Streets of Harmony: Bukit Mertajam, Penang

Bukit Mertajam, at the foot of Mertajam Hill in Penang, Malaysia, has been an agricultural center since the 1800s, producing sugarcane, palm oil, and rubber. Once a transportation hub linking north to south, it drew settlers—Malays, Chinese, Indians, and Siamese—who used the hill as a landmark. The old town features nine historic houses of worship reflecting community harmony, a vibrant wet market on Jalan Pasar as a cultural crossroads, and ongoing festivals like Pangguni Utthiram, Feast of St. Anne, and Hungry Ghost Festival. A timeless town frozen in history.