Gertak Sanggul

Gertak Sanggul is a suburb of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang.^[2] It is located at the southwestern coast of Penang Island, about 21 km (13 mi) southwest of the city centre. Gertak Sanggul is an agricultural village, with fisheries and pig farming as its economic mainstays.^[3]

Gertak Sanggul
Suburb of George Town
Other transcription(s)
• Mandarin	美湖 (Simplified) 美湖 (Traditional) Měi hú (Pinyin)
• Tamil	கெர்டக் சங்குல்
Gertak Sanggul Location within    George Town in    Penang
Coordinates: 5°16′56.7336″N 100°11′38.2878″E
Country	Malaysia
State	Penang
City	George Town
District	Southwest
Area
• Total	5.6 km2 (2.2 sq mi)
Population  (2020)[1]
• Total	1,444
• Density	260/km2 (670/sq mi)
Demographics [1]
• Ethnic groups	54.2% Chinese 43.2% Bumiputera 43.1% Malay 0.1% indigenous groups from Sabah and Sarawak 1.2% Indian 0.1% Other ethnicities 1.2% Non-citizens
Time zone	UTC+8 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	Not observed
Postal code	11910

Etymology

According to urban legend, Gertak Sanggul was named during World War II, when Penang was under Japanese occupation.^[4] The Malay ladies in the area, who typically tied their hair into buns (Malay: sanggul), would ride their bicycles along the area's uneven roads, causing their buns to come undone. The Japanese administrators on Penang Island henceforth referred to the area as Gertak Sanggul.

Geography

4km
2.5miles

Kendi I.

3

Pasir Panjang

2

Beach

1

  

Map of Gertak Sanggul.
Click link at the top right corner to zoom in.

1

Beach

2

Pasir Panjang

3

Kendi Island

Demographics

Ethnicities within Gertak Sanggul in 2020[1]
Ethnicities / Nationality			Percentage
Chinese			54.2%
Malays			43.1%
Other Bumiputeras			0.1%
Indians			1.2%
Others			0.1%
Non-Malaysians			1.2%

As of 2020^[update], the subdivision of Bukit Pasir Panjang, where Gertak Sanggul is located, was home to a population of 1,444.^[1] Ethnic Chinese comprised over 54% of the population, followed by Malays at 43%.

Transportation

The main thoroughfare within Gertak Sanggul is Jalan Gertak Sanggul, which forms part of the pan-island Federal Route 6. The road links the town with Balik Pulau to the north and Teluk Kumbar to the east.

Rapid Penang bus route 308 is the sole public bus service that runs into Gertak Sanggul, connecting the town with a handful of destinations along the eastern seaboard of Penang Island, including Bayan Lepas, Bayan Baru, Queensbay Mall, Universiti Sains Malaysia and Sungai Nibong.^[5]

Education

Gertak Sanggul is served by a single primary school, SJK (C) Poi Eng.^[6]

References

1. "MyCensus 2020: Mukim/Town/Pekan". Department of Statistics Malaysia. Putrajaya: 174–175. February 2024. ISBN 9789672537069.
2. "George Town meliputi 'pulau', jelas Datuk Bandar" (PDF). Buletin Mutiara. 1 May 2015.
3. "Gertak Sanggul Local Property & Real Estate Trends, News & Guides | PropertyGuru Malaysia". www.propertyguru.com.my. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
4. "Kisah gadis di sebalik nama Gertak Sanggul". BH Online (in Malay). 2015-05-17. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
5. Route mapsrapidpg.com.my Archived 2016-07-02 at the Wayback Machine
6. "SJK(C) POI ENG – PULAU PINANG – Carian Sekolah Malaysia". www.sekolahmy.com (in Malay). Retrieved 2018-02-12.