The Road (Un)Safety in George Town: The Case of Chulia Street

“IF YOU CAN drive in Penang,” my parents say, “you can drive anywhere in Malaysia.” My Sabahan parents regard Penang roads as notorious for out-of-town drivers—its uneven lane widths that narrow and widen at whim, its busy roads swarmed with vehicles large, small and everything in between, and its narrow and often blocked pedestrian five-foot ways. For non-Penang drivers, safely navigating Penang roads can be considered a miracle.