Lighthouses of Malaya (West Malaysia)

The nation of Malaysia is in two parts: West Malaysia on the southern end of the Malay Peninsula and East Malaysia on the island of Borneo roughly 700 km (450 mi) to the east. West Malaysia is the former Federation of Malaya, a union of 11 states placed under British protectorate in the late 1800s. In 1963 the British granted independence to Malaysia, a new country formed by uniting Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, and Sabah (North Borneo). Singapore, a predominantly Chinese city just off the tip of Malay Peninsula, left the union in 1965 and has been independent since.

Malaya faces one of the world's most important waterways, often called simply The Straits. The Strait of Malacca opens westward to the Indian Ocean and separates Malaya from the Indonesian island of Sumatra. At its southeastern end, the Strait of Malacca joins the Singapore Strait, which connects to the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean.

Aids to navigation in Malaysia (except for Pulau Pisang) are the responsibility of the Marine Department (Jabatan Laut). The Malay term for a lighthouse is rumah api; an island is a pulau, a cape is a tanjung, and a hill is a bukit.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume F of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.

General Sources
Leuchttürme Asiens, Australiens, und Ozeaniens auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.

Kuala Selangor Light, May 2007
anonymous Creative Commons photo

East Coast (South China Sea) Lighthouses

Kelantan Lighthouses
* Tumpat
Date unknown (1920s?). Inactive, probably since World War II. 23 m (85 ft) round brick tower with gallery; lantern removed. Wikipedia has a closeup photo. The history of this lighthouse is unclear; apparently it was in use for only a short time prior to World War II. Located near the harbor entrance of Tumpat. Site open, tower status unknown. ARLHS WMA-032.
* Pantai Senok (Pengkalan Daty)
Date unknown (recent). Active; focal plane approx. 19 m (62 ft); white flash every 5 s. 14 m (46 ft) white round hourglass-shaped fiberglass tower. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. This light was built to guide ships to a new harbor facility on the coast of Kelantan state, near the Thai border. Located on the east breakwater at Pantai Senok, about 15 km (9 mi) northeast of Kota Baharu, the capital of Kelantan state. ARLHS WMA-021; Admiralty F2889; NGA 20934.

Terengganu Lighthouses
Seabelle Rock
2002. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) white concrete post light with gallery, mounted on an octagonal platform supported by eight concrete piles. A closeup photo is available. This interesting modern light is off the east coast of Terengganu state in the Perhentian islands, an archipelago of coral islands and reefs. The region is included in a national park. Located about 20 km (13 mi) northeast of Kampong Kuala Besut. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Pulau Redang Marine Park. ARLHS WMA-022; Admiralty F2885.6; NGA 20942.
* Terengganu No. 4
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); two red flashes every 4 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete block tower with gallery, painted white. Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams has a good photo, and Malik Yasin also has a photo. Located on the south side of the Trengganu estuary, roughly 1.5 km (1 mi) inside the entrance. Site open, tower closed. NGA 20970.
* Bukit Puteri (Terengganu)
1909. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); white flash every 3 s. Approx. 7 m (23 ft) brick post light with a small gallery. A closeup photo and a 2008 photo are available. Bukit Puteri is a hilltop 19th century fortress on the south side of the entrance to the Terengganu River in Kuala Terengganu, the capital of Terengganu state. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS WMA-023; Admiralty F2880; NGA 20968.
* Chendering (2?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 76 m (249 ft); white flash every 5 s. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) round hourglass-shaped fiberglass tower mounted on a square 1-story equipment shelter. The fiberglass tower is red and the equipment shelter is white. A closeup is available, and Nasir Ali has another snapshot showing the entire tower. NGA lists a skeletal tower at this location. Located atop a steep bluff about 8 km (5 mi) south of Terengganu. Site open, and visitors can climb atop the equipment room. Admiralty F2878; NGA 20992.
Tanjung Dungun (Dungun Head)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 69 m (226 ft); white flash every 10 s. Square steel skeletal tower with gallery, height unknown. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory sheltering the harbor of Dungun on the central east coast of Malaya. Site status unknown. Admiralty F2870; NGA 21004.
Sungai Kemaman
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 105 m (344 ft); white flash every 12 s. Masonry tower, height unknown, painted with red and white horizontal bands. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Kemaman is a major port supporting the offshore oil and gas installations in the South China Sea. Located on a headland on the north side of the entrance to Kemaman, in southernmost Trengganu. Site status unknown. Admiralty F2862; NGA 21032.

Pahang Lighthouses
* Tanjung Gelang
1977. Active; focal plane 85 m (279 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a small 1-story equipment room. Lighthouse painted white. A Marine Department photo is at right, amateur radio operator 9W2RZL has a photo from a visit in August 2009, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a prominent cape about 30 km (19 mi) north of Kuantan in Pahang state. Accessible by road. Site status unknown. ARLHS WMA-024; Admiralty F2857; NGA 21052.
Tokong Bahara
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 14 m (46 ft) concrete post light with two galleries, mounted on a large square concrete pier. Daniel Kwok has a photo misidentified as "Berhala," and another photo is available. Located on a rocky reef about 15 km (9 mi) southwest of Tioman Island, a popular vacation destination. Accessible only by boat, but there may be a view from ferries between Mersing and Tioman. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F2836.7; NGA 21138.
Tanjung Gelang Lighthouse
Tanjung Gelang Light; Malaysian Marine Department photo
Pulau Achi
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 57 m (187 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. Square skeletal tower with gallery, height unknown, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island about 16 km (10 mi) east of Rompin. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F2836.3; NGA 21148.

Eastern Johor Lighthouses
Pulau Harimau
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 97 m (318 ft); white flash every 5 s. Square skeletal tower, height unknown, painted with red and white horizontal bands. No photo available; Google's satellite view suggests a substantial tower, possibly not skeletal. Located on the northernmost of a group of small islands northeast of Mersing. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F2836.1; NGA 21150.
Tanjung Tenggaroh
Date unknown. Active; focal plane unknown; white flash every 10 s. NGA provides no description of this lighthouse, and no photo is available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a prominent cape about 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Mersing. Site status unknown. NGA 21168.

Singapore Strait Lighthouses (see also Singapore and Indonesia)

Southern Johor Lighthouses
Tompok Utara
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 25 m (82 ft) round fiberglass tower mounted on a platform supported by piles. No photo available. This light marks the beginning of the passage through the Straits for ships arriving from the South China Sea. It is probably similar in design to the Selatan lighthouses (see below) at the other end of the Straits. Located on a shoal about 13 km (8 mi) east of Kampong Punggai. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1821; NGA 21186.
Pulau Mungging
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white flash every 3 s. 8 m (26 ft) square skeletal tower, the upper 3/4 enclosed by white panels as a daymark. Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse marks the extreme southeastern tip of the Malay Peninsula and stands at the north side of the eastern entrance to Singapore Strait. Located just offshore, about 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Kampong Punggai. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS WMA-025; Admiralty F1822; NGA 21180.
Tanjung Setapa
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 43 m (141 ft); three white flashes every 20 s. 33 m (108 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, painted orange. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This light marks the eastern entrance to the Johore Strait, which separates Malaysia from Singapore. Located on a cape about 5 km (3 mi) east of the easternmost point of Singapore. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1737; NGA 21184.
Tanjung Piai
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 3 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical fiberglass tower on a platform supported by four piles. The relatively unimpressive Tanjung (Cape) Piai, marked by this distinctly unimpressive modern light, is actually the southernmost tip of the mainland of Asia, 139 km (86 mi) north of the equator. This lighthouse also marks the west side of the entrance to Johore Strait, which separates Malaysia from Singapore. Located just offshore, about 5 km (3 mi) south of Serkat. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS WMA-026; Admiralty F1674.5; NGA 22586.

Malaya West Coast (Strait of Malacca and Andaman Sea) Lighthouses

Western Johor Lighthouses
Panjang Selatan
Date unknown (recent). Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white flash every 5 s. 26 m (85 ft) round cylindrical fiberglass tower mounted on a concrete platform on pilings. A series of shock absorbing structures is built beside the lighthouse as protection against collision with ships. Entire lighthouse painted white. SYS Marine Civil Engineering, the contractor which built the lighthouse, has posted a photo, but it's not clear if the photo shows this lighthouse or its companion (next entry). Located about 19 km (12 mi) southeast of Pulau Pisang in the Strait of Malacca. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS WMA-027; Admiralty F1669.1; NGA 21691.
Mudah Selatan
Date unknown (recent). Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 25 m (82 ft) round cylindrical fiberglass tower mounted on a concrete platform on pilings. A series of shock absorbing structures is built beside the lighthouse as protection against collision with ships. Entire lighthouse painted white. SYS Marine Civil Engineering, the contractor which built the lighthouse, has posted a photo, but it's not clear if the photo shows this lighthouse or its companion (previous entry). Located about 13 km (8 mi) southeast of Pulau Pisang in the Strait of Malacca. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS WMA-028; Admiralty F1669; NGA 21690.
Pulau Pisang
1914. Active; focal plane 150 m (492 ft); white flash every 10 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. The original 1st order Fresnel lens was replaced with a 4th order lens in 1967. Lighthouse painted white. No current photo available, but Google has a good satellite view. The lighthouse stands atop a wooded island in the Strait of Malacca. The British government of Singapore, then called Straits Settlements, obtained the land for the light station and its access road in an agreement with the Sultan of Johore in 1900. Singapore continues to operate the light, which is the cause of some friction with Malaysia, but Singapore recognizes Malaysian sovereignty over the island. In May 2008, after Malaysia lost its case before the International Court of Justice for sovereignty over the Horsburgh lighthouse islet, Malaysian MPs began calling for negotiations with Singapore about transferring the lighthouse to Malaysian control. Located on the highest point of Pulau Pisang, about 15 km (9 mi) east of Pontian Kechin. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/operator: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. ARLHS WMA-010; Admiralty F1668; NGA 21692.
#Mudah Utara
Date unknown. Destroyed 2008 but being replaced in late 2009. This light was probably very similar to the Tompok Utara and Mudah Selatan light. It was destroyed, presumably by collision with a ship, sometime in the third quarter of 2008. In September 2009, the Maritime Department notified mariners to avoid equipment constructing a new light. Located in the strait roughly halfway between Pulau Pisang and Batu Pahat. Accessible only by boat. Site open. NGA 21701.
Pulau Sialu (Sungai Batu Pahat) (2?)
Date unknown (station established 1913). Inactive since 1978. 15 m (49 ft) masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Mohd Razali has a 2008 photo, and Michael Ong Eng Hui has a view from the sea. Pulau Sialu is a small, uninhabited island off the Batu Pahat estuary. The lighthouse was deactivated in 1978 in favor of the Bukit Segenting lighthouse on the mainland, but it is still listed by NGA. The original lighthouse had a focal plane height of only 12 m (40 ft). Located roughly 2 km (1.2 mi) southwest of Bukit Segenting (next entry). Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS WMA-012; ex-Admiralty F1652; NGA 21708.
* Bukit Segenting
1978. Active; focal plane 86 m (282 ft); four white flashes every 30 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a small 1-story equipment room. Lighthouse painted white. Michael Ong Eng Hui has a 2009 photo, and Angelica Tan has a distant photo. In both photos, the lighthouse is somewhat dwarfed by a large maritime traffic control tower. Located on Tanjung Api Api, a promontory overlooking the Strait of Malacca about 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Batu Pahat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS WMA-002; Admiralty F1652.5; NGA 21712.

Melaka (Malacca) Lighthouses
Pulau Undan
1880. Active; focal plane 53 m (174 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 15 m (49 ft) octagonal cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story keeper's house. Light tower painted red, keeper's house white. Located atop an island in the Strait of Malacca about 25 km (15 mi) southeast of Melaka (Malacca). Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS WMA-013; Admiralty F1644; NGA 21728.
Umbai (Kuala Umbai)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); green flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) cylindrical tower with gallery, mounted on a concrete platform supported by concrete piles. Entire lighthouse is white. Ben Sharif has a photo, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located about 300 m (330 yd) off the entrance to the small harbor of Umbai, a town about 10 km (6 mi) east of Malacca. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1642; NGA 21730.
* Malacca
1849. Inactive. Approx. 13 m (43 ft) square masonry tower with lantern and gallery mounted on an arched base. Lighthouse painted white. Balaji Dutt's photo is at right, another photo is available, also a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. Founded in the 14th century, Malacca was the leading city of Malaya for at least 300 years. The lighthouse stands next to the ruins of St. Paul's Church, which was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century (St. Francis Xavier preached there) and renamed by the Dutch, who ruled Malacca from 1641 through most of the 18th century. Located atop St. Paul's Hill on the south side of the harbor of Melaka, as the city's name is now spelled. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS WMA-029.

Malacca Light, November 2005
Creative Commons photo by Balaji Dutt
*** Tanjung Tuan (Cape Rachado)
1863. Active; focal plane 118 m (387 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 24 m (79 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. 1° Fresnel lens in use. Original 1-story masonry keeper's house. A modern concrete tower, built in 1990, carries radar to monitor ship traffic in the narrow Strait of Malacca. Auria Abraham has a closeup photo, Horng Yih Wong has another good photo, the Malaysian edition of Wikipedia has a closeup photo, the lighthouse appeared on a commemorative postal sheet, and Google has a satellite view. This is Malaysia's oldest active lighthouse and probably its most important; it stands at the end of a prominent ridge jutting out into the Strait at the northern end of the narrower part of the waterway. The forested ridge has long been recognized as one of the country's most important forest and wildlife reserves. The site figures in Malay legends and history; the 15th century warrior Hang Tuah is said to have meditated here and left his footprint in a boulder. According to other local accounts, the Portuguese built a lighthouse here in the 1500s, and the Dutch built another in 1817; we have no verification of these claims. The coast of Sumatra, on the other side of the strait, can be seen from the top of the lighthouse. Note: the cape is an exclave of Melaka state, although it is surrounded by the state of Negeri Sembilan. Located on a very prominent cape about 20 km (13 mi) south of Port Dickson. Site open, tower open for climbing by arrangement with the keepers. ARLHS WMA-003; Admiralty F1626; NGA 21748.

Southern Selangor Lighthouses
Tanjung Gebang
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); white flash every 4 s. 28 m (98 ft) round concrete tower, mounted on a platform supported by piles. No photo available. Located a short distance off a headland about 15 km (9 mi) south of Banting. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1619; NGA 21776.
* Bukit Jugra
1976. Active; focal plane 146 m (479 ft); white flash every 10 s. 25 m (82 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. A second concrete tower carries radar to monitor ship traffic. Tian Yake has a photo and a closeup. Located on a conspicuous hill on the east side of a river at Permatang Pasir. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS WMA-001; Admiralty F1614; NGA 21780.
Tanjung Tuan Light
Tanjung Tian (Cape Rachado) Light, April 2008
anonymous Creative Commons photo
One Fathom Bank (Permatang Sedepa) (3)
1907 (station established 1852). Inactive since 1999. Approx. 27 m (89 ft) octagonal skeletal cast iron tower with lantern, gallery, and enclosed upper portion, mounted atop a 2-story octagonal keeper's house standing on piles. The lighthouse was painted with red and white horizontal bands, although those colors have faded. Huelse has a historic photo, and the lighthouse was featured on a 2004 postage stamp. This historic lighthouse was restored in 2004-05. The original lighthouse was replaced by a screwpile lighthouse in 1874. One Fathom Bank is a notoriously dangerous shoal in the Strait of Malacca. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS WMA-030.
One Fathom Bank (Permatang Sedepa) (4)
1999 (station established 1852). Active; focal plane 43 m (141 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 43 m (141 ft) round cylindrical steel tower with lantern and triple gallery, rising from the center of a dome-shaped equipment shelter, mounted on a circular platform supported by pilings. Light tower painted with red and white horizontal bands. A photo is at right, and another closeup photo is available (bottom of the page). The base of the lighthouse has accommodations visited by sport fishermen. Located on the shoal, about 30 km (20 mi) west southwest of the Klang Delta. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS WMA-007; Admiralty F1616; NGA 21784.
Tanjung Rhu
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white flash every 5 s. 24 m (79 ft) round fiberglass tower mounted on a square concrete pier. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located in shallows about 1 km (0.6 mi) west of Tanjung (Cape) Rhu, the western tip of Pulau Carey, about 25 km (15 mi) southwest of Klang. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1610; NGA 21803.

Klang Lighthouses
Tanjung Mahang Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); quick-flashing white light. 19 m (62 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, mounted on a platform supported by piles. Lighthouse painted white. The tower also carries a white conical daymark, point up. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is the entrance range for Klang, the capital of Selangor state and a major port. Located off the southern tip of Pulau Che Mat Zin, 180 m (200 yd) south of the rear light. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1609; NGA 21806.
Tanjung Mahang Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 25 m (82 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, mounted on a platform supported by piles. Lighthouse painted white. The tower also carries a white conical daymark, point down. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on the southern tip of Pulau Che Mat Zin, about 40 km (25 mi) southwest of downtown Klang. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1609.1; NGA 21806.1.

One Fathom Bank Lighthouses; Marine Dept. photo
Klang First Point
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red flash every 4 s. 17 m (56 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower, mounted on a platform supported by four concrete piles. Mohd Nor Azmil Abdul Rahman has a sunset photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the west side of the Klang entrance channel about 1200 m (3/4 mi) northeast of the Tanjung Mahang range lights. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1608; NGA 21808.
Tanjung Sarang Lang
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 25 m (82 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, mounted on a platform supported by piles. Lighthouse painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on the eastern point of Pulau Klang, opposite the inner harbor of the city. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1594; NGA 21820.
Klang South Port
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white, red, or green directional light, 2 s on, 2 s off. Light mounted on a 3-story building. No photo available, but a Google satellite view almost certainly shows this building. This light guides vessels on their final approach to the Klang waterfront. Located at Port Klang. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1596; NGA 21825.

Northern Selangor Lighthouses
Pulau Angsa
1887. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); flash every 10 s, white or red depending on direction. 11 m (36 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Keeper's house and modern concrete radar tower. A Dutch travel agency has posted another photo. Located atop a small island about 40 km (25 mi) northwest of Port Klang and 25 km (15 mi) south of Kuala Selangor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS WMA-008; Admiralty F1586; NGA 21848.
* Kuala Selangor (Altingsburg, Bukit Melawati)
1907. Active; focal plane 73 m (240 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 27 m (89 ft) round two-stage tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. The lower half of the tower is cylindrical masonry, and the upper half is a conical cast iron tower. A photo appears at the top of the page; another closeup photo is available, also a third photo. The lighthouse stands on the hill known as Bukit Melawati, in the center of a 250 ha (600 acre) nature reserve adjoining the town of Kuala Selangor. Ruins of the Dutch Fort Altingsburg, built in 1784, can be seen near the lighthouse. The road to the lighthouse is closed on weekends due to limited parking, but trams are provided. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS WMA-005; Admiralty F1578; NGA 21860.

Perak Lighthouses
Pulau Jarak
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 162 m (531 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. Approx. 35 m (115 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. A distant view is available, and the light can also be seen in Azrin Tajuddin's view of the island. Located atop Pulau Jarak, a small island in the strait about 50 km (32 mi) southwest of Lumut. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS WMA-017; NGA 21898.
Pulau Sembilan (White Rock) (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. Approx. 14 m (46 ft) post light mounted on a square equipment enclosure. Entire lighthouse is white. A 2007 photo is available. NGA lists a skeletal tower at this location. Located on a dangerous rock about 25 km (15 mi) off Kampong Sungai Ular, Perak state. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS WMA-020; Admiralty F1565; NGA 21900.
Pulau Angsa Light
Pulau Angsa Light
Marine Department photo
Pulau Katak (3)
Date unknown (station established 1888). Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); white flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) round brick tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. The original light on a mast was replaced in 1919 by a tower with a focal plane height of 27 m (89 ft). Located on a small island off a promontory about 10 km (6 mi) south of Lumut on the coast of Perak state. Site status unknown. ARLHS WMA-009; Admiralty F1558.5; NGA 21912.
Kuala Beruas
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. Approx. 20 m (66 ft) square skeletal tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at a port entrance about 30 km (19 mi) north of Lumut. Site probably open, tower closed. Admiralty F1552.5; NGA 21970.

Pulau Pinang (Penang Island) Lighthouses
Note: Penang is a large island (293 km2 or 113 mi2) off the northwestern coast of Malaya; together with a strip of land on the adjoining mainland it forms the state also called Pulau Pinang or simply Penang. Ceded to Britain by the Sultan of Kedah in 1786, the island was the first British base in Malaysia. It is accessible from the mainland by air, by a bridge, or by ferry from Butterworth on the mainland to George Town on the island.
Pulau Rimau
1885. Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 17 m (56 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white. A view from the sea is available, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse marks the beginning of the approach from the south to George Town, the principal town of Penang island and the capital of Pulau Pinang state. Located on a small island off the southeastern tip of Penang Island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS WMA-011; Admiralty F1540; NGA 21992.
Owen Beacon (2?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green flash every 5 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower mounted on a platform supported by piles. No photo available. Located in the channel between the island and the mainland, about 1800 m (1.1 mi) south of the Penang Bridge. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1529; NGA 22016.
Wellesley Beacon (2?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white flash every 5 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower mounted on a platform supported by piles. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located in the channel between the island and the mainland, off the Butterworth shore opposite Fort Point. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1512; NGA 22048.
* Fort Cornwallis (Fort Point, Penang) (1)
1882. Inactive since 1914. 21 m (69 ft) cast iron post with lantern and hexagonal gallery, painted white. Attached to the tower is a tall mast similar to a ship's mast, with two spars. Syeefa Jay's August 2007 photo shows both lighthouses, and Mathieu Castel has another good photo. The tower remained in service as a signal tower after the light was deactivated. Both Fort Cornwallis lighthouses were restored in 2005-06 by the Penang State Tourism Development Committee. Located on a promontory in George Town, the capital of Penang, on the northeast side of the island. Site open, tower closed.
**** Fort Cornwallis (Fort Point, Penang) (2)
1914 (station established 1882). Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); red flash every 2 s. 21 m (69 ft) square pyramidal cast iron skeletal tower with lantern, gallery, and enclosed watch room, painted white. Adjacent to the lighthouse is the tall signal mast carrying the original light (previous entry). Marc de Kleijn's photo appears at right, Tony Ict has a 2008 photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. Prefabricated in England, this lighthouse is a rare survivor of its type. It stands within the walls of Fort Cornwallis, a classic star-shaped late 18th century fort that was the first British outpost in Malaya. A restoration project during 2006 made it possible to open the lighthouse to visitors; a small museum has also been built. Located on a promontory in George Town, the capital of Penang, at the northeastern corner of the island. Site open, tower open but we do not know the schedule. ARLHS WMA-004; Admiralty F1494; NGA 22056.
Fort Cornwallis Light
1914 Fort Cornwallis Light, August 2009
photo copyright Marc de Kleijn
used by permission

Pulau Tikus (2?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 3 s. 7 m (23 ft) post light with gallery, mounted on a small 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse painted white. There is a house, presumably an abandoned keeper's house, adjacent to the light, as well as a grave (probably of a former keeper). Google has a satellite view. Pulau Tikus (Rat Island) is a small island just off the northeast coast of Penang Island. Accessible only by boat, and several kayakers found the landing to be difficult. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS WMA-031; Admiralty F1490; NGA 22092.
Muka Head
1883. Active; focal plane 242 m (794 ft); white flash every 10 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical granite tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white. This is a staffed station. Ralf Eulig's closeup photo appears at right, Horng Yih Wong has a 2008 photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a fine satellite view. This lighthouse is the landfall light for Penang for ships arriving from the Indian Ocean. Located atop a high promontory at the northwestern tip of the island. There is no road access to this station; an early 2009 visitor reports that the lighthouse is accessible by a 2-hour hike (bring plenty of water) from the entrance to Penang National Park at Teluk Bahang. Site open, tower open by arrangement with the keeper. Site manager: Penang National Park. ARLHS WMA-006; Admiralty F1486; NGA 22088.

Kedah Lighthouses
* Kuala Kedah (Kudah River)
1904. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. Approx. 14 m (46 ft) round masonry tower, painted white. A photo is available. Located on the south side of the entrance to the estuary and harbor of Kuala Kedah, a town in the northwestern corner of Malaysia. There should be a view from ferries leaving Kuala Kedah for Langkawi. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS WMA-014; Admiralty F1478; NGA 22116.
Pulau Kedera
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 79 m (259 ft); white flash every 5 s. Listed by NGA only as a "white tower"; probably a concrete tower 10-15 m (33-49 ft) in height. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located atop a small island in the bay south of Langkawi, a popular resort island off the coast of Kedah state. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS WMA-018; Admiralty F1477.3; NGA 22123.

Muka Head Light, Penang
photo copyright Ralf Eulig; used by permission

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Posted March 12, 2006. Checked and revised September 23, 2009. Lighthouses: 52. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.