When we think of Penang we often think of its distinct cuisine…but this port has a long history. The history of Penang is sometimes subsumed under that of the Straits Settlements and this led to rivalry between Penang and Singapore’s trading communities in the 1800s.
As with any port network, there is usually one primary port, with others becoming subsidiary…and this was Penang’s fate as Singapore emerged as a dominant Southeast Asian port by the late 1800s.