Bringing life back to old Air Itam township in Penang

GEORGE TOWN, June 30 — Air Itam township spreads out from the iconic Air Itam Market which is always bustling with activities from as early as 5am.

But by the time the streetlights are turned on, the narrow streets winding through the mix of kampung houses and shophouses are quiet with barely any traffic or people around.

Many of the shops, even hawkers who used to operate until 3am, close by 8pm, or the latest 9pm, and the township becomes a quiet ghost town.

“There would be activities around the market even at night but after the pandemic, everything changed,” Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng Soon Siang said at a recent press conference on “Discover Air Itam”. 

He said even the famed Air Itam duck rice, which is listed in the Michelin Guide, which used to open at 10pm and close around 3am has changed its operation hours from 3.30pm to 8pm.

Ng said after 8pm, there are hardly any activities in the township, even on weekends.

Located at the foothills of Penang Hill, Air Itam old town is a mix of old ‘kampung’ houses and modern buildings. — Picture by Opalyn Mok 

In an effort to bring the hustle and bustle back to the township at night, especially on weekends, Ng is planning to start an arts and crafts market along with food trucks in the back lanes of the shophouses.

He said a stretch of backlanes from the Kingston 13 Hotel to the main road is perfect to set up stalls showcasing local arts and crafts.

“I have already set up lighting along the backlanes,” he said.

Ng added that there are still traditional crafts in Air Itam such as the colourful handsewn floor mats, patchwork blankets and handmade brooms.

“We still have these traditional crafts that have been handed down for generations that can be showcased but I will need to talk to them to see if they are interested,” he said.

Ng, who launched a heritage walk around Air Itam last year to promote the township, said Air Itam can be a tourist destination by itself because it has a good mix of traditional kampung houses, old shophouses and new development.

Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng Soon Siang said there is much more to Air Itam than Penang Hill. — Picture by Opalyn Mok 

“It is not just an old township… we see new developments, such as apartments, the Sunshine Central mall, and the Kingston 13 Hotel, so we have a good mix of the old and the new,” he said.

He said tourists can even opt to stay in Air Itam to take in the sights, try out the variety of food available and take a walk around the township to admire the different architecture.

“Normally, tourists come here for Penang Hill and after the visit, they leave but there are so many things to see here,” he said.

He said since wait time can be long for the funicular train up Penang Hill, visitors can get a Grab and visit nearby sites.

“They can visit the pagoda at the Kek Lok Si temple, or visit the mausoleum of Sheikh Omar, or if they prefer to explore local food, we have so much good hawker food here,” he said.

The Air Itam Market is the centre of activities in the township in the mornings. — Picture by Opalyn Mok 

Astaka Kampung Melayu was recently given a facelift and is now completed with fully halal food stalls inside.

“Not forgetting, we have the nasi kandar Kampung Melayu too,” he said.

He said visitors can book a 3-Day, 2-Night package stay in Air Itam and explore the township.

Ng is also working with local magazine, INPenang, to promote Air Itam in three of its issues and a brochure on the attractions available in Air Itam is also underway.