PENANG

an island of malaysia, situated off the west coast of the malay peninsula. in 1786 it was ceded to the east india company as a british colony by the sultan of kedah. known as prince of wales island until 1867, it united with malacca and singapore in a union of 1826, which in 1867 became the british colony called the straits settlements. it joined the federation of malaya in 1948.