Alma, Penang

Alma
Suburb of Seberang Perai
Interactive map of Alma
Alma
Location within    Seberang Perai in    Penang
Coordinates: 5°19′N 100°30′E / 5.317°N 100.500°E / 5.317; 100.500
Country Malaysia
State Penang
City Seberang Perai
DistrictCentral Seberang Perai
Area
 • Total
34.8 km2 (13.4 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
114,377
 • Density3,290/km2 (8,510/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Ethnic groups
Time zoneUTC+8 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)Not observed
Postal code
14000

Alma is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It is located south of Bukit Mertajam and southeast of Bukit Tengah. Popular shopping areas in Alma include Lotus's and AEON Mall Bukit Mertajam, which started operations in 2014.[2]

Administration and demographics

Alma is located within the Machang Bubok state constituency, which contains 17 Village Community Management Councils (MPKK)—the highest number for any state seat in Penang. Eight of these MPKKs are situated within the Alma area. According to 2015 statistics from the Seberang Perai City Council, Alma had a population of 61,394 with an annual growth rate of 2% to 3%. This makes it the second most populated suburb in the district, trailing only Seberang Jaya (73,117). The majority of local residents are Malaysian Chinese.[3] In 2025, the Penang state government conducted a revision of town boundaries, officially gazetting the township of Bandar Alma. Effective from 2026, the new township administration encompasses the lands formerly under Mukim 14 and Mukim 15 of the Central Seberang Perai District.[4][5]

Demographics

Ethnicities within Alma in 2020[1]
Ethnicities / Nationality Percentage
Chinese
54.3%
Malays
25.0%
Other Bumiputeras
0.2%
Indians
10.7%
Others
0.4%
Non-Malaysians
9.3%

As of 2020, Mukim 14 and 15, the subdivision that contains Alma, was home to a population of 114,377.[1] Ethnic Chinese comprised nearly 54% of the population. Malays formed another one-fourth of the suburb's population.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "MyCensus 2020: Mukim/Town/Pekan". Department of Statistics Malaysia. Putrajaya: 174–175. February 2024. ISBN 9789672537069.
  2. ^ "AEON CO. (M) BHD". AEON CO. (M) BHD. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  3. ^ "【大山脚阿尔玛系列之发展篇】住宅兴起商场入驻 阿尔玛10年晋身城镇明珠". Kwong Wah Yit Poh. Archived from the original on 2019-01-05. Retrieved 2017-12-01.
  4. ^ "槟扩大10个城市范围 25个乡区升级为城市". Sin Chew Daily. 2025-09-17. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  5. ^ "Selaraskan semula status tanah, warta 25 bandar baharu demi tingkatkan kecekapan pentadbiran". Buletin Mutiara (in Malay). 2025-09-17. Retrieved 2026-02-22.

5°20′N 100°29′E / 5.333°N 100.483°E / 5.333; 100.483