Module 8 Geography of Malaysia

HERITAGE TRAIL OF GEORGETOWN, PENANG

We begin our journey from Fort Cornwallis (picture 1), Fort Cornwallis is situated at the spot where Captain Francis Light was supposed to have landed in 1786. Originally built with palm trunk and wooden structure, the fort was rebuilt between 1808 and 1810 with convict labour. It was named after Charles Marquis Cornwallis, a distinguished Governor General of India.It is situated at Jalan Tun Syed Sheikh Barakbah, walking along the Esplanade, on your right hand side will noticed the beautiful calm sea, straight ahead you will see the City Hall (picture 2), which was built in 1903 in the typical British Palladian architectural style. It is believed that the building was specifically built to house council/municipal offices in the early days. Turn left to Jalan Padang Kota Lama, along this particular road, next to the City Hall is the Town Hall (picture 3). The Town Hall was the oldest Municipal Building in Penang and its foundation was first laid on 1st January 1879 by Lt. Governor Sir Archibald Edward Harbord Anson. Upon completion in 1880, the building was officiated by Frederick Weld, the Governor of the Straits Settlements . The Town Hall was primarily used as a social venue for the town’s European community, also known as the European Club amongst the local Chinese. Due to its immense historical and architectural values, the building was gazetted on 29th July 1982 under the Antiquities Act 1976.


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Going along Jalan Padang Kota Lama, you will reach the ‘T’ junction, which is the main road of Lebuh Light, also known as Light Street in English. Right over here you will see a building which is the Central bank of Malaysia, Bank Negara Malaysia (picture A). Turn right to Light Street where you will be able to notice the century old Court Buildings (picture 4). The Penang Supreme Court Building, or Mahkamah Tinggi Pulau Pinang, is an elegant Palladian-style building along Lebuh Light in George Town. The courthouse was built to replace the original courthouse which was constructed on the same site in 1809. The Supreme Court building was designed by the engineers of the Public Works Department headed by John Henry McCallum, the Surveyor-General of the Straits Settlements, based in Singapore. The total cost of construction was 206,678 Straits Dollars.

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At the end of the Court Building, there is a “U” curve road, walk along it and it will take you to Lebuh Farquhar also known as Farquhar Street. Just before you proceed, immediately at the end of this curve road, opposite you will see the Penang State Museum (picture 5). The Penang State Museum houses artefacts and cultural exhibits. The present building, which was formerly the Penang Free School, is actually half a building, the other half of the building having been destroyed by aerial bombing during World War II. The Penang Museum is housed in a colonial-era building built in two phases, phase one in 1896, and when funds were adequate, phase two in 1906. Beside the State Museum is a primary school known as SRK Hutchings. And just beside the school is the historical St.George’s Church (picture 6) which is white in colour. St. George's Church is the oldest Anglican church in Southeast Asia and is located in George Town, Penang, Malaysia. It was completed in 1818 on the initiative of the Penang Colonial Chaplain, Rev. Robert Sparke Hutchings (who also went on to found the Penang Free School) and consecrated on 11 May 1819 by the Bishop of Calcutta, Thomas Fanshawe Middleton.

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Walk along Farquhar Street and you reach a junction of the road, turn in to the right which is Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, formerly and commonly known as Pitt Street. Go down along this street, you will discover the Penang oldest and famous Goddess of Mercy Temple (picture 7) known in Chinese as “Kuan-Im Teng” on the right hand side of the road which is just beside the Penang Chinese Town Hall (picture B)( The Penang Chinese Town Hall was established in 1881.) The Goddess Of Mercy’s temple or Kuan Yin Teng was built by the early Hokkien and Cantonese settlers in the 1800s, first temple ever built in Georgetown, Penang, by Chinese settlers. The temple is also busy during the Chinese New Year period when people come to pray for good luck and prosperity for the coming year.
Constructed in accordance to Feng Shui principles, the temple has three wells – one on the right side of the main shrine, another outside the temple and the third hidden under the main altar of the Goddess of Mercy. The water from the wells is believed to be able to cure illnesses.
The pillars in the temple with carvings of dragon were believed to have been a trunk of a hard wood tree brought in from China.

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Continue to proceed along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, just about 50 metres down the road, look to the left of the road, lies the Sri Mahamariamman temple (picture 8). Built in 1833, the Sri Mariamman Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Penang, Malaysia, and features fascinating sculptures of gods and goddesses over its main entrance and facade. Mariamman is popularly worshipped by overseas Indians, especially Tamils because she is looked upon as their protector during their sojourn to foreign lands. The temple is particularly packed on Deepavali and Thaipusam with thousands of devotees eager to offer their prayers on the holy days.

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Immediately after the Mahamariamman temple, after 3 building apart along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, you will reach a traffic light cross junction. Right at this, stand near to a money changer shop, look across the road, you will see the Kapitan Keling Mosque ( picture 9). The Kapitan Keling Mosque along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (formerly Pitt Street), is one of the best known mosque in Penang. Before the construction of the Penang State Mosque, the Kapitan Keling Mosque was used as the state mosque of Penang, since it is the largest historic mosque in George Town. The Kapitan Keling Mosque was named after Caudeer Mohudeen, the head of the Indian Muslim community credited to have built it around 1800. It is generally accepted that the 18-acre plot of land on which the mosque stands was granted to the Indian Muslim community by the then Lieutenant Governor of Penang, Sir George Leith. Look down the road on the left which is Lebuh Chulia also known as Chulia Street, there you will notice a temple. This is the Teochew Ancestral Temple (picture 10). It is the community temple of the Penang Teochew Association. The association was form in 1855 by six Teochew migrants. It was later renamed as Han Jiang Ancestral Temple. In 2006, the Han Jiang Ancestral Temple has won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation. The Han Jiang Ancestral Temple completed in 1870. At the time of completion, it was known as the Teochew Kongsi. It only changed its name to Han Jiang Ancestral Temple in 1935. Cross the Chulia Street, keep to the left hand side of the road and walk along the five foot pavement , along here you will notice money changers shop and jewellery shops. As you walk along, you will notice a road which is Jalan Kampong Kolam, do not turn in there. Proceed and go straight along the route and you will see an outstanding temple, which is the Yap Kongsi temple (picture 11). Yap Kongsi is the clan association of Hokkien Chinese in Penang of the Yap surname. Yap Kongsi was founded in the early 1910's. Turn right in front of the Yap Kongsi and walk along this small road, which is known as Armenian Street. Along this road, you will see numerous of second hand dealers and merchants of recyclable items. On the right hand side of this road, you will see the original house of Dr.Sun Yat Sen‘s Penang base, which is 120 Armenian Street (picture 12). It is a shophouse built in the 1870's that has witnessed surprising events that shaped world history. It was Dr Sun Yat Sen Penang base during 1909-1911. Just beside it is the Syed Alatas Mansion (picture 13). From the 1860's to the early 20th century, the Syed Alatas Mansion served as the residence of Syed Mohd Alatas and then his son. The Rumah Besar (literally "Grand House") Syed Alatas was the focus of many celebrations, including the annual Boria (a traditional form of choral entertainment) that used to take place during Awal Muharram (Muslim New Year). Syed Mohd Alatas was a wealthy Achehnese merchant of Arab descent who traded between Penang and Acheh.


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Looking across from Syed Alatas Mansion is the Acheen Street Mosque (picture 14). The mosque was founded in 1801, making it one of the oldest mosques in Penang. The founder was Tengku Sheriff Syed Hussain Al-Aidid, an Acehnese clan leader who moved to Penang at the invitation of Captain Francis Light, and settled at what became Acheen Street. The mosque which is along Acheen Street known in Malay as Lebuh Acheh. .Turn left into Acheen Street and walk along it and turn left into the first junction which is Lebuh Cannon. Here along this, you will find the entrance to the Khoo Kongsi (picture 15), a clan house for those with surname ‘Khoo’. Enter through the main entrance and see the magnificent Khoo Kongsi. Here lies a big square known as Cannon Square. Go out from the Khoo Kongsi through the left door located on the left , if you are overseeing the Khoo Kongsi in front of you. The forefathers of the Khoo family who emigrated from South China built it as a clanhouse for members of the Khoo family in 1851. It was burnt down in 1894, allegedly struck by lightning, and the Chinese believed that it was due to its resemblance to the Emperor's palace, which provoked the gods. A scaled-down version was later built in 1902 and completed in 1906. Immediately after the exit, you will see a temple located a few blocks away on your left hand side. This is the Hokkien Tua Pek Kong Temple (picture 16). It is also known as Hock Teik Cheng Sin at Armenian Street is a place with many different names. Founded in 1844, the Hock Teik Cheng Sin moved to its present site in 1850.

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As you turn to the right, you will be walking along Gat Lebuh Armenian, known as Armenian Street Ghaut. Keep to the left hand side of the road, just about 30 to 35 metres down this lane, you will discover the entrance of the Cheah Kongsi (picture 17) .Walk in and you will discover a big compound and beautiful Cheah clan house. Completed in 1873, The Cheah Kongsi was the first of the five great Hokkien clans to be established in Penang. Unlike the other clan houses, the Cheah Kongsi clan house is an impressive building fusing Malay, Chinese and European influences in traditional Straits Chinese fashion

Picture 17.