still later, the British came along and renamed it `Prince of Wales’ Island. The British acquisition of the island came about through the efforts of an English trader-adventurer called Francis Light, and from the setting up of an East India Company settlement in 1786, Penang remained a British dominion, until Malaysia’s independence in 1957. Even today, however, traces of its history still remain- most noticeably in the buildings in Georgetown ( the capital) and elsewhere.