“Pearl River” is its translated name. But there is no documentation of pearls ever been harvested here. This is Sungai Tiram.
Sungai Tiram is a neighborhood in Bayan Lepas. It is in southeastern Penang Island. Sungai Tiram sits on both sides of Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah. It is just before the Penang International Airport terminal.
Sungai Tiram is the name of a stream. It runs eastwards into the marshland. It flows along the coast. Then, it empties into the South Channel.
The village of Sungai Tiram occupied this area. That was until the mid 1980’s. The Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone expanded. It spilled into Sungai Tiram. Now, light and medium-light plants have been erected here. The Star newspaper moved its regional head office here. It relocated from George Town to Sungai Tiram. That was a few years ago.
Masjid Jamek Sungai Tiram was built on August 9, 2008. Sungai Tiram is near Bayan Baru. So it has many eateries and food courts. Joo Leong Cafe is famous among the Chinese community. It specializes in seafood porridge. This coffee shop has been operating since the 1960’s.
One person remembers it being a dingy truck stop. It had a slow-moving ceiling fan. Bugs flew down from the florescent light. That was then. The coffee shop has changed a lot over the years. It has also expanded. In addition to seafood porridge, it now offers toasted bread and satay.
Rapid Penang bus 102 serves Sungai Tiram. Also bus routes 305, 306, 401 and 401E.
Kampung Sungai Tiram is a village. It is located in Bayan Lepas, in Pulau Pinang. That is a state in Malaysia. The postcode used here is 11900.
Sungai Tiram may not be known for pearls. But its history and local flavors make it special. It is a place where old meets new. It is where you can find both industrial development and traditional food.