The history of Bukit Mertajam, Part II:From rural board to town council
By Koay Su Lyn
July 2015 WINDOW INTO HISTORY
With the rubber boom of the mid-20th century, Bukit Mertajam develops to become a major town, spurred by the tenacity of the locals, an able council and – interestingly – the triads.The year 1913 marked an interesting turning point for Bukit Mertajam. The passing of the Municipal Ordinance 1913 witnessed the colonial local authorities taking control on the mainland portion of Penang. The Act established the Butterworth Municipal Council followed by rural boards in all northern, southern and central districts...
Koay Su Lyn
reads and writes of the past to make sense of the present. She is a research analyst in the History and Heritage Programme of Penang Institute.
