Kubang Semang

Overview

Kubang Semang is a Malay village in Seberang Perai, Penang. Kubang is a Malay word for a water hole, especially one filled with muddy water that buffaloes love to wallow in, and semang is the name of a tribe of aborigines living in Malaysia. According to historical records, the Semang tribe lived in Juru and Kubang Semang and was last spotted in 1920.

It is located to the west of Mengkuang and to the south of Berapit. The Butterworth-Kulim Expressway splits Kubang Semang into two. The town proper is located north of the expressway while the traditional Kubang Semang village is south of the expressway. This town is almost contiguous with the town of Penanti, with the result being the Kubang Semang and Penanti place names often overlap each other.

 

Noticeable changes have taken place since the opening of the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway. For instance, Orange Hartamas, a mixed development project by Tahwah Group. It is only about a 10-minute drive away from Bukit Mertajam and 15 minutes to Kulim Hi-Tech Park. This soon-to-be-launched development consists of 2-storey terrace houses and 2-storey semi-dees. There will be 2-storey shop offices too.

 

Another upcoming residential development is by Loyang Ekuiti Sdn Bhd, located next to Taman Seri Mengkuang and accessible via the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway. This new development will comprise 3-storey and 2-storey terrace houses. Therefore, the small town is slowly seeing bigger and more exclusive housing projects cropping up.

 

Amenities and Facilities

The only prominent landmark here is the Kubang Semang Mosque (Masjid Jamek Kubang Semang), located near the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway. There are two petrol stations in Kubang Semang for the convenience of locals and visitors.

Several public schools are well within reach, namely the Chinese national-type school, SJK (C) Kubang Semang; and the national schools, Sri Penanti Primary School, SMK Penanti and SMK Mengkuang. These schools cater for the educational needs of the children here.

Some of the more well-known villages here are Guar Perahu, Padang Ibu and Sungai Semambu. Kubang Semang Police Station caters to the safety and security needs of residents here whilst the Kubang Semang Health Clinic under the central Seberang Prai district health office is 50 years old and still servicing the community in Kubang Semang and surrounding areas.

 

Mengkuang Dam is a dam located less than 28km to the north-east of Butterworth in Malaysia. It is the only dam situated in Seberang Perai and the second dam built in Penang after the Ayer Itam Dam. It was officially opened in 1985. The park in the dam area is a popular place for recreation amongst locals and visitors alike. There is a jogging /walking track, and also spots for picnic setups, including fish-feeding.

The highlight at the Mengkuang Dam though, has to be that it is also one of the venues for the annual Penang International Dragon Boat Festival. The festival is a fiesta of colour and noise, in which traditionally-built boats race through the waters of this dam as they are cheered on by enthusiastic spectators. The ornate and painted “dragons” on the boats' prows add to the gaiety of the festival.
 

Accessibility and Transportation

As Kubang Semang lies on the southern tip of one of Penang’s busiest highways, the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway, it is thus just a road away from all the amenities Butterworth has to offer, for example, banks and higher education options, a Tesco as well as its rail and coach transportation options. So, no matter how seemingly rural this place may be, it is somehow connected to the urban lifestyle.

 

Kubang Semang town is approximately 20 minutes away from Butterworth via Jalan Kubang Semang, Jalan Sungai Dua and Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR). Alternatively, residents have to go through the Permatang Nibong Interchange after riding on the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway to get to Butterworth.