Penangites from island, mainland converge to share food, music, culture and community spirit in George Town
THE island and mainland may have always been treated as two halves of Penang, but the Penang One Better Festival in George Town brought them together through food, music, culture and community.
Held at the Esplanade, the two-day festival featured live performances, local food, creative activities, cultural showcases and booths by local businesses and community groups.
It followed last year’s inaugural edition in Bukit Mertajam, with the festival moving to the island this year to celebrate Penang’s shared identity.
Clerk Jane Wong Hui Chen, 42, from Simpang Ampat, said the festival highlighted how Penangites could celebrate their differences while sharing a common identity.
“I was born on Penang island and moved to the mainland when I was seven. I studied there, got married there and have lived there for the past 35 years.
“I prefer living on the mainland because the roads are less congested, but I prefer certain food on the island, such as laksa, char kuey teow and curry mee.
“Since my grandmother lives on the island, we cross the Penang Bridge every weekend to visit her and enjoy the good food,” she said.
Wong was at the festival with her husband and their six-year-old daughter, where they enjoyed the performances and activities.
Automotive employee Tan Wei Siong, 36, who has always lived on the island, said he had no plans to move to the mainland, even while working in Butterworth for four years.
He continues to travel between the island and mainland and is comfortable navigating the island despite its notorious traffic congestion.
“I will just ride my motorcycle if the traffic is too bad or when I attend big events like this, where parking may be difficult,” he said.
Tan said the festival also gave mainland residents a reason to cross the bridge and experience what the island has to offer.
“There is this little observation of ‘Island-kia’ and ‘Mainland-kia’. Mainland-kia are commonly seen crossing to the island for events, shopping and food.
“But Island-kia like me seldom cross to the mainland because I feel that I can get everything I need on the island,” he said.
The Penang One Better Festival saw visitors sampling local food, browsing products by local entrepreneurs and taking part in creative and community activities while enjoying performances on stage.
The event also provided a platform for local performers and creative groups to showcase their work while bringing together participants from various states.
For generations, many Penangites have casually used “Penang” to mean the island while referring to the mainland as Seberang Perai or simply “Seberang”.
Older generations also commonly used “Tanjong” when referring to the island, a name rooted in the Malay term Tanjong Penaga.
Universiti Utara Malaysia student Chua Pei Rong, 23, won an electric car as the grand prize in the lucky draw after attending the concert for two consecutive days during her semester break.
“I already have a car, but now that I have won an electric vehicle, I may use it as my mode of transport in the future,” she said.
