Butterworth, town, on the northwest coast of West Malaysia (Malaya). It lies along the Perai River estuary and faces the port of George Town on Penang Island, which lies 2 miles (3 km) east across the Penang strait. Butterworth is a railhead and transshipment point for exports of the Malay Peninsula and is linked by ferry to George Town and by road to the main towns of the peninsula. It is the hub of a rubber plantation area and has oil-import facilities, a modern tin smelter and steel plant, and the Mak Mandin industrial estate. Directly south across the muddy Perai estuary is Perai, which has a passenger and goods ferry to George Town. The town was named for William J. Butterworth, governor of Singapore and Malacca (1843–55). Pop. (2000 prelim.) urban agglom., 99,227.