The 'Discovery' of Penang Island at Tanjong Tokong before 1785: Bapu Alaidin Meera Hussein Lebai and Captain Francis Light

摘要: While historians dispute that Penang Island was 'ceded' and in fact 'occupied' illegally on 11 August 1786, contravening the proposal for conditions of temporary lease island from Sultan Abdullah Kedah, local Malay accounts Tanjong Tokong's early history support statements Captain Francis Light determined to claim behalf EIC, regardless whether permanently secured; hence eventual attack by 1791. villagers at Tokong, through oral histories written genealogies, trace blame intrusion Bapu Alaidin Meera Hussein Lebai who, they claim, led English scouts peak Bukit Meriam (Cannon Hill) where a trading fishing village had been established. Soon afterwards, land transfers French Roman Catholic order forced move downhill merge with 'water's teeth' (gigi air). Hence titles were never obtained, except who assisted secure hill as military post eventually mission.