Ayer Itam

Overview

Air Itam is a tourist destination about 6 kilometres outside of Georgetown, Penang Island. It is named after the murky rivers that runs through the district. It is quite a popular tourist destination and among some of the tourist spots includes Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si temple.

Bandar Baru Air Itam is a township that sits within the southern area of Air Itam. The main developer of the area is Farlim Group over the period of many years since the 80’s. At the start of development, Bandar Baru Air Itam was the single largest development undertaken by a private sector developer on the island.

There are still new developments being planned within the 356 acres township with the latest addition being the completion of Farlim Square in end 2016.

Amenities and Facilities

As it is a fairly mature township there are many facilities and amenities available to the residents. For educational needs of residents there are a total of ten primary schools, three high schools and a technical school are located within Air Itam. The school with the longest history is Chung Ling High School, a Chinese school which was founded in 1917. Within the Bandar Baru Air Itam township itself there are two public schools which is Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Air Hitam and Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Indah school.

Many clinics service the area and there is one public clinic which is Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Baru Air Itam within the township. The nearest market is the Bandar Baru Ayer Itam Market along Lebuhraya Thean Teik. The presence of Balai Polis Bandar Baru Ayer Hitam also ensure security within the township.

Farlim Square, the new commercial center which opened in 2016 has made the area more hip with trendy cafes and entertainment outlets. Adjacent to the place is Sunshine Farlim Shopping Mall, which offers a two-storey retail center as well as hypermarket that provides for local groceries needs.

Accessibility and Transportation

The main access to Bandar Baru Air Itam is from Lebuhraya Thean Teik, which cuts through the township and runs from Batu Lanchang Lane to Jalan Paya Terubong. Another access is via Jalan Thean Teik, which links to Jalan Ayer Itam. Rapid Penang buses serve the area in a frequent manner with many stage buses as it is connected to the tourist attractions.