SEBERANG PERAI, July 17 — Rows of tired, old decrepit godowns line a narrow dirt path a few metres from rows of heritage houses boasting the Southern Chinese eclectic style of architecture.
These are surrounded by a mix of modern and heritage shophouses, a commercial complex, a bazaar, an old Hindu temple, large tracts of overgrown vacant land, abandoned buildings and further down the road, another bazaar and a wet market.
This is all that remains of a once-bustling trading town. This part of Butterworth along Jalan Jeti Lama and Jalan Pasar used to be a busy marketplace alive with traders as it was where the old jetty used to be, where boats used to ferry passengers across the channel to and from the island.
Now, with the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR) cutting across where the seafront used to be, the whole enclave has but only reminders of its past in the form of the old godowns and traders — including a fishing equipment shop that is still in business — who have been here for generations.
Central to the whole enclave is the Jeti Lama Market that has been around since the 1930s and this very market will serve as a focal point for urban regeneration.
As part of its Butterworth Action Plan, Think City Sdn Bhd will be transforming the Jeti Lama enclave. There are plans for pocket parks, green public spaces and facelifts to some of the main buildings particularly the Jeti Lama market.
Think City Butterworth Programme Director Murali Ram said they are focusing on three main areas in the Butterworth Action Plan and one of it is the market.
“This is the oldest market in Butterworth and it is unique as it operates almost round the clock from 3am up to 11pm at night,” he said in an interview with Malay Mail Online.
Certain parts of the market are open in the morning, some in the afternoon and some in the evening in a cyclical manner, keeping it open almost the whole day through.
It is one of the main markets in the area that supplies to traders, restaurants and locals and some of the traders have been around for three generations.
Think City is investing about RM600,000 to give the market a facelift without changing the original structure of the building.
“We are looking at upgrading it, putting in amenities and looking at ways to improve waste disposal, streamline the loading and unloading of goods here,” he said.
There are over 60 stalls in the market and outside it, there are rows of shops that include fishmongers and wholesalers that complement the market.
A walk down from the market is a carpark in front of the Maha Mariamman Temple that Murali said is the perfect spot for a pocket park for social gatherings, events and a recreational place for residents nearby.
“We find that Butterworth does not have enough parks, greenery and public spaces... it is so dry and hot, so having more parks and greenery will be a step towards making the town more pleasant for the local residents,” he said.
As part of the rejuvenation of the Jeti Lama enclave, the Bagan Complex at the junction of Jalan Jeti Lama and Jalan Pasar will also be upgraded and given a facelift.
Think City is currently in discussions with the building owner, JKP, to restore the building and while maintaining the original traders who are renting the space, turn vacant lots into an art space.
“We are looking for an anchor tenant for the ground floor, perhaps a cafe or a restaurant and the other vacant lots in the building can be let out as studios for artists,” he said.
He said the rentals are still low and the location is very near the train station to connect to Kuala Lumpur and also near the jetty for the ferry to cross to the island.
“It is perfect for budding artists to use as studios as rentals are low, spaces are bigger and the location is very convenient,” he said.
Just across the main road, about 500 metres away in Kampung Benggali, is the Dewan Ria community centre with a basketball court and a swimming pool.
Think City is partnering with the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) to upgrade the three-storey community hall, the public swimming pool, the basketball court and also to create a conducive pocket park in the area.
All these projects are expected to start soon and will probably take about two years to complete in several phases, said Murali.
“It is our intention to make Butterworth a conducive place for people to trade and to live so with more public spaces and amenities, it will provide a better living space for existing residents and perhaps even regenerate the whole area to become a thriving town again,” he said.
Butterworth was named after the Governor of the Straits Settlements ― William John Butterworth ― and it used to be the main town and heart of Seberang Perai, the mainland side of Penang.
It was a thriving township about 50 years ago with cinemas, hotels, retail shops and a hospital but over the years, one cinema closed, the hospital shifted to Seberang Jaya and the old businesses that remained are barely surviving.
Think City’s urban regeneration project for the old township, with an annual allocation of up to RM3 million, is aimed at catalysing a spurt of development in the area along with breathing new life into the district.
