Penangites lament growing presence of Mainlanders, snub Chinatown @ Raja Uda dev’t in Butterworth
PENANGITES are extremely proud of their island’s heritage and identity. From the gastronomic delights to the local dialects, the Pearl of the Orient elicits strong emotional responses to anything that seeks to dilute or change the island’s unique character.
A case in point is how a new development in the Raja Uda district has caused some consternation among local residents.
Posting on the Penang Today Community Facebook page, presumably Penang resident Wen Wen Yew highlighted the self-styled Chinatown with eyes wide open emojis, denoting astonishment.
The post has attracted 1.4K likes and 141 shares plus scores of comments before it was taken down. Thankfully, FocusM manages to preserve some of the so-called darndest comments.
Jayamas Property
about 2 years agoChinatown is 𝙁𝙐𝙇𝙇𝙔 𝙎𝙊𝙇𝘿! ⛩️
Closing the deal, we would like to announce that our modern chinese development is officially sold out 💯 Ready to discover more about RU Square, Raja Uda? Keep calm, we still have a lot to offer!
Reach us out for more info: ...
See more
Editor’s Note: Chinatown @ Raja Uda is a heritage-themed commercial development by Jayamas Property Group which is a joint development with landowners Woolley Development Sdn Bhd and WD Properties.
The four-story shop office project is situated near the intersection of Jalan Permatang Pauh, Jalan Telaga Air and Jalan Siram in Butterworth, mainland Penang.
It is part of a broader 60-acre integrated commercial and residential precinct known as RU Square which also encompasses sister projects like Nanyang Street and Kings Galleria. As per the Jayamas Property FB post, the project has been “sold out” as of Dec 17, 2024.
Interestingly, some Penangites saw this as further evidence of the invading Chinese Mainlanders trespassing onto their little corner of paradise.
It was noted that Raja Uda was predominantly Chinese, so why the need for a Chinatown, unless it is for Mainlanders.
One even took issue with the signage wording as signifying the presence of foreigners in their midst. “It should be Malaysia Chinese Town,” contended this alarmed citizen.
It was further noted with some apprehension by some observers that the island was already flooded with foreign businesses.
This sentiment was echoed by a Penangite who claimed that George Town was “over run” by Mainlanders. This was exemplified by the number of eateries catering to this demographic.
The sense of unease was apparent in one netizen’s observation that the development could have been called anything except Chinatown. It was suggested “Kampung/Pekan Cina” was a more suitable moniker to reflect the local populace.
In a more local context, it was surmised that there was no need to identify any one area or development with a specific ethnicity. If that was the case, there should also be “Malaytown” and “Indiantown” peppering the nation’s maps.
But that was swiftly met with a retort that such race-specific enclaves did indeed exists with this commenter citing Little India in China Street, Beach Street and Lebuh Pasar on the island itself as well as Kampung Benggali on mainland Penang.
It was also noted there were many “Malaytowns” scattered throughout the Peninsula which even featured lavish European-like palaces.
One bold commenter turned the tables around by asking the complainer to “feel free to leave the country” if he doesn’t like the way it is set up.
Another commenter also saw fit to suggest to non-plussed commenters that they can open a Malaysia-town in China.
It was also pointed out that whatever the name of this development may be, the relevant taxes are still being paid to the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN) and that the project is still under the jurisdiction of the land office/local council (whereby one has to pay quit rent/assessment tax).
One commenter hoped to defuse the situation with a link to the Penang Property Talk site with the marketing hyperbole describing Chinatown @Raja Uda as a development “now set to change the Raja Uda townscape through a well-planned collection of the Chinatown themed commercial spaces within a thriving hotspot of commercial activity.”
Several things to note about this Chinatown.
Firstly, there is increasing unease that businesses from China are taking up valuable real estate with willingness to pay higher prices which local enterprises are not be able to compete against.
Secondly, ‘Chinatowns’ are nothing new. It’s a themed commercial development with some seeking to turn this into an issue of identity politics. Perhaps, as suggested by one unimpressed commenter, that such voices are given short shrift.
In the meantime, it will be interesting to see how this development fares and if it will be a boon to Penang’s already burgeoning commercial landscape. – July 16, 2026
Penang doesn’t need a “Chinatown” because Penang itself is already one of the world’s great living Chinatowns.
Unlike many cities where Chinatown exists as a small ethnic enclave surrounded by a non-Chinese urban landscape, Chinese culture in Penang is woven into the fabric of the entire island.
From George Town’s UNESCO World Heritage Site to Butterworth, Air Itam, Jelutong, Bukit Mertajam and even Jawi, Chinese heritage, language, food, temples and traditions are part of e...
See more***
Was that why we are hearing those ghastly un-Penang (hence Mainland, or 'Laam-Chjan-Nah-ish)) words like 'Sipek', 'Haw Haw', 'Kot' and many other unspeakables, wakakaka 😂😂😂
