Located at the intersection of Jalan Todak and Lorong Jelawat 4, the area is home to nine houses of worship, including a mosque, a Hindu temple, a Buddhist temple, a Taoist temple, a Sikh gurdwara, and a Christian church – all built within close proximity to one another.
Each place of worship is located within a 300m radius, allowing visitors to explore them on foot, and offering a living testament that communities of different faiths can coexist in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding.
Penang Harmony Corporation (Harmonico) general manager Paul Au Chong Yee said Streets of Harmony is the second such location in Penang after George Town, and was officially launched by chief minister Chow Kon Yeow on Sept 16, 2022 in conjunction with Malaysia Day.
“The choice of date was significant as it symbolises the unity of Malaysia’s multiracial and multireligious society, echoing the spirit of the nation’s formation in 1963,” he said.
According to Au, Streets of Harmony is a state government initiative designed to celebrate Penang’s cultural diversity and encourage interaction among communities of different faiths and races.
“This project is not meant to promote any particular religion; rather, it highlights how diversity can foster a spirit of unity when people of different backgrounds live side by side in mutual respect,” he told Bernama.
He added that Harmonico has also introduced the Seberang Jaya Harmoni Tour – a special educational module offering the public guided group visits to the various houses of worship led by trained volunteer facilitators.
The module was developed as a pilot project in 2023 and was fully implemented last year with support from the state education department. It is now offered as an elective co-curricular activity for students in Nnational-type secondary schools (SMJK).
There are four Streets of Harmony locations across Penang – in George Town, Seberang Jaya, Bukit Mertajam, and Bayan Baru.
Harmonico plans to expand the initiative to other areas, including Sungai Pinang, Pulau Tikus, Batu Ferringhi, Teluk Bahang and Bukit Tambun, with the ultimate goal of establishing Penang as Malaysia’s “City of Harmony”.