The civic coats of arms of Penang are largely based on the coat of arms of Penang first granted to the Settlement (now State) of Penang

Penang

Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...

, then in the Federation of Malaya

Federation of Malaya

The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...

, by a Royal Warrant

Royal Warrant

Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...

 of King George VI

George VI of the United Kingdom

George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...

 dated 11 September 1949.

Between 1911 (the date of a previous Royal Warrant) and 1946, when the colony of the Straits Settlements

Straits Settlements

The Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia.Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony on 1 April 1867...

 was dissolved, the Settlement was represented in the Straits Settlements coat of arms by the second quarter, Argent on a mount an areca nut palm tree Proper. The Areca-nut palm

Areca catechu

Areca catechu is the areca palm or areca nut palm, , a species of palm which grows in much of the tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts of east Africa. The palm is believed to have originated in either Malaysia or the Philippines...

 is the tree from which Penang (Pulau Pinang, or "Areca-nut-palm Island") derives its name.

Settlement and state arms

The coat of arms

Coat of arms

A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...

 as granted was blazon

Blazon

In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...

ed

Shield: Barry wavy of eight Azure and Argent upon a chief crenellée Or a plume of three ostrich feathers surmounted by a riband of the First on the riband the words Ich Dien in letters of the Third

Crest: On a wreath of the Colours upon a mount a Pinang or Areca-nut palm leaved and fructed Proper

The Prince of Wales's feathers

Prince of Wales's feathers

The Prince of Wales's feathers is the heraldic badge of the Heir Apparent to the British and Commonwealth Realms thrones. It consists of three white feathers emerging from a gold coronet. A ribbon below the coronet bears the motto Ich dien...

 and the motto Ich Dien referred to the fact that Penang was founded in 1786 as "Prince of Wales Island", while the blue and white bars are in reference to the Straits of Malacca that surround Penang island and separate it from Province Wellesley on the mainland.

The Areca-nut palm on the crest represents the origins of the Island's name.

The motto Bersatu dan Setia ("United and Loyal") was adopted by the Settlement Council of Penang in 1950
. As this was at the height of the Penang secession movement
, the motto may to many people at the time have referred to loyalty to the British Crown, rather than to the Federation of Malaya

Federation of Malaya

The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...

. Penang also has an unofficial motto, "Let Penang Lead".

Present-day state arms

Subsequently, after the construction of the Penang Bridge

Penang Bridge

Penang Bridge is a dual carriageway toll bridge connects Gelugor on the island of Penang and Seberang Prai on the mainland of Malaysia on the Malay Peninsula. The bridge is also linked to the North-South Expressway in Prai and Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway in Penang. It was officially opened to...

 in 1982-1985, the state coat of arms was changed to the present design, which can be blazoned as:

Shield: Barry wavy of ten Azure and Argent upon a chief Or a depiction of the Penang Bridge Proper

Crest: On a wreath of the Colours upon a mount a Pinang or Areca-nut palm leaved and fructed Proper

Motto: "Bersatu dan Setia"

Municipal arms

The arms of the Municipal Council (from 1 January 1957, City Council) of George Town

George Town, Penang

George Town was voted as one of the best cities in Asia by Asiaweek, ranked 6th in 1998 and 9th in 2000. More recently, George Town has improved a notch to rank as the 9th most liveable city in Asia in a survey of 254 cities worldwide according to an international location ratings survey by , an...

 were granted by the English

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 College of Arms

College of Arms

The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...

 on 4 September 1953, and are based on the arms of the Settlement of Penang:

Shield: Barry wavy of eight Azure and Argent a plume of three ostrich feathers Proper tied with a riband Or a chief embattled of the Last

Crest: On a wreath of the Colours issuant from a wreath of palm Vert a lion passant guardant Azure

Motto: "Leading We Serve"

The motto is a combination of the motto of the Prince of Wales, Ich Dien (I serve), and the unofficial motto of Penang, "Let Penang Lead".

Present-day municipal arms

In 1974, the City Council of George Town was merged with the Penang Rural District Council to form the Municipal Council of Penang Island. The arms of the new municipality is displayed on a native shield and contains much local symbolism, but generally conforms to traditional English heraldic principles, and may be blazoned as follows:

Shield: Barry wavy of eight Azure and Argent a chief embattled Or overall a Pinang or areca-nut palm leaved and fructed Proper

Crest: On a wreath of the Colours mantled Vert doubled Or a crescent therefrom issuant a mullet of the Last

Supporters: On a compartment of waves barry wavy Azure and Argent issuant therefrom a mount Vert two dolphins hauriant torqued of the First finned Or

Motto: "Memimpin Sambil Berkhidmat" ("Leading While Serving")

The Municipal Council of Province Wellesley, which replaced the North, Central and South Province Wellesley District Councils, does not have a regular coat of arms.