Sungai Ara(新港)

Sungai Ara





























Is this Sungai Ara? The river pass through Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim, flow beside Masjid Al-Huda














On the background is the major property project development by Palmex Industries SB, IOI group in Sg Ara. DESARIA,of Sungai Ara is with total land bank of 350 acres.















SMK Sg Ara, just opposite traffic light at Jalan Kenari















The traffic junction, Jalan Kenari














































Neighboring the Hindu cemetery is the Chinese cemetery.














Cemetery Hindu



































































































































































The popular Hokkien Mee at Jalan Sungai Ara 1, just opposite double luck coffee shop.















Double luck or double 6 coffee shop(新港雙六記茶餐室)















Sungai Ara new town centre















Masjid Al-Huda, Sungai Ara















View from Jalan Bayan junction















S.R.J.K. (Cina) Chong Cheng Sungai Ara(新港崇正小学)





























Jalan Sungai Ara 1, T junction















The stall selling beef















Is this the remain of old Sg Ara village town?















Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Ara















T junction at Gerbang Sungai Ara 1















The T junction of Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim/ Jalan Fettes, which will lead to Jalan Paya Terubong(Relau)















Lemon grass (selai) planted by some enterprising resident at the road side




















The bread tree planted at road side















WW2 war relic, the pill box was built by British military, to monitor the advance of Japanese Armies. One or two machine guns can be accommodated in the pill box.

























































































Sungai Ara(新港)
Sungai Ara is a suburb new township in Penang. But it actually was a village town within an estate in the old days. Sungai Ara is the named after the river with the same name(Sg Ara or Ara River) from the hill located behind the town. Sungai Ara is named after a tree, Pokok Ara which is a gigantic ficus tree, with scientific name Ficus benjamina, commonly known as the Weeping Fig or Benjamin's Fig, is a species of fig tree, native to south and southeast Asia and Australia. It is the official tree of Bangkok, Thailand.

The Chinese called Sungai Ara as "Sin-kang"(新港), which literally means "new port", "kang" or "港" is port in Mandarin but in Hokkien it means river, so it is "new river". In the old days it is the town after Relau old town but before Bayan Lepas old town. The old village town was near junction at Jalan Tengah. Sg Ara old town is gone, when Taman Sungai Ara was developed, and replaced with new and modern row of brick shops, up to 3 storey. There is a wet market just behind Chung Cheng School, the morning market is vibrant.

Sungai Ara is within the Bayan Baru Parliament constituencies, which included Batu Uban, Pantai Jerejak, and Batu Maung state constituency, and the state constituency of Sg Ara is Batu Maung. The area of Sg Ara should be bordered by Relau, Bayan Baru, and Bayan Lepas(until Jalan Makamah/Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim T junction) . The main area of Sungai Ara is the area along Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim(formerly know as Jalan Sungai Ara)

Sungai Ara was formerly occupied by farmers who cultivated vegetables and rice, especially the land opposite SMK Sg Ara,now Jalan Kenari area was a former paddy field.

Sungai Ara, large part of it was formerly Sungai Ara estate, owned by David Brown family. The Sungai Ara land, measuring close to 404ha, was managed by the late H.R. Watts, a manager employed by Brown, who later became a majority shareholder of the Sungai Ara Estate. When Watts family entered into Joint Venture with the developer to develop the estate(nowadays Taman Kenari), the family offered very attractive compensation to their former workers.Ann Barton, Watts's daughter in 1985 sold the land at a token of 50 sen per sq ft to them. Some 90 houses and shoplots were part of compensation given to early residents of Sungai Ara, they also donated land to S.R.J.K. (Cina) Chong Cheng Sungai Ara (新港崇正小学). The family also donated 3,848sq m piece of land on Jalan Kenari, Sungei Ara in 1989, for construction of a Catholic church Chapel of Divine Mercy.

Pearl Island Country Club is located here. The housing area included Taman Sungai Ara, Taman Desa Ria,Mutiara Perdana, Desaria etc


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Al-Huda Mosque

Masjid Al-Huda or Al-Huda Mosque is a mosque located at Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim of Sungai Ara, at the junction with Jalan Bayan.

Sungai Ara Food

1. Mun Lock Hooi, Jalan Tengah
(a) Fish Head Noodle Sungai Ara

Located just opposite the police station, Jalan Tengah, is a locally famous fish head noodle stall, and a well known choo char restaurant. The fish head noodle is opened from morning till lunchtime,from 11a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday is closed.

(b)Seng Cheong Seafood(胜昌海鲜)
The same location is also the site for the open air choo char(煮炒)restaurant, Seng Cheong Seafood(胜昌海鲜), which only open at night. Their famous dish included Mongol Tao Fu(蒙古豆腐), Vietnam chicken(越南鸡),mayonis prawn, fish head curry(without coconut milk, Indian style) etc







































































2. Sungai Ara Hokkien Mee(新港雙六記茶餐室旁街邊福建面)@ Double Luck
It is located opposite double luck(or double 6) coffee shop(雙六記茶餐室), located at the left of the road side, Jalan Sungai Ara 1. The stall is under the tree, and beside an Indian coffee stall. However, you can order the Hokkien Mee(or Hokkien noodle or prawn noodle), and enjoy it at the coffee shop, instead of eating at the road side under the hot sun. The special feature about the noodle is that it include many ingredient e.g. tu-gua(pig liver), tu-puei(pig skin), shio-bak(grilled pork), eng-chai(kangkong vegetable),tao-geh(bean sprout), boiled egg and small prawn. You can also asked for the lor-mee( noodle with starch base).






























3. Goh Teow Kee Restaurant((吴潮记菜馆)

The restaurant is located at the main road, Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim. A popular teochew restaurant, which has three branches,namely Taman Sri Nibong, Gurney Drive and this restaurant, Sungei Ara Branch.

Its Steamed Cod Fish and their special tofu, Siamese food, pork ribs...e.g. Braised Teochew Toufu with Leek(潮州豆干焖青蒜), Teochew Steamed Fish(潮州蒸时鱼), Waterchestnut Fresh Prawn Ball(饶平马蹄鲜虾枣), Steamed Fish Ball with Ginger and Roasted Garlic(清蒸乒乓鱼丸)etc

For Teochew restaurant, do not leave without tasting the Teochew dessert, yam paste or Or-nee(芋泥), the restaurant offered their or-nee, which is Yam Paste with Ginko Nut and Sesame Seed(潮洲芋泥白果).

4. Assam Laksa
opposite Sek Men Keb Sg Ara(but not directly, located at an open space under the Angsana trees at Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim, Sungai Ara. Near Fisherman Grill.

5. Fisherman Grill Restaurant
Located at 300, Jalan Relau(now Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim), Desaria, Sg ara; directly opposite the SMK Sungai Ara. It is the end lot of the row of shophouses, which is painted with blue colour. It provided mainly western food.

6. Mee Jalil(Mee Goreng)
It is a road site stall along Jalan Kenari, after the traffic light junction in front of SMK Sg Ara. It is across the road just in front of the Chinese coffee shop TYY, the same row with Fisherman Grill. He usually opens in evening around 6-7pm and his noodles finishes before 8.30pm. But beware he sometime will be closing for a few days,even during the week days. Business opening time may be unpredictable.

7. Simpang Empat Yam Rice@ Kafeteria TYY
Located inside the Kafeteria TYY((晨陽咖啡屋), the corner lot of shop houses same row with Fisherman Grill which is located at the other end lot, Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim; after Jalan Kenari traffic light junction, turn right to the coffee shop. The yam rice come with the kiam-chai Te'ng (ham choy tong), and you also also can order pig leg vinegar(chi-kiok-swin).




































































































































8. Hokkien Mee at Ching Ying Coffee Shop @ Sungai Ara Wet Market
Coffee shops around the wet market provided choices for Penang hawker food/street food.
Located just behind the Chong Cheng Chinese school. The Hokkien Mee(or Prawn Noodle) at Ching Ying Coffee Shop is one of the popular stall.













































































































Sungei Ara Morning Market

Located at Tingkat Sungai Ara 1, from the entrance of Jalan Sungei Ara 1, just opposite Jalan Tengah/Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim traffic junction. It is relatively new wet market building, outside the market building are the stalls selling fruits, chicken, cakes/kuih, newspaper etc. There is a row of shops beside the market building, where the 3 coffee shops are located. The one at the corner is Kedai Kopi Siang Tatt, which is popular due to choices of food offered, at the centre of the row is Ching Ying Coffee Shop(where the Hokkien Mee is popular), and there is another one at the end lot.















The view of the street, in front of the market building. The building on left is Kedai Kopi Siang Tatt .















The wet market building















The section selling fishes & seafood,inside the building















The stalls outside the market building















The man selling roasted chicken, roasted duck and Char siew (grilled pork) and roasted pork(sio- ba)















The woman frying koay-ka, just outside Kedai Kopi Siang Tatt















Kedai Kopi Siang Tatt, a popular place for breakfast for their choices.















Inside Siang Tatt coffee shop















The orderly line of food hawkers corner , inside Siang Tatt coffee shop

Sungai Ara Night Market(Pasar Malam)

Located at Jalan Makamah every friday from 4.00p.m. to 10 p.m.

Schools

1.新港崇正小学(S.R.J.K. (Cina) Chong Cheng Sungai Ara)

Located along Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim

1930年崇正学校建立。当时，本校以亚答建筑物为学校，学生人数只有30位。当时的校长是林奏凯先生。接下来是何天赐先生继任。最后由黄起群先生继任。自从第二次世界大战爆发后，遗失了许多资料，包括历年校长的名字。过了不久，学生人数逐渐增加。
1941年12月08日
日本正式宣布第二次世界大战。
1941年12月11日- 1945年09月03日
当槟城在日本的统治下，崇正学校被列为华文学校。
1945年09月03日英国统治了我国，崇正学校也在十月份的时候才恢复自由。当时的第一任校长是王落人先生。当学校重开时，学生的人数有100百位。我们还在使用亚答建筑物和新港的两间店屋。虽然学校设备不齐全和课室的不完整，但是课室的情况还算理想。
1947 年本校校长王落人先生、理事会的委员和当地的居民，他们为了让学生们有完整的建筑物和课室，已经付出了很多。他们开始为新校舍筹款，这些款项大部分来自新港的居民和其他市区的居民。接着几年，牛芦格住宅区的经理Mr H.R.Watts。他通过零利息的贷款当作不一样的筹款方式给理事会的委员以建立一座有七间课室的建筑物。（这款项已经还清了）
1948年05月05日新校舍已完成，学校也开始搬迁进新的课室。当时的学生人数超过200百位。
1952 年01月杨小芗先生继任王落人先生成为新一任的校长。当杨小芗先生成为校长之后，他很积极地为学校服务，也提高了学校的纪律、水准和设备。许多学生来这所 学校登记，希望可以在一个设备齐全、增添许多桌子和椅子的环境下学习。学校的图书馆会增添许多书本给学生阅读。羽毛球场和篮球场是给学生们消闲的地方。这 些运动的地方都是公开给当地的居民，不分种族、信仰或肤色。因此，这所学校也成为居民们聚会和带动种族和睦的地方。
1954年本校已经开办下午班，但是还不能完全容纳来登记的学生，只因课室不够。
1954年 - 1957年
学生人数从将近400位学生增加至657位学生。
1989年
韩世光校长发起筹款运动以兴建礼堂。
1990年本校可容纳约800人的礼堂成功建成。
1992年
韩世光校长被调往其他学校，其空缺由本校早期毕业生杨友士校长接任。
1997年学生人数突破一千人大关。
1999年- 2003年
在董事长陈明吉及拿督陈楚轩的带领下，本校三大机构发起筹款运动以重建已逾50年历史的旧校舍。
2003年
本校新建A座的16间课室。
2004年
本校新建B座的16间课室。
2005年
周锡权校长退休并由杨顺庆校长接任。本校行政大楼建成。
2007年10月本校扩建礼堂后，整个重建计划宣布落实并正式开幕启用。27日当天也被定为崇正小学校庆日














The wording of the school signage clearly stated that the land was donated by Mrs Ann Barton of Watts family.















The view of the school from Jalan Bayan














Beautiful flowers at the school frontage

2. SMK Sungei Ara(Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sungei Ara ) or Sungei Ara Secondary School
It is located at the main road, Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim,in front of traffic light junction of Jalan Kenari and Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim.

3. SK Sungei Ara

It is located at the main road, Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim

Extract from their school web site:

Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Ara sebenarnya adalah merupakan cawangan kepada Sek. Keb. Pantai Besar yang terletak kira-kira 3 km dari Kampung Sungai Ara. Sekolah cawangan ini, hanya terdiri daripada dua buah bilik darjah yang dibina dalam tahun 50-an.

Pada tahun 1984, Sek. Keb. Pantai Besar telah mendapat bangunan baru. Dengan terbinanya bangunan baru ini, secara tidak langsung sekolah cawangan itu akan ditutup dan semua muridnya akan ditempatkan di Sek. Keb. Pantai Besar.

Memandangkan beberapa kesulitan dan masalah akan timbul khasnya bagi murid-murid Tahun Satu dan Tahun Dua, yang selama ini ditempatkan di sekolah cawangan ini, penduduk-penduduk Kampung Sungai Ara telah bermesyuarat untuk menubuhkan jawatankuasa penaja penubuhaan Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Ara.

Ahli-ahli jawatankuasa ialah terdiri daripada En. Saari bin Ali, En. Abdul Rahman bin Lembut, En. Jali bin Ahmad, En. Yassin bin Dolah, En. Yusuf bin Daei dan En. Abd Wahab bin Awang Kechik.Penduduk Kampung Sungai Ara telah memberi mandat kepada jawatankuasa penaja ini untuk memohon kepada pihak Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Perak supaya menjadikan sekolah cawangan ini sebagai sebuah sekolah kebangsaan gred ‘C’ dan ditadbirkan oleh Guru Besar.

Pada 4hb Oktober 1984, Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Perak telah meluluskan penubuhan Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Ara mulai tahun 1985. Oleh kerana kekurangan bilik darjah penduduk Kampung Sungai Ara telah bersepakat menderma sebanyak RM 10.00 bagi setiap rumah untuk membina sebuah bangunan sementara secara gotong-royong.

Maka pada 1hb Januari 1985 tertubuhlah ‘Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Ara’ dengan seoraang Guru Besar, 7 orang guru penolong dan 147 orang murid. Guru Besar yang pertama yang dilantik ialah En. Mohd Hasnan bin Kassim.

School website: www.sksgara.penang.kita.net.my/ & http://www.sksa.edunet.my/

4.SRJK(T) SUNGAI ARA

The Tamil primary school is located at Lorong Kenari 1, Taman Desa Ria, Sungai Ara, 11900 Bayan Lepas.

5. Sekolah Kebangsaan Mutiara Perdana

Societies

1. Sungai Ara Toastmasters Club (SATMC)

Related articles:

1. Project still short of funds,by PRISCILLA DIELENBERG, The star online dated 29-5-2009