Dickens Street, or Lebuh Dickens(迪肯斯街), is a short street between Penang Road and Transfer Road. It was between the Cathay cinema(now Mydin) and Penang police headquarter. Beside the Cathay cinema at the corner, there was formerly coffee shop. It was a bungalow, and you can sit outside under the tree. Cathay cinema was a top English movie cinema, in competition with Rex, Capital and Odean. While waiting for the show, or after the movie, you can take some food in the coffee shop. The Koay Teow Th'ng there is famous, and if you still miss it and eager to taste it. The daughter-in-law of the stall owner in now operating a shop at Evergreen Café, No. 11, Hutton Lane, a specialty Koay Teow Th'ng shop, a walking distance from Dickens Street.
A quite street where one side occupied by the police station, and the other side are clinic, vegetarian restaurant, tour office and other offices etc. The rear portion of the Hutton Lodge is at Dickens Street.
History
The Dickens Street was only a footpath, connected Transfer Road to Penang Road. It was only built when Penang Police Headquarter completed construction in 1937.
The central Chowrasta wet market was reportedly built as a single-storey structure in the 1890s. During the late 19th century, many Chinese traders lived in the wooden houses across the police barracks in Dickens Street,the old lane just across Chowrasta Market. They smoked opium in small dens they built there. But they were hard workers, as they worked in the Chowrasta market from seven in the morning till midnight.
The Chowrasta Outdoor Dispensary was located at today's Dickens Street, at the enclaves fronting Penang Road. The Dickens Street was not exist at that time, only footpath Transfer Road with Penang Road. In August 1937, the dispensary moved to No.7, Buckingham Street, opposite Kapitan Kling Mosque. The place was former Malay Home, hostels for Malay students studying in Penang Free School(located at today's Penang State Museum building. The doctor in charge of Dispensary then was Dr E.W.De Cruz. The street must had been built after 1937 when the Penang Police Headquarter was constructed.
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The street was named after John Dickens(狄更斯), the first magistrate and Judge of Penang from 1801-1805. He is also the first judge of Malaysia. For your information, he has nothing to do with famous Charles Dickens. John Dickens always signed his letter as magistrate and judge(法官兼推事). Noted the first magistrate in Penang was Philip Manington, who was the 2nd Superintendent and acting governor of Prince of Wales' Island, succeeded Capt Francis Light.
John Dickens was a British magistrate from Supreme Court from Fort Willian, India, who was appointed as first magistrate and Judge of Penang. Dicken was stunned to find a skeletal security forces looking after some 300 convicts from India(Penang was the penal settlement) and 100 odd Europeans. His legal staff were ignorant and illiterate.
Note: A magistrates' court or court of petty sessions(裁判司署), formerly known as a police court, is the lowest level of court in England and Wales and many other common law jurisdictions. A magistrates' court is presided over by a tribunal consisting of two or more (most commonly three) justices of the peace or by a district judge (formerly known as a stipendiary magistrate), and dispenses summary justice, under powers usually limited by statute. Police Court is a minor court to try persons brought before it by the police
(source: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19910111&id=27gTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J5ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3783,2626500)
Mr. Dickens did not assume duties till some time after his appointment. In April, 1801, Sir George Leith was apprised by a letter from the Secretary to the Government of India of Mr. Dickens' departure, and that he, Mr. Dickens, had been instructed " to continue to act upon the principles of the existing laws and "regulations of the Settlement until further orders."
Mr. Dickens arrived on the 7th of August, 1801. He took the bench for the first time on the 27th of that month, up to which period both Mr. Caunter and Mr. Manington, appear to have acted as "Magistrate" and "Assistant" respectively. Mr. Manington died in Penang on the 13th June, 1806, and was then " Paymaster of the Hon'ble Co."— Mr. George Caunter; died in April, 1812, and up to 1811, the Court papers mention him as " Police Magistrate."
Dickens had dispute with the governor, Leith(李特)as he wanted to have the police under his control; but the governor insist on separation of power between police and magistrate.
Mr Dickens' last Court Book was on 31st May, 1805. Mr. Dickens shortly after this left for India, and with him ended the most lawless period of the Settlement of Penang, and greatly through his untiring energy and exertion must be attributed the hastening of the grant of the first Charter in 1807, which provided for the setting up of the first Supreme Court. Dickens was loved and respected by the locals as he was closed to the locals.
Police magistrate system(警察司法制) was introduced in November 1805 after John Dickens had left; it was reported that it is because of introduction of the police magistrate system by the governor, Philip Dundas(坦达斯), that Dickens left. Philip Dundas proposed police magistrate to remove Dickens. Philip Dundas had a short road named after him, Dundas Court, side road at Farquhar Street, but disappeared due to expansion of the road in 1968.
The first police magistrate was P. KELLNER(哥勒)who was later sacked due to corruption charges. He was succeed by THOMAS MCQUID(马秋).
(source: http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924080340304/cu31924080340304_djvu.txt)
Police Magistrate
Philip Dundas 设立了警察司法权(POLICE MAGISTRATE)(1805年11月)。(这是莱特生前所要求的)，其职权包括：
(i) 任何有关乔治市及威尔斯太子岛的税务或门牌税的争执的处理。而这些税收是用在建造道路及其他有关警察方面的。
(ii)警察司法权亦用在消防上，划定红灯区(妓女活动区)，关注外来者进入本屿。
(iii)警察司法涵盖对物价的控制，防止囤积和操纵。
可以说，职权之大，无所不包。第一位被委为此职者是哥勒(P. KELLNER)，很快被查出贪污被革职。1806年10月改由马秋 (THOMAS MCQUID)接任。
坦达斯(Philip Dundas)之所以要设立警察司法权，目的是要除掉于1801年在李特(Leith)任总监督时委任的一位法官兼推事的狄更斯(JOHN DICKENS)。
狄更斯在1801年8月7日履新时，认为警察应在他的控制之下，不然难以维持法治，此议遭到李特(Leith)反对。他认为法官是法官，警察归总监督管理，双方的矛盾加深。狄更斯只能按当地习俗将司法权交给不同族群的首领，以维持和谐局面。
坦达斯接位时，巧妙地设立警察司法制(Polis Magistrate)，又于1807年宣布新司法制度，仿效英国，有主簿官，有陪审员，而总督及三位议员坐审。当这项法令于 1808年5月31日生效时，狄更斯已被革职。
(extracted from http://www.hctvnews.net/hc_web/php_hc_read.php?n=13785)
Penang and Legal system
Penang was where the modern Malaysian court system, and therefore the Malaysian judiciary and Bar has its origins. In 1801, John Dickens was appointed as the first magistrate in Penang and in 1807, a Royal Charter was granted to Penang providing for the setting up of the first Supreme Court. This was followed by the appointment of the first Supreme Court judge designated as the “Recorder”. The Supreme Court of Penang was first housed at Fort Cornwallis and was opened on 31st May, 1808. The original courthouse which was constructed 1809 at a plot of land bounded by Pitt Street (Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling), Light Street (Lebuh Light) and Farquhar Street (Lebuh Farquhar). The Penang Supreme court was rebuilt to replace the original court house(Year 1809)in 1905, as the premises of the supreme court. It also call High court of the Penang state or Mahkamah Tinggi Pulau Pinang in Malay, the national language.
The first Superior Court Judge in Malaya originated from Penang when Sir Edmond Stanley assumed office as the First Recorder of the Supreme Court in Penang in 1808. Interestingly, Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore, was the first registrar(主簿官)of the Supreme Court of Penang. Later, and with changes made to the judiciary of the Straits Settlements, the designation “Judge” was substituted for “Recorder”. Hence, the Malaysian legal profession actually originated from Penang at the turn of the 19th Century.
The Second Charter of Justice was issued on 27 November 1826. This Charter abolished the Recorder's Court, which served only the Prince of Wales' Island, and established the Court of Judicature of Prince of Wales' Island, Singapore and Malaya.
The Third Charter of Justice of 12 August 1855,the Court of Judicature was reorganised into two divisions. The first division had jurisdiction over Singapore and Malacca and comprised the Recorder of Singapore, the Governor and the Resident Councillors of Singapore and Malacca. The second division had jurisdiction over the Prince of Wales' Island and Province Wellesley, and comprised the Recorder of Prince of Wales' Island, the Governor and the Resident Councillor of the Prince of Wales' Island.
The Judicial Duties Act of 1867 brought about further changes to our judicial system. The Governor of the Straits Settlements ceased to be a Judge of the Court of Judicature, although the Resident Councillors continued to sit under their new title of Lieutenant-Governors.
This Act also changed the titles of other officers: the "Recorder of Singapore" became the "Chief Justice of the Straits Settlements" while the "Recorder of Prince of Wales' Island became the "Judge of Prince of Wales' Island". Sir Peter Benson Maxwell, then the Recorder of Singapore, became the first Chief Justice of The Straits Settlements in 1867.
The Supreme Court Ordinance 1868 abolished the Court of Judicature of Prince of Wales' Island, Singapore and Malacca, replacing it with the Supreme Court of the Straits Settlements.
The Courts Ordinance of 1873 reconstituted the Court, so that it now consisted of the Chief Justice, the Judge of Penang, a Senior and a Junior Puisne Judge. One division of the Court sat in Singapore and Malacca, whilst another sat in Penang. In addition, the Ordinance conferred on the Supreme Court of the Straits Settlements the jurisdiction to sit as a Court of Appeal, with final appeals lying to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Previously, appeals had lain only to the King-in-Council.
The Courts Ordinance of 1878. This Ordinance was passed in response to the United Kingdom Judicature Acts of 1873-75, which modified the court structure in England. Under the Ordinance, the jurisdiction for the Supreme Court of the Straits Settlements was brought in line with that of the new English High Court.
The Courts Ordinance of 1907 allowed Judicial Commissioners of the Federated Malay States to be appointed from time to time to perform the duties of a Judge of the Supreme Court of the Straits Settlements.
The Court of Criminal Appeal Ordinance came into force on 1 September 1934 to provide for the establishment of a Court of Criminal Appeal. This was necessary as, up till then, the Court of Appeal had exercised only appellate civil jurisdiction.
Strait Settlement courts ceased to function when the Japanese invaded Singapore in 1942 and established a Military Court of Justice to administer Military Ordinances and the laws of the Japanese army.
Following the surrender of the Japanese on 12 September 1945, Singapore was temporarily administered by the British Military Administration. All law prior to Japanese occupation will be respected.
The British Military Administration came to an end on 31 March 1946. The Straits Settlements were disbanded and Singapore was made a separate Crown Colony on 1 April 1946.
Penang’s Many Firsts
Malaysia’s own first pair of brother and sister to be called to the English Bar are the late Mrs. B. H. Oon and Mr. Lim Khye Seng, both of whom were born and practiced law in Penang. Mrs. B. H. Oon was also the first Chinese lady lawyer to be admitted to the English Bar in 1926 and the first Asian woman admitted to the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Bars in 1927. The Advocates & Solicitors Ordinance of 1914 permitted only men to be admitted to the Straits Settlement & Federated Malay States Bars. It had to be amended in 1927 to allow Mrs. B. H. Oon as the first lady to be admitted to the local Bar. She was subsequently awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1953 by Queen Elizabeth and the pingat Tun Fatimah by our Government in recognition of her achievements.
On 4th July, 1974, legal history was again made when Malaysia’s first Primer Minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, became the first Prime Minister (after leaving office) to be admitted to the Bar before the Penang High Court. His admission was presided over by Chang Ming Tat, J and moved by the late Dato’ Eusoffe Abdoolcader. The Tunku in addressing the Bench at his Call descrived the event as “the proudest moment” of his life.
Among the other notable senior lawyers (some of whom were later appointed as Judges) who originated from Penang are:
Dr. Sir Hussein Hasanally Abdoolcader
Lim Cheng Ean
Lim Cheng Poh
Lim Ewe Hock
Eusoffe Abdoolcader
P. G. Lim
Lim Kean Chye
Lim Kean Siew
Karpal Singh
Chief Justice Tun Datuk Seri Utama Abdul Hamid
Cecil Rajendra: the first practicing lawyer to win international acclaim as a poet and writer. In 1997, Amnesty International accorded him the rare honour of carrying one of his poems as the theme for its calendar.
(source: http://www.penangbar.org/history.php)
The Penang High Court, one of the earliest purpose built courts built around 1903, has recently been restored to its former glory.
In front of the Penang High Court/Supreme Court, is the Logan Memorial built more than a century ago in honour of a lawyer that gave free service to the people, The memorial has beautiful carvings of four statues representing the four cardinal virtues; Temperance, Wisdom, Fortitude and Justice. It stood as a silent moral guide to the judges and lawyers who passed by the High Court of the importance in upholding the rule of law.
(source: http://www.dapmalaysia.org/english/2008/oct08/lge/lge913.htm)
Ironically, Dickens Street is beside Penang Police Headquarter.
Related articles:
1. From Then Till Now - A Brief History of the Penang Bar, http://www.penangbar.org/history.php
2. Cases heard and determined in Her Majesty's Supreme court of the Straits Settlements, 1808-1884(1885),by JAMES WILLIAM NORTON KYSHE, ESQ., published by "Singapore and Straits Printing Office
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Penang: Little Japan
The Japanese community had contribute to the early Penang development. The Japanese residents in the old days of Penang formed a vibrant community providing entertainment, western-style medical care, hotel services, skilled labour and brought in the latest technology for portrait photography & silent movie to Penang at a time where the society was made up of a predominantly male migrant force. Later Japanese migrants were more traders and professionals,including pharmacist, dentists, doctors.
The current Japanese community are mainly businessmen or retired who opted for 2nd home program. They are more educated and financially sound, compared to early Japanese community.
The Little Japan at Cintra Street & Kampung Malabar
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The Chinese in Penang call Cintra Street as Jipun Kay & "Jipun Heng Kay"(日本橫街) - the Little Japan Street and the nearby Kampung Malabar as Jipun Sin Lo(日本新路) - the Japanese New Road. A reference to the presence of a sizeable Japanese community operating brothels, grocery shops, pharmacies, hotels in that area at the turn of the century. In 1915, the Japanese Association was officially set up in Penang to take care of their communal affairs. The building location could still be located be in an old wooden bungalow nicknamed "Jipuna Kong Kwan", 日本人協會（日本人會）presently situated in between Kampung Malabar and Chulia Street.
There is also spill off of Japanese community to Leith Street.
Kampong Malabar Road
The road connected Cintra Street to Penang Road. Kampong Malabar Road, named after the Malabarese inhabitant in the area. Malabarese or Malabari are the Indian from the Malabar region, Malabar coast. Malabar Region (Malayalam: മലബാര്) is a region of southern India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. The name is thought to be derived from the Malayalam word Mala (Hill) and Puram (region) derived or westernised into bar. This part of India was a part of the British East India company controlled Madras State,when it was designated as Malabar District . It included the northern half of the state of Kerala and some coastal regions of present day Karnataka. The area is predominantly Hindu but the majority of Kerala's Muslim population known as Mappila also live in this area, as well as a sizable ancient Christian population. The name is sometimes extended to the entire southwestern coast of the peninsula, called the Malabar Coast.The Malabar Coast, in historical contexts, refers to India's southwest coast, lying on the narrow coastal plain of Karnataka and Kerala states between the Western Ghats range and the Arabian Sea. The coast runs from south of Goa to Cape Comorin on India's southern tip.
It was named after Malabarese because in the early period of Penang, the Malabarese was spread from Chulia Street(which was formerly known as Malabar Street in the late 18th century) to Kampong Malabar area, Chowrasta Markert area, Transfer Road area. In 1788, Capt Francis Light built some attap shops at Kampomg Malabar, but the shops were all destroyed by fire in 1789. Thereafter the building of shops with attap leaves was prohibited in Georgetown. The remain of the Malabar village can be seen in Tamil Street of Chowrasta Market, Dato Koyah Road, and Transfer Road. May be it was after the fire, the Japanese and Chinese moved in.
The Chinese called it Jit-pun-sin-lor(日本新路),literally means the new Japanese road. In 1915, the Japanese Association was officially set up in Penang to take care of their communal affairs. The building location could still be located be in an old wooden bungalow nicknamed "Jipuna Kong Kwan" presently situated in between Kampung Malabar and Chulia Street. It was once occupied by many tenants after the WW2, but recently it had been destroyed by fire.
Opposite is the soy sauce factory, Seong Heng Soy Sauce factory is on 18, Kampung Malabar, 10100 Penang. It is now rare to see soy sauce factory in town, except at Jelutong area. The factory must be around for some time. Please visit blog http://cheahoylee.com/623/extra-virgin-soy-sauce-anyone/ for some pictures.
Today, there is no Malabarese or Japanese in Kampong Malabar Road, it has become a Chinese residential areas, mainly Cantonese. Recently some shops are opening in the area. At the both end of the street are popular coffee shops/restaurant. At Penang Road end, Ho Ping Kopitiam, actually located at Penang Road is popular with food variety. Kedai Kopi Kean Lai Seng, is a popular kopitiam(coffee shop)at Kampong Malabar Road. A curry mee stall beside the coffee shop is popular choice. A lane from here lead to the lane which house famous Toh Soon Cafe(多春茶座) between Kampong Malabar and Campbell Street. Famous for its roti bakar(toasted bread), the breads are charcoal toasted in traditional way. Toh Soon Cafe is opened from 8am-6pm Monday-Saturday, closed on Sunday. At the other end, off Cintra Street, is KIM MAOU CAFE, actually located at Cintra Street, beside famous ba chang or rice dumpling shop. Fried Hor Fun(Sa Hor Fan)and Snakehead Fish Rice Vermicelli Soup (Lay Hoo Bee Hoon Th’ng)are popular there.
Cintra Street
Cintra Street,named after the Portuguese town of Cintra. It may indicated that the Eurasians(may be Portuguese or mixed Portuguese) lived and traded here in the 19th century. It is a street connected Kimberley Street to Chulia Street. Today the street is popular known as Jit-pun-hang-kai in Cantonese(日本橫街), name taken from Kampong Malabar Road. The Chinese divided the street into two parts;
(i) North of Campbell Street is called Ji̍t-pún-ke(日本街) by Chinese, which literally means Japanese street. Before 1900, there were already Japanese geisha houses. Many Japanese prostitutes operated their business in the brothels there. In the early 20th century, there were many camera shops were opened along Malabar and Cintra Street. Many of these shops had been a cover for spying operation for Japan. Today, the part of the street is mainly restaurants, and shops operated by Cantonese Chinese. The famous rice dumpling shop(日本橫街粽子專賣店) is at this part of the street.
(ii) From Kimberley street to Campbell Street,which is called Sin-ke-hoâi-ke(新街橫街)which literally means the side street or cross street of Campbell street. They also called it Phah-phaù-ke(拍袍街), the street for brothel, in the old days the prostitutes of the lower types were operating in the brothel there. The street is now mainly Cantonese style restaurants, pastry shop, and retailers, operated by Cantonese Chinese, especially at the Campbell Street end. The Cantonese restaurant, the local called teh-lau(literally means tea house), similar to dim sum shops in Ipoh. The famous are Tai Tong(大東酒家) and Foo Heong(富香酒家), their sha-hor-fan and steamed buns(pau, 包) was once the most popular. There were the restaurants the old Penang come for yam-cha(飲茶), literally means drinking tea, but it is going to dim sum restaurants. In the early Penang, there was no fast food, the most was to have pau or sha-hor-fun from teh-lau, especially at night ; the kids will be very happy when parent buy these food for them.
In the old days, rice dumplings or zong(ba chang, zongzi(粽子), not jiaozi(饺子)), pa-tong-kor(white sugar cake), ham-chin-peng(咸煎饼),leng-teh(herbal tea,涼茶) at the street side stalls were also popular, especially at night. The herbal tea stall(松鶴軒涼茶), which was opened since 1953, has moved to Kimberley Street.
No 76, Cintra Street was famous for yu-char-koay(油條). The Hainan chicken rice at 文昌茶室, located at the corner shop, beside the pastry shop(伍記餅家)which is located at 61, Cintra Street, at the entrance to People Court flat.
The street was also famous for its Chinese barber shops. In the peak days there were 12 barber shops at the street; but now only two are surviving. The last to close was Mido(美都理髮廳)closed on December 2009. The business sector was affected by the cheaper Indian barber shops and the modern hair saloons.
The People Court(生活公市)was Penang first government public housing project, built by Socialist Front(leftist socialist political party) controlled City Council in 1961. One of the old Chinese pastry shop(梁池記老餅家)is located at 8-C,People's Court,Campbell Street,10100 Penang. There is also one yu-cha-koay wholesale shop at People's Court.
History
There is one Japanese cemetry in Jalan P Ramli. There were 56 tombstones found in this cemetery with the earliest one dated back to 1893 (Meiji 26th Year). Contrary to popular belief, this cemetery is not a burial ground for the Japanese soldiers killed during the Second World War. In fact, only one tombstone dated 30.7.1942 belonging to one Kataoka from Troop 5174. All the other 55 tombs are dated between 1893 - 1926. The majority of the Japanese who were buried or commemorated here consist mostly the Karayuki-san who died during the Meiji Period (1868 - 1911) and a number of Japanese Navy officers who died in the sea waters near Penang during the Taisho Period (1912 - 1925 ). So the early Karayuki-san come to Penang prior to 1868.
In 1910, the official census counted 207 Japanese residents in Penang alone. Unlike the present day Japanese expatriates living in Penang, those early-day Japanese settlers were much poorer in comparison and in fact more than half of the Japanese residents then were involved in the 'flesh' trade. The Japanese prostitutes were Karayuki -san (overseas Japanese prostitutes) who are from the Shimabara Peninsula, which is located in Nagasaki Prefecture, and the arid mountainous Amakusa islands, which lie opposite the Kumanoto Prefecture in Kryushu, produced the highest numbers of Karayuki -san. These are the poorest region in Japan at the time. Since these areas are close to the seaport of Nagasaki which has good connection to travel to the Asian continent and S.E. Asia, the peasants and fishermen who were poverty stricken and facing the threat of long-term famine had little choice but under the persuasion of the prostitute racketeers called Zegen, to sell their daughters to work as Karayuki-san or prostitutes overseas. These karayuki-san operated their trade in Cintra Street in early Penang.
However, it was not until 1920 that Japanese Government, in collaboration with the British administrators who was concerned about the epidemic spread of the venereal diseases, began to abolish this 'flesh' trade and forced the Karayuki-san to leave the Straits Settlements and the Malay states. Most of them were sent back to Japan for good and for those who refused to do so, they either went 'under-ground', married the locals or tried their luck in the major cities of China.
After 1920
Ever since a large number of Karayuki-san returned to Japan in 1920, the number of long-term Japanese residents in Penang reduced significantly but the number soon recovered by other professionals who came in. In 1925, the Japanese population in Penang stood at 166.
In the 1930s, the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and China sparked a series of anti-Japanese campaigns by the Chinese community in Malaya. In 1935, the Japanese Club in Singapore was ransacked by about 200 Chinese rioters. In Penang, in-line with the anti-Japanese campaigns in China, Chinese leaders actively instigated the people to boycott Japanese goods and services. In 1937, sensing the tense and dangerous situation, the Japanese wives and children living in Malaya & Singapore were tacitly advised to evacuate and return to Japan by their authorities and the community leaders and this evacuation intensified just before the War in 1941. The Chinese had long suspected all the local Japanese were spies for the Imperial Japanese government but only a handful of Japanese residents that remained behind were true collaborators to the Japanese invaders. During the War, the main informants were the Chinese merchants who traded Japanese goods before, the Taiwanese who could speak both Hokkien & Japanese and the Chinese police inspectors who pleaded their allegiance to the new master.
Some shops operated by the Japanese just before the war included a dental clinic owned by Mitsutake family at the junction of Muntri St and Leith St, a crockery shop named Nagoya sitting beside the Odeon Theatre and a toy shop in the Tong Aik Building at the corner of Hutton Lane and Penang Road. The Asahi Hotel at Transfer Road was an officially appointed hotel by the Japanese Government and it was suspected being used as a base for the Japanese espionage activities in this region.
Japanese community today
There are around 1,300 Japanese expatriates working for Japanese factories in Penang and there are about 360 Japanese retirees under MM2H program. There is one Japanese school for Japanese children. Furthermore, there are about 30,000 to 40,000 Japanese tourists coming to Penang every year. Penang has been one of the most well-known beach resort among Japanese people for the past 30 years.
Penang Japanese Association(ペナン日本人会)
256 Jalan Air Itam,
10460 Penang, Malaysia.
Tel : 04-229-3635
Fax : 04-229-7157
E-mail: tpja@tm.net.my
Website: http://www.pja.org.my/
The Penang Japanese Association is an association located at 256, Jalan Air Itam in Penang. The location is near to Methodist Boy's School and Suffolk House. It was founded in 1977 to promote greater understanding and friendship between the locals and the Japanese community in Penang. The biggest social event organised by the Penang Japanese Association is the annual Bon Odori Festival, which is usually held at the Esplande field.
Consulate General of Japan(在ペナン日本国総領事館)
Level 28, Menara BHL,
No. 51 Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 Penang
Tel: (604) 226-3030 Fax: (604) 226-1030
web site: http://www.penang.my.emb-japan.go.jp/
Related articles:
1. FROM MALABARIS TO MALAYSIANS:The Untold Story of Malayalees in Penang, by Professor Suresh Narayanan, USM, Penang, http://e-malabari.net/history/malabaristomalaysians.htm
2. The Prewar Japanese Community in Penang during the period 1880 – 1940, by Clement Liang
3, From amakusa to Bugis junction, http://kinkonkid.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html( A similar area in Singapore of Japanese community)
The current Japanese community are mainly businessmen or retired who opted for 2nd home program. They are more educated and financially sound, compared to early Japanese community.
The Little Japan at Cintra Street & Kampung Malabar
View Larger Map
The Chinese in Penang call Cintra Street as Jipun Kay & "Jipun Heng Kay"(日本橫街) - the Little Japan Street and the nearby Kampung Malabar as Jipun Sin Lo(日本新路) - the Japanese New Road. A reference to the presence of a sizeable Japanese community operating brothels, grocery shops, pharmacies, hotels in that area at the turn of the century. In 1915, the Japanese Association was officially set up in Penang to take care of their communal affairs. The building location could still be located be in an old wooden bungalow nicknamed "Jipuna Kong Kwan", 日本人協會（日本人會）presently situated in between Kampung Malabar and Chulia Street.
There is also spill off of Japanese community to Leith Street.
Kampong Malabar Road
The road connected Cintra Street to Penang Road. Kampong Malabar Road, named after the Malabarese inhabitant in the area. Malabarese or Malabari are the Indian from the Malabar region, Malabar coast. Malabar Region (Malayalam: മലബാര്) is a region of southern India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. The name is thought to be derived from the Malayalam word Mala (Hill) and Puram (region) derived or westernised into bar. This part of India was a part of the British East India company controlled Madras State,when it was designated as Malabar District . It included the northern half of the state of Kerala and some coastal regions of present day Karnataka. The area is predominantly Hindu but the majority of Kerala's Muslim population known as Mappila also live in this area, as well as a sizable ancient Christian population. The name is sometimes extended to the entire southwestern coast of the peninsula, called the Malabar Coast.The Malabar Coast, in historical contexts, refers to India's southwest coast, lying on the narrow coastal plain of Karnataka and Kerala states between the Western Ghats range and the Arabian Sea. The coast runs from south of Goa to Cape Comorin on India's southern tip.
It was named after Malabarese because in the early period of Penang, the Malabarese was spread from Chulia Street(which was formerly known as Malabar Street in the late 18th century) to Kampong Malabar area, Chowrasta Markert area, Transfer Road area. In 1788, Capt Francis Light built some attap shops at Kampomg Malabar, but the shops were all destroyed by fire in 1789. Thereafter the building of shops with attap leaves was prohibited in Georgetown. The remain of the Malabar village can be seen in Tamil Street of Chowrasta Market, Dato Koyah Road, and Transfer Road. May be it was after the fire, the Japanese and Chinese moved in.
The Chinese called it Jit-pun-sin-lor(日本新路),literally means the new Japanese road. In 1915, the Japanese Association was officially set up in Penang to take care of their communal affairs. The building location could still be located be in an old wooden bungalow nicknamed "Jipuna Kong Kwan" presently situated in between Kampung Malabar and Chulia Street. It was once occupied by many tenants after the WW2, but recently it had been destroyed by fire.
Opposite is the soy sauce factory, Seong Heng Soy Sauce factory is on 18, Kampung Malabar, 10100 Penang. It is now rare to see soy sauce factory in town, except at Jelutong area. The factory must be around for some time. Please visit blog http://cheahoylee.com/623/extra-virgin-soy-sauce-anyone/ for some pictures.
Today, there is no Malabarese or Japanese in Kampong Malabar Road, it has become a Chinese residential areas, mainly Cantonese. Recently some shops are opening in the area. At the both end of the street are popular coffee shops/restaurant. At Penang Road end, Ho Ping Kopitiam, actually located at Penang Road is popular with food variety. Kedai Kopi Kean Lai Seng, is a popular kopitiam(coffee shop)at Kampong Malabar Road. A curry mee stall beside the coffee shop is popular choice. A lane from here lead to the lane which house famous Toh Soon Cafe(多春茶座) between Kampong Malabar and Campbell Street. Famous for its roti bakar(toasted bread), the breads are charcoal toasted in traditional way. Toh Soon Cafe is opened from 8am-6pm Monday-Saturday, closed on Sunday. At the other end, off Cintra Street, is KIM MAOU CAFE, actually located at Cintra Street, beside famous ba chang or rice dumpling shop. Fried Hor Fun(Sa Hor Fan)and Snakehead Fish Rice Vermicelli Soup (Lay Hoo Bee Hoon Th’ng)are popular there.
Cintra Street
Cintra Street,named after the Portuguese town of Cintra. It may indicated that the Eurasians(may be Portuguese or mixed Portuguese) lived and traded here in the 19th century. It is a street connected Kimberley Street to Chulia Street. Today the street is popular known as Jit-pun-hang-kai in Cantonese(日本橫街), name taken from Kampong Malabar Road. The Chinese divided the street into two parts;
(i) North of Campbell Street is called Ji̍t-pún-ke(日本街) by Chinese, which literally means Japanese street. Before 1900, there were already Japanese geisha houses. Many Japanese prostitutes operated their business in the brothels there. In the early 20th century, there were many camera shops were opened along Malabar and Cintra Street. Many of these shops had been a cover for spying operation for Japan. Today, the part of the street is mainly restaurants, and shops operated by Cantonese Chinese. The famous rice dumpling shop(日本橫街粽子專賣店) is at this part of the street.
(ii) From Kimberley street to Campbell Street,which is called Sin-ke-hoâi-ke(新街橫街)which literally means the side street or cross street of Campbell street. They also called it Phah-phaù-ke(拍袍街), the street for brothel, in the old days the prostitutes of the lower types were operating in the brothel there. The street is now mainly Cantonese style restaurants, pastry shop, and retailers, operated by Cantonese Chinese, especially at the Campbell Street end. The Cantonese restaurant, the local called teh-lau(literally means tea house), similar to dim sum shops in Ipoh. The famous are Tai Tong(大東酒家) and Foo Heong(富香酒家), their sha-hor-fan and steamed buns(pau, 包) was once the most popular. There were the restaurants the old Penang come for yam-cha(飲茶), literally means drinking tea, but it is going to dim sum restaurants. In the early Penang, there was no fast food, the most was to have pau or sha-hor-fun from teh-lau, especially at night ; the kids will be very happy when parent buy these food for them.
In the old days, rice dumplings or zong(ba chang, zongzi(粽子), not jiaozi(饺子)), pa-tong-kor(white sugar cake), ham-chin-peng(咸煎饼),leng-teh(herbal tea,涼茶) at the street side stalls were also popular, especially at night. The herbal tea stall(松鶴軒涼茶), which was opened since 1953, has moved to Kimberley Street.
No 76, Cintra Street was famous for yu-char-koay(油條). The Hainan chicken rice at 文昌茶室, located at the corner shop, beside the pastry shop(伍記餅家)which is located at 61, Cintra Street, at the entrance to People Court flat.
The street was also famous for its Chinese barber shops. In the peak days there were 12 barber shops at the street; but now only two are surviving. The last to close was Mido(美都理髮廳)closed on December 2009. The business sector was affected by the cheaper Indian barber shops and the modern hair saloons.
The People Court(生活公市)was Penang first government public housing project, built by Socialist Front(leftist socialist political party) controlled City Council in 1961. One of the old Chinese pastry shop(梁池記老餅家)is located at 8-C,People's Court,Campbell Street,10100 Penang. There is also one yu-cha-koay wholesale shop at People's Court.
History
There is one Japanese cemetry in Jalan P Ramli. There were 56 tombstones found in this cemetery with the earliest one dated back to 1893 (Meiji 26th Year). Contrary to popular belief, this cemetery is not a burial ground for the Japanese soldiers killed during the Second World War. In fact, only one tombstone dated 30.7.1942 belonging to one Kataoka from Troop 5174. All the other 55 tombs are dated between 1893 - 1926. The majority of the Japanese who were buried or commemorated here consist mostly the Karayuki-san who died during the Meiji Period (1868 - 1911) and a number of Japanese Navy officers who died in the sea waters near Penang during the Taisho Period (1912 - 1925 ). So the early Karayuki-san come to Penang prior to 1868.
In 1910, the official census counted 207 Japanese residents in Penang alone. Unlike the present day Japanese expatriates living in Penang, those early-day Japanese settlers were much poorer in comparison and in fact more than half of the Japanese residents then were involved in the 'flesh' trade. The Japanese prostitutes were Karayuki -san (overseas Japanese prostitutes) who are from the Shimabara Peninsula, which is located in Nagasaki Prefecture, and the arid mountainous Amakusa islands, which lie opposite the Kumanoto Prefecture in Kryushu, produced the highest numbers of Karayuki -san. These are the poorest region in Japan at the time. Since these areas are close to the seaport of Nagasaki which has good connection to travel to the Asian continent and S.E. Asia, the peasants and fishermen who were poverty stricken and facing the threat of long-term famine had little choice but under the persuasion of the prostitute racketeers called Zegen, to sell their daughters to work as Karayuki-san or prostitutes overseas. These karayuki-san operated their trade in Cintra Street in early Penang.
However, it was not until 1920 that Japanese Government, in collaboration with the British administrators who was concerned about the epidemic spread of the venereal diseases, began to abolish this 'flesh' trade and forced the Karayuki-san to leave the Straits Settlements and the Malay states. Most of them were sent back to Japan for good and for those who refused to do so, they either went 'under-ground', married the locals or tried their luck in the major cities of China.
After 1920
Ever since a large number of Karayuki-san returned to Japan in 1920, the number of long-term Japanese residents in Penang reduced significantly but the number soon recovered by other professionals who came in. In 1925, the Japanese population in Penang stood at 166.
In the 1930s, the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and China sparked a series of anti-Japanese campaigns by the Chinese community in Malaya. In 1935, the Japanese Club in Singapore was ransacked by about 200 Chinese rioters. In Penang, in-line with the anti-Japanese campaigns in China, Chinese leaders actively instigated the people to boycott Japanese goods and services. In 1937, sensing the tense and dangerous situation, the Japanese wives and children living in Malaya & Singapore were tacitly advised to evacuate and return to Japan by their authorities and the community leaders and this evacuation intensified just before the War in 1941. The Chinese had long suspected all the local Japanese were spies for the Imperial Japanese government but only a handful of Japanese residents that remained behind were true collaborators to the Japanese invaders. During the War, the main informants were the Chinese merchants who traded Japanese goods before, the Taiwanese who could speak both Hokkien & Japanese and the Chinese police inspectors who pleaded their allegiance to the new master.
Some shops operated by the Japanese just before the war included a dental clinic owned by Mitsutake family at the junction of Muntri St and Leith St, a crockery shop named Nagoya sitting beside the Odeon Theatre and a toy shop in the Tong Aik Building at the corner of Hutton Lane and Penang Road. The Asahi Hotel at Transfer Road was an officially appointed hotel by the Japanese Government and it was suspected being used as a base for the Japanese espionage activities in this region.
Japanese community today
There are around 1,300 Japanese expatriates working for Japanese factories in Penang and there are about 360 Japanese retirees under MM2H program. There is one Japanese school for Japanese children. Furthermore, there are about 30,000 to 40,000 Japanese tourists coming to Penang every year. Penang has been one of the most well-known beach resort among Japanese people for the past 30 years.
Penang Japanese Association(ペナン日本人会)
256 Jalan Air Itam,
10460 Penang, Malaysia.
Tel : 04-229-3635
Fax : 04-229-7157
E-mail: tpja@tm.net.my
Website: http://www.pja.org.my/
The Penang Japanese Association is an association located at 256, Jalan Air Itam in Penang. The location is near to Methodist Boy's School and Suffolk House. It was founded in 1977 to promote greater understanding and friendship between the locals and the Japanese community in Penang. The biggest social event organised by the Penang Japanese Association is the annual Bon Odori Festival, which is usually held at the Esplande field.
Consulate General of Japan(在ペナン日本国総領事館)
Level 28, Menara BHL,
No. 51 Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 Penang
Tel: (604) 226-3030 Fax: (604) 226-1030
web site: http://www.penang.my.emb-japan.go.jp/
Related articles:
1. FROM MALABARIS TO MALAYSIANS:The Untold Story of Malayalees in Penang, by Professor Suresh Narayanan, USM, Penang, http://e-malabari.net/history/malabaristomalaysians.htm
2. The Prewar Japanese Community in Penang during the period 1880 – 1940, by Clement Liang
3, From amakusa to Bugis junction, http://kinkonkid.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html( A similar area in Singapore of Japanese community)
Penang Local Election
The Penang State Executive Council has made a historic decision to restore local government elections for Penang which was suspended 45 years on 1st March 1965 because of Indonesian Confrontation which ended in the latter part of 1966. This is the bold step by the state government.
When the local government election was deprived by the federal government since 1965, with a promise to restore after Indonesia confrontation. The promise was delayed after confrontation was over, another excuse that Royal Commission of Enquiry into the local council had been set up by the Federal Government under Senator Athi Nahappan. Athi Nahappan Royal Commission Report in 1968, recommended the restoration of elected local councils, but the report was disregard by the federal government and the local government election was never carried out. The failure of federal government to continue deprive local government election, and not follow the recommendation by Athi Nahappan Royal Commission Report, has been revealed by subsequent historical events. It was mainly because from 1957 to 1966, the local city council of Penang was controlled by opposition, Socialist Front. That was the main reason for the suspension of local election. The wishes of the people was disregard, and the political motive prevail. It is fair to restore the local election now under One Malaysian spirit.
It is timely the local government election is restored now.
History of Local Election in Penang
As early as 1800, an informal Committee of Assessors was formed by the rate-payers of George Town to play a role in the workings of the colonial government then, especially in issues relating to rates and expenditure.
1857
The Municipal Council of George Town was established in 1857, the first local authority in Malaya after Singapore. Three out of five municipal commissioners were elected by a limited franchise, but due to apathy these elections were abolished in 1913. In 1857, the first experiment in elected representatives in the government was carried out in Penang. Three out of the five municipal commissioners for the George Town Municipal Commission were elected.
1951
In 1951, as part of the move towards independence for Malaya, the British colonial authorities reintroduced local elections of nine of the fifteen municipal commissioners for George Town(partial election).
The first elections under the Municipal Constitution were held in 1st December 1951. Radical Party swept in, winning six out of the nine seats. The result was Rasical(6) lLabour(1), Umno(1), and Independence (1). Radical Party was found by the former Chief Minister Tun Dr Lim Chong Ewe, Dr N.K. Menon and others.
The 9 elected councilors included were Dr NK Menon(Jelutong) –Radical; CM Ismail(Jelutong) – UMNO, Nancy Yeap (Kelawei) – Radical, and 6 others.
Other municipal councils in Malaya followed shortly thereafter, with Kuala Lumpur holding its first local elections the year after.
1952 Kuala Lumpur Municipal Election
Although George Town played a leading role in local democracy, the elections in Kuala Lumpur had the greatest impacts on the politics of Malaysia. Of the 12 successful candidates in the 1952 municipal elections, nine were from the Umno-MCA state, two from the multiracial Independence of Malaya Party led by Datuk Onn Jaafar and one was independent. The nine Umno-MCA councillors were made up of six from the MCA and three from Umno. Most scholars believe that it was the success of the Umno-MCA collaborations in the Kuala Lumpur municipal elections that led to the formation of the Alliance, with MIC as the third partner. The Alliance, which eventually evolved into the Barisan Nasional in the 70s, won 51 out of the 52 parliamentary seats in the first national elections in 1955.
1956
By 1956, George Town had become the first municipality in the Federation of Malaya to have a fully-elected council. The president was chosen from among the councillors and the first person to be so honoured was Goh Guan Hoe, popularly known as G. H. Goh, of the Alliance.
1957
On 1 January 1957, George Town became a city by a royal charter granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the first town in the Federation of Malaya to become a city(Note: The only city in Malaya/Malaysia until Kuala Lumpur was granted city status in 1972). The first Mayor of George Town was Cllr D. S. Ramanathan (Labour). Jalan DS Ramanathan was named after him. By December 1957, when the head of the council was officially designated as mayor, the Alliance had lost its majority and D. S. Ramanathan of the Labour Party was elected the first Mayor of George Town.
1963
In 1963, a councillor accused some fellow councillors of corruption. In an attempt to clear its reputation, the city councillors passed a resolution calling for a commission of enquiry. This was only established in 1966.
1964-1966
Cllr C. Y. Choy from Socialist Front, was the last Mayor of George Town (1964-1966). Jalan CY Choy, formerly known as Bridge Road was named after him. From 1957 to 1966, the city council was controlled by the Socialist Front, but the state government was under Alliance(UMNO, MCA, & MIC).
1965 – local council election suspended In 1965, the federal Government suspended local elections with the excuse of the Indonesian Confrontation. The City Council was at the time the richest local authority in the country, with annual revenue almost double that of the Penang state government. The first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman promised to the Parliament on March 1, 1965 that “as soon as” the Indonesian Confrontation had ended, local council elections would be held.
1966 - In response to allegations of maladministration and misconduct, a Royal Commission of Enquiry was set up. The functions of the City Council were temporarily transferred to the Chief Minister of Penang on 1-7-1966, by the City Council of George Town (Transfer of Functions) Order 1966, this is to facilitate the workings the Commission of Enquiry under Justice Dato Abdul Aziz Mohd. Zain. The Aziz Commission,as it was unofficially known, found that acts of maladministration, malpractices and breaches of the law were committed by both councillors and officials of the City Council. The restoration of local government elections was however delayed when a Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Workings of Local Authorities was established.
1968
A Royal Commission of Enquiry into set up by the Federal Government under Senator Athi Nahappan. Athi Nahappan Royal Commission Repor in 1968, recommended the restoration of elected local councils, but this was never carried out.
1969
The Alliance State Government fell in 1969 after losing in the general elections and Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan) under Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu become the State Government.
1971
The remaining local authorities in Penang, including the Penang Rural District Council, were taken over by the state government in 1971
1974
Following the Local Government (Temporary Provisions) Act 1973, two Local Government Management Boards (Lembaga Pengurus Kerajaan Tempatan) were established in 1974 for Penang Island and Province Wellesley.
1976
The Local Government Act was passed in 1976 that provided for non-elected / appointed councillors and presidents, was adopted by the Penang State Government. The State Government set up Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) and Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai (MPSP). All councillors, including the presidents were appointed. With the exceptions of the District Officers, all were nominees of political parties.
2008
In the 8th March 2008 general election campaigns, both the DAP and PKR promised to bring back local government elections if they formed the State Government. During the March 8th General Elections, the Barisan Nasional lost control of Penang State Government. It was replaced by the Pakatan Rakyat State Government, made up of DAP, PKR and PAS.
Will the local election be possible in Penang?
The obstacle for the restoration of local election is the legal ground. But democratic government is for the people. Law is man made, if the government is sincere, the law can always be change to facilitate the local government election.
Article 113 (4) of the Federal Constitution which states that federal or state law may authorize the EC to conduct election other than parliamentary or state elections.
There is a clause in the Local Government Act 1976 allowing state governments to apply for exclusion of certain areas from implementing the Act, which aims at stopping local government elections in municipalities.
Therefore, holding local government elections is possible if the Emergency Regulations are revoked; Section 15(1) are repealed and Section 10 is amended. This can only be done if the Barisan Nasional government, which has a simple majority in parliament, also wants it.
The ball is now with the federal government; after all it was the federal government that took away the local government election, and promise to restore the election. It is an act to fulfill the responsibility and promises to the people, even it has been long overdue....
Related articles:
1.Act Of Betrayal : The Snuffing Out of Local Democracy in Malaysia ,by Prof Johan Saravanamuttu, Aliran, http://www.aliran.com/oldsite/monthly/2000/04h.html
2.Local Government Election Act 1960; http://www.agc.gov.my/agc/Akta/Vol.%2010/Act%20473.pdf
3. What the law says, http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/16/focus/20080316094115&sec=focus
4. Cabinet on Wednesday should give “green light” for legislative action to allow state governments like Penang to restore local government elections(2010), by Lim Kit Siang, http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2010/03/07/cabinet-on-wednesday-should-give-%E2%80%9Cgreen-light%E2%80%9D-for-legislative-action-to-allow-state-governments-like-penang-to-restore-local-government-elections/
When the local government election was deprived by the federal government since 1965, with a promise to restore after Indonesia confrontation. The promise was delayed after confrontation was over, another excuse that Royal Commission of Enquiry into the local council had been set up by the Federal Government under Senator Athi Nahappan. Athi Nahappan Royal Commission Report in 1968, recommended the restoration of elected local councils, but the report was disregard by the federal government and the local government election was never carried out. The failure of federal government to continue deprive local government election, and not follow the recommendation by Athi Nahappan Royal Commission Report, has been revealed by subsequent historical events. It was mainly because from 1957 to 1966, the local city council of Penang was controlled by opposition, Socialist Front. That was the main reason for the suspension of local election. The wishes of the people was disregard, and the political motive prevail. It is fair to restore the local election now under One Malaysian spirit.
It is timely the local government election is restored now.
History of Local Election in Penang
As early as 1800, an informal Committee of Assessors was formed by the rate-payers of George Town to play a role in the workings of the colonial government then, especially in issues relating to rates and expenditure.
1857
The Municipal Council of George Town was established in 1857, the first local authority in Malaya after Singapore. Three out of five municipal commissioners were elected by a limited franchise, but due to apathy these elections were abolished in 1913. In 1857, the first experiment in elected representatives in the government was carried out in Penang. Three out of the five municipal commissioners for the George Town Municipal Commission were elected.
1951
In 1951, as part of the move towards independence for Malaya, the British colonial authorities reintroduced local elections of nine of the fifteen municipal commissioners for George Town(partial election).
The first elections under the Municipal Constitution were held in 1st December 1951. Radical Party swept in, winning six out of the nine seats. The result was Rasical(6) lLabour(1), Umno(1), and Independence (1). Radical Party was found by the former Chief Minister Tun Dr Lim Chong Ewe, Dr N.K. Menon and others.
The 9 elected councilors included were Dr NK Menon(Jelutong) –Radical; CM Ismail(Jelutong) – UMNO, Nancy Yeap (Kelawei) – Radical, and 6 others.
Other municipal councils in Malaya followed shortly thereafter, with Kuala Lumpur holding its first local elections the year after.
1952 Kuala Lumpur Municipal Election
Although George Town played a leading role in local democracy, the elections in Kuala Lumpur had the greatest impacts on the politics of Malaysia. Of the 12 successful candidates in the 1952 municipal elections, nine were from the Umno-MCA state, two from the multiracial Independence of Malaya Party led by Datuk Onn Jaafar and one was independent. The nine Umno-MCA councillors were made up of six from the MCA and three from Umno. Most scholars believe that it was the success of the Umno-MCA collaborations in the Kuala Lumpur municipal elections that led to the formation of the Alliance, with MIC as the third partner. The Alliance, which eventually evolved into the Barisan Nasional in the 70s, won 51 out of the 52 parliamentary seats in the first national elections in 1955.
1956
By 1956, George Town had become the first municipality in the Federation of Malaya to have a fully-elected council. The president was chosen from among the councillors and the first person to be so honoured was Goh Guan Hoe, popularly known as G. H. Goh, of the Alliance.
1957
On 1 January 1957, George Town became a city by a royal charter granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the first town in the Federation of Malaya to become a city(Note: The only city in Malaya/Malaysia until Kuala Lumpur was granted city status in 1972). The first Mayor of George Town was Cllr D. S. Ramanathan (Labour). Jalan DS Ramanathan was named after him. By December 1957, when the head of the council was officially designated as mayor, the Alliance had lost its majority and D. S. Ramanathan of the Labour Party was elected the first Mayor of George Town.
1963
In 1963, a councillor accused some fellow councillors of corruption. In an attempt to clear its reputation, the city councillors passed a resolution calling for a commission of enquiry. This was only established in 1966.
1964-1966
Cllr C. Y. Choy from Socialist Front, was the last Mayor of George Town (1964-1966). Jalan CY Choy, formerly known as Bridge Road was named after him. From 1957 to 1966, the city council was controlled by the Socialist Front, but the state government was under Alliance(UMNO, MCA, & MIC).
1965 – local council election suspended In 1965, the federal Government suspended local elections with the excuse of the Indonesian Confrontation. The City Council was at the time the richest local authority in the country, with annual revenue almost double that of the Penang state government. The first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman promised to the Parliament on March 1, 1965 that “as soon as” the Indonesian Confrontation had ended, local council elections would be held.
1966 - In response to allegations of maladministration and misconduct, a Royal Commission of Enquiry was set up. The functions of the City Council were temporarily transferred to the Chief Minister of Penang on 1-7-1966, by the City Council of George Town (Transfer of Functions) Order 1966, this is to facilitate the workings the Commission of Enquiry under Justice Dato Abdul Aziz Mohd. Zain. The Aziz Commission,as it was unofficially known, found that acts of maladministration, malpractices and breaches of the law were committed by both councillors and officials of the City Council. The restoration of local government elections was however delayed when a Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Workings of Local Authorities was established.
1968
A Royal Commission of Enquiry into set up by the Federal Government under Senator Athi Nahappan. Athi Nahappan Royal Commission Repor in 1968, recommended the restoration of elected local councils, but this was never carried out.
1969
The Alliance State Government fell in 1969 after losing in the general elections and Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan) under Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu become the State Government.
1971
The remaining local authorities in Penang, including the Penang Rural District Council, were taken over by the state government in 1971
1974
Following the Local Government (Temporary Provisions) Act 1973, two Local Government Management Boards (Lembaga Pengurus Kerajaan Tempatan) were established in 1974 for Penang Island and Province Wellesley.
1976
The Local Government Act was passed in 1976 that provided for non-elected / appointed councillors and presidents, was adopted by the Penang State Government. The State Government set up Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) and Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai (MPSP). All councillors, including the presidents were appointed. With the exceptions of the District Officers, all were nominees of political parties.
2008
In the 8th March 2008 general election campaigns, both the DAP and PKR promised to bring back local government elections if they formed the State Government. During the March 8th General Elections, the Barisan Nasional lost control of Penang State Government. It was replaced by the Pakatan Rakyat State Government, made up of DAP, PKR and PAS.
Will the local election be possible in Penang?
The obstacle for the restoration of local election is the legal ground. But democratic government is for the people. Law is man made, if the government is sincere, the law can always be change to facilitate the local government election.
Article 113 (4) of the Federal Constitution which states that federal or state law may authorize the EC to conduct election other than parliamentary or state elections.
There is a clause in the Local Government Act 1976 allowing state governments to apply for exclusion of certain areas from implementing the Act, which aims at stopping local government elections in municipalities.
Therefore, holding local government elections is possible if the Emergency Regulations are revoked; Section 15(1) are repealed and Section 10 is amended. This can only be done if the Barisan Nasional government, which has a simple majority in parliament, also wants it.
The ball is now with the federal government; after all it was the federal government that took away the local government election, and promise to restore the election. It is an act to fulfill the responsibility and promises to the people, even it has been long overdue....
Related articles:
1.Act Of Betrayal : The Snuffing Out of Local Democracy in Malaysia ,by Prof Johan Saravanamuttu, Aliran, http://www.aliran.com/oldsite/monthly/2000/04h.html
2.Local Government Election Act 1960; http://www.agc.gov.my/agc/Akta/Vol.%2010/Act%20473.pdf
3. What the law says, http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/16/focus/20080316094115&sec=focus
4. Cabinet on Wednesday should give “green light” for legislative action to allow state governments like Penang to restore local government elections(2010), by Lim Kit Siang, http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2010/03/07/cabinet-on-wednesday-should-give-%E2%80%9Cgreen-light%E2%80%9D-for-legislative-action-to-allow-state-governments-like-penang-to-restore-local-government-elections/
Penang Secessionist Movement (1948--1951)
In 1946, the Straits Settlements were dissolved, with Sir Shenton Thomas being the last governor, and Penang became part of the Malayan Union, before becoming in 1948 a state of the Federation of Malaya.
The Penang secession movement was led by the Penang Chamber of Commerce,representing European business interests in Penang, and included organizations such as the Settlement of Penang Association, Penang Eurasian Association, the Chinese and Indian Chambers of Commerce, and the Penang Clerical and Administrative Union. Some of these organizations were driven by economic interests, others by a yearning to return to their pre-eminent status in pre-war days, yet others by a fierce, if parochial sense of ‘Penang patriotism’. But the fact that only 212 persons were present at the meeting to launch the movement indicated the movement’s lack of mass support and mobilizing skills.
During this period, some Straits Chinese began taking an active interest in local politics, especially in Penang, where there was an active Chinese secessionist movement. They identified themselves more with the British than the Malays and were especially angered by references to them as pendatang asing ("aliens"). They avoided both UMNO and the MCA, believing that while UMNO and the Malay extremists were intent on extending Malay privileges and restricting Chinese rights, the MCA was too "selfish", and could not be relied on to protect their interests. They had already raised their ire in the late 1940s, when the government proposed to amend the Banishment Ordinance — which allowed for the exile of Malayans "implicated in acts of violence" — to permit those born in the Straits Settlements to be banished to their ancestral homeland. This was a revolting idea for most of the Straits Chinese. They were also uncomfortable about the merger of the Straits Settlements with Malaya, as they did not feel a sense of belonging to what they considered a "Malaya for the Malays", where they were not considered bumiputra ("sons of the soil"). One Straits Chinese leader indignantly declared, "I can claim to be more anak Pulau Pinang [a son of Penang] than 99 per cent of the Malays living here today." The secessionist movement eventually petered out, however, because of the government's stout refusal to entertain the idea of Penang seceding from the Federation.
A motion for Penang to secede from the Federation and to join Singapore as a separate British crown colony was narrowly defeated 15 votes to 10 in February 1949, mainly by the use of British official votes(Christie,1996).
On 31 August 1957, Penang formally became part of the newly-independent Federation of Malaya (Persekutuan Tanah Melayu) and in 1963, also became a member state of Malaysia.
Related books/websites/articles:
1. A Modern History of Southeast Asia: Decolonization, Nationalism and Separatism(1996), by Clive J. Christie, published by Tauris Academic Studies, Reprinted in 2000. Pg 28-53
The Penang secession movement was led by the Penang Chamber of Commerce,representing European business interests in Penang, and included organizations such as the Settlement of Penang Association, Penang Eurasian Association, the Chinese and Indian Chambers of Commerce, and the Penang Clerical and Administrative Union. Some of these organizations were driven by economic interests, others by a yearning to return to their pre-eminent status in pre-war days, yet others by a fierce, if parochial sense of ‘Penang patriotism’. But the fact that only 212 persons were present at the meeting to launch the movement indicated the movement’s lack of mass support and mobilizing skills.
During this period, some Straits Chinese began taking an active interest in local politics, especially in Penang, where there was an active Chinese secessionist movement. They identified themselves more with the British than the Malays and were especially angered by references to them as pendatang asing ("aliens"). They avoided both UMNO and the MCA, believing that while UMNO and the Malay extremists were intent on extending Malay privileges and restricting Chinese rights, the MCA was too "selfish", and could not be relied on to protect their interests. They had already raised their ire in the late 1940s, when the government proposed to amend the Banishment Ordinance — which allowed for the exile of Malayans "implicated in acts of violence" — to permit those born in the Straits Settlements to be banished to their ancestral homeland. This was a revolting idea for most of the Straits Chinese. They were also uncomfortable about the merger of the Straits Settlements with Malaya, as they did not feel a sense of belonging to what they considered a "Malaya for the Malays", where they were not considered bumiputra ("sons of the soil"). One Straits Chinese leader indignantly declared, "I can claim to be more anak Pulau Pinang [a son of Penang] than 99 per cent of the Malays living here today." The secessionist movement eventually petered out, however, because of the government's stout refusal to entertain the idea of Penang seceding from the Federation.
A motion for Penang to secede from the Federation and to join Singapore as a separate British crown colony was narrowly defeated 15 votes to 10 in February 1949, mainly by the use of British official votes(Christie,1996).
On 31 August 1957, Penang formally became part of the newly-independent Federation of Malaya (Persekutuan Tanah Melayu) and in 1963, also became a member state of Malaysia.
Related books/websites/articles:
1. A Modern History of Southeast Asia: Decolonization, Nationalism and Separatism(1996), by Clive J. Christie, published by Tauris Academic Studies, Reprinted in 2000. Pg 28-53
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Where is Metropole Hotel & Asdang House ?
When I read the article in http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/2898, I feel very angry, a heritage building was demolished by the authority and RM2 company, using legal loophole on classification of heritage building. I do not know has the former Asdang House rebuilt by the RM2 company? or is it another of heritage building in front of high rising hotel? The rape of heritage building in daylight?????....... But this article is a must read for the current environment, the time where there is accusation of state government, the time when there is political hopping due to minor dispute, the time when the heritage city has been awarded.
It is good to re-look at history......a recent history. A story of money and politic.
The monitoring unit is the local council who fined the owner, with the sinking fund built up, I do not know it is sufficient to built the heritage building to its former glory? it seems that it is a politically linked company.It all happen under the former state government.
This is the building linked to Penang famous son, Khaw Sim Bee and Na Ranong family. The descendant not able to protect it; the people not able to protect it and the state did not protect it.....
The fall of Metropole Hotel
Kim Gooi, May 11, 01
(KIM GOOI is a freelance journalist based in Bangkok)
They came like thieves to steal and rob with lightning speed in a well-planned move laced with political intrigue and cunning. Metropole Hotel, formerly Asdang House, was one of Penang's most prominent historical-heritage buildings.
It was knocked down and reduced to rubble on early Christmas 1993, while the city slept after a night of good cheers and celebration.
Within minutes, one of Malaysia's finest heritage buildings with historical ties to Thailand was destroyed and with it a part of history of the region. The New Straits Times reported:
"Many people are finding out that the building (after its demolition) has an interesting history and that the list of recent owners is also very interesting. Built at the turn of the century, it belonged to the Khaw (Na Ranong) clan. Here receptions were held for the King and Queen of Thailand. Members of the Thai Royal family also stayed at Asdang House".
Asdang House
The building which stood on 6,581 square meters of land was symbolic of the Sino-Thai relationship during the early part of the century, the paper said. Asdang House was more than a Thai embassy to British-held Malaya.
Together with Chakrabongse house, it was an extension of the Thai Royal Palace to its southern-most zone of control at a time when the British colonialists were making inroads into the region, and eyeing Phuket's rich mineral deposits. It was the symbol of Siam's successful resistance against colonialism when the rest of the region had fallen victim.
In 1897, when King Chulalongkorn visited Europe, he stopped over at Chakrabongse House where he was received by the household of the Sultan of Kedah, at that time a vassal state of Siam. When King Prajadhipok visited Penang in 1929, he stayed at Asdang House.
Asdang House was built over a hundred years ago, together with Chakrabongse House, by Phya Rasada Nupradit of Ranong, also known as Khaw Sim Bee, the legendary Sino-Thai appointed by King Chulalongkorn as governor of the southern west-coast provinces of Siam, stretching from Ranong to Trang.
Rasadanupradit was instrumental in developing the region and successfully thwarted British advances in the south. He outwitted the British by bringing the first rubber seed from British Malaya and planting it in Trang. Today the rubber association of Trang is not above throwing a dinner to members of the Penang-branch of the Na Ranong clan when they come a calling.
The achievements of the clan were indeed outstanding and remarkable. The founding father Phya Damrong Sucharit Mahasomphakdi (Khaw Soo Chiang) was a headman and leader of the "Small Knife Society", an anti-Manchu revolutionary group from Fujian province.
He came to Ranong via Penang during the time of King Rama IV. The area was under constant Burmese threat. Phya Damrong drove off the Burmese pirates and built a wall to protect Ranong, said his great, great grandson, Khaw Cheng Poon in Penang. He became the first Rajah of Ranong by appointment of the King of Siam.
On a subsequent visit to Ranong, King Chulalongkorn commented favorably on the development and praised the comfort and quality of the family mansion. Running a fleet of ships, he was able to bring in goods and coolies from British Penang and opened up the area for development.
In addition to being lord of the southern west-coast provinces of old Siam, the Khaw clan controlled a big chunk of mercantile, mining and shipping activities of the region from Penang. "They were the richest in the region, holding wealth and power," said Khaw Cheng Poon, the great-grandson.
To enhance the prestige of Siam at a time when the British were treating everyone as second class citizens, Phya Rasada donated a piece of prime real estate at the esplanade to the public. Called Ranong Ground, the football-size field was meant for public recreation, added Khaw. Alas, Ranong Ground has completely disappeared. Few people now know it ever existed. Today it is the site of Dewan Sri Pinang (State Conference Hall).
As many prosperous Chinese immigrant families were to do, the Khaw family built large, European style houses and entertained lavishly. Clustered along the exclusive shoreline of Northam Road, with names reminiscent of baronial villas like Brooklodge, Nova Scotia (later renamed Asdang House), and the Exeter, the Khaw houses were a reflection of the family success and its place in the world.
Chakrabongse and Asdang house were the setting of numerous parties and receptions especially for visiting dignitaries from Bangkok. Named after sons of King Chulalongkorn, the two houses were built back to back, with Chakrabongse house facing the sea and Asdang House facing the road.
Chakrabongse House was described in glowing terms by Penang Gazette at its house warming by the Prince Chakrabongse in 1904:
"Mr Khaw Sim Bee has taste and very thorough notions of comfort. Standing on the brink of the sea, with its verandahs opening on lovely view of the harbour and purple heights of Kedah beyond, the position of the new house could scarcely be surpassed in Penang.
"Its snowy whiteness backed by the dark green of palms and flanked with tennis courts will render it the home beautiful indeed. The floors have marble in the halls and on the verandahs. The dinning and drawing rooms are large enough for huge gatherings, and the latter might easily accommodate four or five sets of Lancers."
During World War II, the houses were appropriated by the Japanese military forces. After the war they were returned. Phya Rasada's only son in Penang, Khaw Joo Chye, inherited Chakrabongse House.
It was said that the widow of Joo Chye was tired of the sea, and sold the house for RM150,000 in 1960. She built another bungalow across the road so that she could watch the traffic in her old age, said the grandson. Soon, Chakrabongse House was demolished to make way for luxurious family flats.
The fate of Asdang House
Asdang House was inherited by Phya Rasada's nephew, Khaw Joo Tok. After World War II Joo Tok sold it to a car dealer who resold it to a Hainanese restaurant owner who turned it into the Metropole Hotel. It was later sold to a group of politicians of the Gerakan Party controlling Penang.
In 1993 it was designated a heritage building by the Penang Municipal Council. Among the listed owners of the Metropole was the president of the Council who was also the chairman of the Penang Gerakan.
A series of shady deals unfolded: Metropole was allegedly declassified from category I to II, meaning it could be torn down as long as the facade was kept. It was then sold to a RM2 or 20-Baht (paid-up capital) company called Dolphin Square Private Limited for RM9.5 million.
On Christmas day it was obliterated in a lightning operation and the debris carted away. People smelled something fishy and a storm ensued. The hue and cry and the wrath of the people filled the papers, and provided live ammunition to the political opposition.
"How can a RM2 (20 baht) company buy a RM9.5 million house in a designated heritage area, if it is not assured that it could be knocked down for development?" asked opposition leader Lim Kit Siang. "Which bank is going to finance the deal if it is not assured of a quick return?"
The state government's damage control went into full swing. On Jan 3, 1993, the city council ordered the owner to rebuild the house to its original form in six months. Failing to comply would result in a maximum fine of RM10,000 and an additional fine of RM500 for each day's delay. The Chief Minister lauded the council for it's swift action.
On Feb 14, the company was charged in court for demolishing a heritage house without permission and subsequently fined RM50,000. Today, seven years later, the storm has abated but nothing has been done to restore the house. What has happened to the fine accumulated - RM500 a day for each day of non compliance?
At the site where Asdang House once proudly stood, lies a half finished high-rise hotel, a pile of ugly grey concrete and rusty steel in a wasteland along Penang's famous Millionaires' Row. Ironically it was the economic crisis in 1997 that stopped the construction, not the law of the land nor the wishes of the people.
(http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/2898)
From the above article, the current CAT government should understand the urgency of forming 24 hrs monitoring unit, or heritage police; the enforcement units including police, and local council should be make aware of any re-construction and demolish of heritage buildings in their areas, an alert system should be emplaced. Education on the value of heritage buildings for the staff of state authority and police. The people representatives of Penang state, ruling party or opposition, should hold responsible for heritage sites/buildings in their constituency. Penang is now UNESCO Heritage City, a heritage state. The awareness of heritage conservation is expected to be high for each state representatives(MP or state assemblyman). Any silence or ignorance of state representatives/MP on heritage conservation matter, has no excuse. If there is any demolish or disappearance of the heritage at the constituency, the people will consider the failure of the said State assemblyman and MP. The heritage conservation will be a factor for people to assess performance or KPI of the state assemblyman or MP in the next election, any failure in heritage conservation is the failure to the Heritage City and to the people of Penang.He has no place in Penang state decision body.
The approving system should be tiered, and not all things can be approved by local council or MPPP, there must not be absolute authority for a local council. There must be a limit for them, a higher authority is required for re-classification and and demolish of heritage buildings of highest category and critical or prime heritage. Rules for declassification or re-classification must be review, that any matter of prime important to state and nation cannot be decided at local council level, they are only authority for the local council; not the state matter. All policies must be transparent and disclosure is critical for heritage conservation, and feedback from the people is also desired.
The CAT government need to prevent the recurring of the Hotel Metropole incident; and where is our Asdang House now?...."The charming 'metropole' heritage facade that no other building in Penang will have. And a lobby with the splendour and warmth of a grande dame hotel". Asdang House has gone, what left is the facade of a hotel......
This article is interesting in view of recent political event, where the RM2 company is involved for bidding of government project/shops. A careful study will review further link.
The RM2 company......connected or related party transaction... not arm length transaction; all these types of transaction should be carefully assessed, full disclosure requirement, and connected parties abstain from making decision. Legally and morally even the past sellers should be consider as connected person/related person. For government contract or tender or transaction, a period for public feedback on the company should be obtained, preferably prior to bidding.
The rape of Asdang House. Penang must not allow to repeat. Look at our former Asdang House, it is only a facade for a hotel. We have the best town planner in Penang, a town with a combination of heritage and modern buildings, a mixed or hybrid of illegitimate heritage conservation. There are plenty of the illegitimate hybrid in Penang; some are federal government office, some are private buildings, even SOCSO office in Burma Road do the same. The best heritage conservation in the world?????......the world will laugh at the ostrich style of heritage conservation by Penang..... and ugly architecture in our land.
The use of public fund to built new MPSP building at the new township, until the council technically become insolvent; yet a local council was not able to have fund to protect the Khaw Boo Aun residence in Bukit Tambun.....where is the MP and state assemblyman?...you have failed KPI to protect a heritage building in heritage city state.... MP's job is to address on policy and injustice, and raise national issue that affect that citizen, heritage conservation is a national issue, where is the voice in the Parliament?... Historically, Khaw Boo Aun Residence should be a national heritage.
I pray that the CAT is alert; the new MPPP President is more appreciate on the heritage conversation. The protection of the heritage buildings still remained .....
May God save Penang.....ho eh lai, bei eh gi.....
Other related articles:
1. When will MPPP invoke Section 26 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 impose a RM 50,000 fine against Dolphin Square Sdn . Bhd for the Christmas Day ‘lighting demolition’ of Hotel Metropole on Christmas Day?(1994) by Parliament Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary –General and MP for Tanjung , Lim Kit Siang; http://bibliotheca.limkitsiang.com/1994/01/15/when-will-mppp-invoke-section-26-of-the-town-and-country-planning-act-1976-impose-a-rm-50000-fine-against-dolphin-square-sdn-bhd-for-the-christmas-day-%E2%80%98lighting-demolition%E2%80%99-of-hotel/
2. DAP calls on Penang Chief Minister , Dr.Koh Tsu Koon to establish a Public Inquiry into the scandalous demolition of Hotel Metropole and the MPPP’s role – whether of omission or commission(1994), by by Parliament Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary –General and MP for Tanjung , Lim Kit Siang; http://bibliotheca.limkitsiang.com/1994/01/06/dap-calls-on-penang-chief-minister-dr-koh-tsu-koon-to-establish-a-public-inquiry-into-the-scandalous-demolition-of-hotel-metropole-and-the-mppp%E2%80%99s-role-%E2%80%93-whether-of-omission-or-commis/
3. Heritage act toothless(2010), by Jacqueline Ann Surin, http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=17093
4. http://www.mayfairpenang.com/leaflets.pdf(To look at the new building)
It is good to re-look at history......a recent history. A story of money and politic.
The monitoring unit is the local council who fined the owner, with the sinking fund built up, I do not know it is sufficient to built the heritage building to its former glory? it seems that it is a politically linked company.It all happen under the former state government.
This is the building linked to Penang famous son, Khaw Sim Bee and Na Ranong family. The descendant not able to protect it; the people not able to protect it and the state did not protect it.....
The fall of Metropole Hotel
Kim Gooi, May 11, 01
(KIM GOOI is a freelance journalist based in Bangkok)
They came like thieves to steal and rob with lightning speed in a well-planned move laced with political intrigue and cunning. Metropole Hotel, formerly Asdang House, was one of Penang's most prominent historical-heritage buildings.
It was knocked down and reduced to rubble on early Christmas 1993, while the city slept after a night of good cheers and celebration.
Within minutes, one of Malaysia's finest heritage buildings with historical ties to Thailand was destroyed and with it a part of history of the region. The New Straits Times reported:
"Many people are finding out that the building (after its demolition) has an interesting history and that the list of recent owners is also very interesting. Built at the turn of the century, it belonged to the Khaw (Na Ranong) clan. Here receptions were held for the King and Queen of Thailand. Members of the Thai Royal family also stayed at Asdang House".
Asdang House
The building which stood on 6,581 square meters of land was symbolic of the Sino-Thai relationship during the early part of the century, the paper said. Asdang House was more than a Thai embassy to British-held Malaya.
Together with Chakrabongse house, it was an extension of the Thai Royal Palace to its southern-most zone of control at a time when the British colonialists were making inroads into the region, and eyeing Phuket's rich mineral deposits. It was the symbol of Siam's successful resistance against colonialism when the rest of the region had fallen victim.
In 1897, when King Chulalongkorn visited Europe, he stopped over at Chakrabongse House where he was received by the household of the Sultan of Kedah, at that time a vassal state of Siam. When King Prajadhipok visited Penang in 1929, he stayed at Asdang House.
Asdang House was built over a hundred years ago, together with Chakrabongse House, by Phya Rasada Nupradit of Ranong, also known as Khaw Sim Bee, the legendary Sino-Thai appointed by King Chulalongkorn as governor of the southern west-coast provinces of Siam, stretching from Ranong to Trang.
Rasadanupradit was instrumental in developing the region and successfully thwarted British advances in the south. He outwitted the British by bringing the first rubber seed from British Malaya and planting it in Trang. Today the rubber association of Trang is not above throwing a dinner to members of the Penang-branch of the Na Ranong clan when they come a calling.
The achievements of the clan were indeed outstanding and remarkable. The founding father Phya Damrong Sucharit Mahasomphakdi (Khaw Soo Chiang) was a headman and leader of the "Small Knife Society", an anti-Manchu revolutionary group from Fujian province.
He came to Ranong via Penang during the time of King Rama IV. The area was under constant Burmese threat. Phya Damrong drove off the Burmese pirates and built a wall to protect Ranong, said his great, great grandson, Khaw Cheng Poon in Penang. He became the first Rajah of Ranong by appointment of the King of Siam.
On a subsequent visit to Ranong, King Chulalongkorn commented favorably on the development and praised the comfort and quality of the family mansion. Running a fleet of ships, he was able to bring in goods and coolies from British Penang and opened up the area for development.
In addition to being lord of the southern west-coast provinces of old Siam, the Khaw clan controlled a big chunk of mercantile, mining and shipping activities of the region from Penang. "They were the richest in the region, holding wealth and power," said Khaw Cheng Poon, the great-grandson.
To enhance the prestige of Siam at a time when the British were treating everyone as second class citizens, Phya Rasada donated a piece of prime real estate at the esplanade to the public. Called Ranong Ground, the football-size field was meant for public recreation, added Khaw. Alas, Ranong Ground has completely disappeared. Few people now know it ever existed. Today it is the site of Dewan Sri Pinang (State Conference Hall).
As many prosperous Chinese immigrant families were to do, the Khaw family built large, European style houses and entertained lavishly. Clustered along the exclusive shoreline of Northam Road, with names reminiscent of baronial villas like Brooklodge, Nova Scotia (later renamed Asdang House), and the Exeter, the Khaw houses were a reflection of the family success and its place in the world.
Chakrabongse and Asdang house were the setting of numerous parties and receptions especially for visiting dignitaries from Bangkok. Named after sons of King Chulalongkorn, the two houses were built back to back, with Chakrabongse house facing the sea and Asdang House facing the road.
Chakrabongse House was described in glowing terms by Penang Gazette at its house warming by the Prince Chakrabongse in 1904:
"Mr Khaw Sim Bee has taste and very thorough notions of comfort. Standing on the brink of the sea, with its verandahs opening on lovely view of the harbour and purple heights of Kedah beyond, the position of the new house could scarcely be surpassed in Penang.
"Its snowy whiteness backed by the dark green of palms and flanked with tennis courts will render it the home beautiful indeed. The floors have marble in the halls and on the verandahs. The dinning and drawing rooms are large enough for huge gatherings, and the latter might easily accommodate four or five sets of Lancers."
During World War II, the houses were appropriated by the Japanese military forces. After the war they were returned. Phya Rasada's only son in Penang, Khaw Joo Chye, inherited Chakrabongse House.
It was said that the widow of Joo Chye was tired of the sea, and sold the house for RM150,000 in 1960. She built another bungalow across the road so that she could watch the traffic in her old age, said the grandson. Soon, Chakrabongse House was demolished to make way for luxurious family flats.
The fate of Asdang House
Asdang House was inherited by Phya Rasada's nephew, Khaw Joo Tok. After World War II Joo Tok sold it to a car dealer who resold it to a Hainanese restaurant owner who turned it into the Metropole Hotel. It was later sold to a group of politicians of the Gerakan Party controlling Penang.
In 1993 it was designated a heritage building by the Penang Municipal Council. Among the listed owners of the Metropole was the president of the Council who was also the chairman of the Penang Gerakan.
A series of shady deals unfolded: Metropole was allegedly declassified from category I to II, meaning it could be torn down as long as the facade was kept. It was then sold to a RM2 or 20-Baht (paid-up capital) company called Dolphin Square Private Limited for RM9.5 million.
On Christmas day it was obliterated in a lightning operation and the debris carted away. People smelled something fishy and a storm ensued. The hue and cry and the wrath of the people filled the papers, and provided live ammunition to the political opposition.
"How can a RM2 (20 baht) company buy a RM9.5 million house in a designated heritage area, if it is not assured that it could be knocked down for development?" asked opposition leader Lim Kit Siang. "Which bank is going to finance the deal if it is not assured of a quick return?"
The state government's damage control went into full swing. On Jan 3, 1993, the city council ordered the owner to rebuild the house to its original form in six months. Failing to comply would result in a maximum fine of RM10,000 and an additional fine of RM500 for each day's delay. The Chief Minister lauded the council for it's swift action.
On Feb 14, the company was charged in court for demolishing a heritage house without permission and subsequently fined RM50,000. Today, seven years later, the storm has abated but nothing has been done to restore the house. What has happened to the fine accumulated - RM500 a day for each day of non compliance?
At the site where Asdang House once proudly stood, lies a half finished high-rise hotel, a pile of ugly grey concrete and rusty steel in a wasteland along Penang's famous Millionaires' Row. Ironically it was the economic crisis in 1997 that stopped the construction, not the law of the land nor the wishes of the people.
(http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/2898)
From the above article, the current CAT government should understand the urgency of forming 24 hrs monitoring unit, or heritage police; the enforcement units including police, and local council should be make aware of any re-construction and demolish of heritage buildings in their areas, an alert system should be emplaced. Education on the value of heritage buildings for the staff of state authority and police. The people representatives of Penang state, ruling party or opposition, should hold responsible for heritage sites/buildings in their constituency. Penang is now UNESCO Heritage City, a heritage state. The awareness of heritage conservation is expected to be high for each state representatives(MP or state assemblyman). Any silence or ignorance of state representatives/MP on heritage conservation matter, has no excuse. If there is any demolish or disappearance of the heritage at the constituency, the people will consider the failure of the said State assemblyman and MP. The heritage conservation will be a factor for people to assess performance or KPI of the state assemblyman or MP in the next election, any failure in heritage conservation is the failure to the Heritage City and to the people of Penang.He has no place in Penang state decision body.
The approving system should be tiered, and not all things can be approved by local council or MPPP, there must not be absolute authority for a local council. There must be a limit for them, a higher authority is required for re-classification and and demolish of heritage buildings of highest category and critical or prime heritage. Rules for declassification or re-classification must be review, that any matter of prime important to state and nation cannot be decided at local council level, they are only authority for the local council; not the state matter. All policies must be transparent and disclosure is critical for heritage conservation, and feedback from the people is also desired.
The CAT government need to prevent the recurring of the Hotel Metropole incident; and where is our Asdang House now?...."The charming 'metropole' heritage facade that no other building in Penang will have. And a lobby with the splendour and warmth of a grande dame hotel". Asdang House has gone, what left is the facade of a hotel......
This article is interesting in view of recent political event, where the RM2 company is involved for bidding of government project/shops. A careful study will review further link.
The RM2 company......connected or related party transaction... not arm length transaction; all these types of transaction should be carefully assessed, full disclosure requirement, and connected parties abstain from making decision. Legally and morally even the past sellers should be consider as connected person/related person. For government contract or tender or transaction, a period for public feedback on the company should be obtained, preferably prior to bidding.
The rape of Asdang House. Penang must not allow to repeat. Look at our former Asdang House, it is only a facade for a hotel. We have the best town planner in Penang, a town with a combination of heritage and modern buildings, a mixed or hybrid of illegitimate heritage conservation. There are plenty of the illegitimate hybrid in Penang; some are federal government office, some are private buildings, even SOCSO office in Burma Road do the same. The best heritage conservation in the world?????......the world will laugh at the ostrich style of heritage conservation by Penang..... and ugly architecture in our land.
The use of public fund to built new MPSP building at the new township, until the council technically become insolvent; yet a local council was not able to have fund to protect the Khaw Boo Aun residence in Bukit Tambun.....where is the MP and state assemblyman?...you have failed KPI to protect a heritage building in heritage city state.... MP's job is to address on policy and injustice, and raise national issue that affect that citizen, heritage conservation is a national issue, where is the voice in the Parliament?... Historically, Khaw Boo Aun Residence should be a national heritage.
I pray that the CAT is alert; the new MPPP President is more appreciate on the heritage conversation. The protection of the heritage buildings still remained .....
May God save Penang.....ho eh lai, bei eh gi.....
Other related articles:
1. When will MPPP invoke Section 26 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 impose a RM 50,000 fine against Dolphin Square Sdn . Bhd for the Christmas Day ‘lighting demolition’ of Hotel Metropole on Christmas Day?(1994) by Parliament Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary –General and MP for Tanjung , Lim Kit Siang; http://bibliotheca.limkitsiang.com/1994/01/15/when-will-mppp-invoke-section-26-of-the-town-and-country-planning-act-1976-impose-a-rm-50000-fine-against-dolphin-square-sdn-bhd-for-the-christmas-day-%E2%80%98lighting-demolition%E2%80%99-of-hotel/
2. DAP calls on Penang Chief Minister , Dr.Koh Tsu Koon to establish a Public Inquiry into the scandalous demolition of Hotel Metropole and the MPPP’s role – whether of omission or commission(1994), by by Parliament Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary –General and MP for Tanjung , Lim Kit Siang; http://bibliotheca.limkitsiang.com/1994/01/06/dap-calls-on-penang-chief-minister-dr-koh-tsu-koon-to-establish-a-public-inquiry-into-the-scandalous-demolition-of-hotel-metropole-and-the-mppp%E2%80%99s-role-%E2%80%93-whether-of-omission-or-commis/
3. Heritage act toothless(2010), by Jacqueline Ann Surin, http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=17093
4. http://www.mayfairpenang.com/leaflets.pdf(To look at the new building)
Monday, March 1, 2010
Penang's World Shoe King: Jimmy Choo
Penang shoe designer: Jimmy Choo
Jimmy Choo is world famous shoe designer, he is from a Hakka family in Penang. He has make Penang proud for being the world best in shoe design. The first shoe design lesson is from his father,then from a shoe making shop in Muntri Street, Hong Kong Shoe Shop(not from Hong Kong, but from Penang). His first shoe design is in Penang. He is the World Shoe King, Jimmy Choo, from Penang......
Dato' Jimmy Choo OBE, born Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat(周仰杰) is a Malaysian fashion designer based in London, United Kingdom. He is best known for founding Jimmy Choo Ltd that became known for its hand-made women's shoes.
Jimmy's determination to follow in his fathers' footsteps and master the art of shoe design saw him arrive in London where he established his couture label " Jimmy Choo" in 1986. His made-to-order designs include an extensive range of hand-crafted and personalised shoes for which he is internationally renowned.
Penang
Choo was born in Penang in 1961, Malaysia into a poor family of cobbler/shoe making. He is of Chinese Hakka descent. His childhood was at Hutton Lane(夜兰亚珍路), the side road from busy Penang Road,where his father Choo Kee Yin was operating his business. Educated in Shih Chung Primary School(时中小学) in Love Lane, a school formed by Hakka Chinese. Shoemaking for the shoe shops may not earn much money for the family. From small he was determined to follow his fathers' footsteps in the art of shoe design. Learning the skill of shoe making from his father at Penang Road, he made his first shoe when he was 11 years old. He later become apprentice in Hong Kong Shoe Shop(香港鞋店) at Muntri Street, learning from the famous Penang shoe making king Mr Wong Sam Chai(黃三才). But he was not satisfied only making shoes, he wanted to become a shoe designer, he wanted to further his knowledge in shoe designing. He planned to further study in London, but finance was his problem. He was accepted into the Cordwainers Technical College, London. His father was determined to sent him to London, with the finance from a friend and his father saving, which is sufficient only for one year. Jimmy need to need to find ways to pay for remaining 3 years. Jimmy Choo finally left Penang for London.
Jimmy Choo or Choo Yeang Keat(周仰杰) was born to Zhou(周)family, similar surname with China's famous premier Zhou Enlai(周恩來,1898—1976）and the popular Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat,(周潤發),who is the actor in the Oscar award movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". They are from the same family clan, the Zhou clan family. But the surname was wrongly spelled in his birth certificate as "Choo(朱)" instead of Chew(in Penang Hockkien)or Chow(in Cantonese) or Chew(in his dialect Hakka). Choo is a totally differently surname. This was because when the birth was reported by the family to the Registry of Birth, the registration clerk who are non-Chinese, may have heard wrongly the Hakka phonetic and registered the surname officially as Choo, instead of Chew or Chow. Otherwise he should be Jimmy Chew or Jimmy Chow. This mistake has resulted in the now well-known name of Jimmy Choo – a name that makes shoe-savvy women swoon.
London College
The money was only enough for one year, and not enough for his 4 years study in London. Choo has divulged that he worked part-time at restaurants and as a cleaner at a shoe factory to help fund his college education. He survive with instant noodles. Like many Chinese students from Malaysia, who were on their own, the study in London was not easy, they need to work part time. Finally he made it, and graduate in 1983. After graduation, he worked in shoe making factory, start from the bottom, he learn the process of manufacturing of shoes from design to production.
Jimmy met his future wife, the Hong Kong-born Datin Choo(Rebecca Choi) at Cordwainers College in 1982 when both were studying the art of shoemaking! Datin Choo is also a professional shoe designer.
Cordwainers College, The London College of Fashion,The University of the Arts London
He is perhaps the most notable of students of Cordwainers Technical College in London Borough of Hackney, London. The college in 2000, become part of the London College of Fashion. The London College of Fashion (LCF) is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses in fashion and related industries. It is the only college in Britain to specialise in fashion education, research and consultancy. The University of the Arts London, formerly known as the London Institute, is a collegiate university comprising six internationally recognised art, design, fashion and media colleges in London, England, UK. The University is Europe's largest provider of education in art, design, fashion, communication and the performing arts.
Jimmy's workshop in London
Jimmy Choo's beginnings can be traced back to his workshop in London Borough of Hackney, North London(East End of London), which he opened in 1986 by renting an old hospital building. The location is near his college, Cordwainers College. Initially he faced tough time as a new name. His craftsmanship and designs were soon noticed and he came to the verge of international notability when his creations were featured in a record eight pages in a 1988 issue of Vogue magazine. Patronage from Diana, Princess of Wales from 1990 onwards further boosted his image as shoe designer.
Jimmy Choo Ltd
In May 1996, he co-founded Jimmy Choo Ltd with British Vogue accessories editor Tamara Mellon. Under the partnership, Choo and Mellon each owned 50% of the company, Jimmy Choo Ltd, they co-founded. Tom Yeardye(Tamara's father) became the chairman and Jimmy Choo Ready-to-Wear was born. Tamara partnered with Mr Jimmy Choo to start the ready to wear company and sourced factories in Italy to produce the shoes on a larger scale. Consequently, plans were made to open the first Jimmy Choo stand alone boutique and to develop the wholesale business throughout the fashion capitals of the world. Jimmy Choo opened its first store in London in 1997.
Although he was a partner, the day-to-day running was left to the Yeardyes. Choo retreated, once again, to producing his exquisite, handmade couture shoes called Jimmy Choo Couture. The RTW line is Jimmy Choo London or just Jimmy Choo.
The first was in London, then in New York in 1998, Los Angeles in 1999, followed by Las Vegas and Milan.
Sale of Jimmy Choo Ltd - Jimmy lost his name
Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd(2001-2004)
In April 2001, Choo sold his 50% stake in the company's ready to wear business, to Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd for £10 million. Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd is a partnership formed by Phoenix Equity Partners and Robert Bensoussan, who became chief executive of Jimmy Choo Ltd. Jimmy Choo has since been concentrating his work on the exclusive "Jimmy Choo Couture line" produced under license from Jimmy Choo Ltd. This is available, by appointment only, at 18, Connaught Street,off Oxford Street in London. The Jimmy Choo London line, also known as Jimmy Choo Ready-To-Wear or, simply, Jimmy Choo, is under the purview of Tamara Mellon and Sandra Choi. Choi, who was an apprentice under Choo, is the Creative Director at the company. She is the niece of Choo's wife Rebecca.. The ready-to-wear line has expanded to include accessories such as handbags.
The expansion of Jimmy Choo took a quantum leap when Robert Bensoussan, CEO of Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd , who bought over Choo’s 50% shares became CEO of Jimmy Choo Ltd. Within 3 years, the company opened twenty six new stores, (in addition to the existing four) and introduced both handbag and small leather goods collections.
Hicks Muse (Europe)
On 19th November 2004 with Hicks Muse (Europe) announcing the acquistion of a majority shareholding in Jimmy Choo, in a transaction valuing the company at 110 million. Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst was found by Lyndon Lea in 1998, he left Glenisla to co-found the European operations, he was joined by Robert Darwent. Note: In January 2005, the company's European arm, separated from Hicks Muse to form Lion Capital LLP.
Phoenix Equity Partners backed Robert Bensoussan in acquiring 51 per cent of the business in 2001. It is understood to have generated a return of nearly four times its original investment with this sale.
Lion Capital(Dec 2004 - Feb 2007)
In November 2004, Lion Capital acquired a majority shareholding in Jimmy Choo. Lion Capital was founded in 2004 by Lyndon Lea, Neil Richardson and Robert Darwent. Lion Capital is a private equity investment firm focused on the consumer sector. Headquartered in London, the firm’s principals have been investing private equity capital together since the early 1990s and have invested €2.7bn of equity in transactions totalling €12bn in value.
Under Lion’s ownership from late 2004 to early 2007, Jimmy Choo opened over 35 new boutiques, more than doubling its retail sites to over 60 branded stores and in the process establishing a presence in many of the world’s top luxury retail locations.
During the period of Lion's ownership, Jimmy Choo grew to one of the largest European luxury brands in the United States by retail points of presence, expanding to 22 stores in the most attractive luxury markets in the US. In Europe, the company opened a flagship store in London and entered key markets such as Paris and Madrid with the opening of new boutiques. Under Lion’s ownership, Jimmy Choo achieved 25% annualised growth in shoe sales while handbag sales grew at an annualised rate of over 100%, such that in 2006, Jimmy Choo sold approximately 210,000 pairs of shoes and 50,000 handbags. In February 2007, Lion Capital sold the company to TowerBrook Capital Partners.
TowerBrook Capital Partners(Feb 2007-?)
TowerBrook Capital Partners has agreed to buy Jimmy Choo Ltd., whose shoes are worn by celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, for £185 million ($364 million). TowerBrook Capital Partners is a private equity firm with $2.5bn under management. The firm has offices in London and New York and focuses on making investments in European and North American companies. TowerBrook pursues control-oriented private equity investments in large and middle market companies. TowerBrook, the buyout firm spun off from George Soros’s fund management business, and Jimmy Choo’s management, including its founder, Tamara Mellon, and chief executive, Robert Bensoussan, will buy the company from Lion Capital, TowerBrook said yesterday in a statement.
Mr. Bensoussan plans to work with TowerBrook to make further unspecified acquisitions in the luxury goods sector, he said in the statement.
In 2009 his nephew Simon Choo-Deren currently residing in Rotterdam and London, will take over his position as the company's assistant head designer as announced at a board meeting in 2006.
Professor Jimmy Choo
Professor Jimmy Choo has been involved with De Montfort University for over five years. He was made Doctor of Arts in July 2004 in recognition of his contribution to their unique Single Honours Footwear Design degree. He is also the visiting lecturer of his alma mater, Cordwainers College.
Jimmy supports his passion for education by spending time inspiring students with creativity through skills. He still actively works with his team creating bespoke, handcrafted shoes at his Couture House, 18 Connaught Street, W2.
Awards
1980: Jimmy Choo become personal shoe designer for Princes Diana 因成为已故戴安娜王妃的鞋子设计师，而一举成名。他为戴安娜设计鞋子，直到戴妃车祸身亡。
1999: Awarded Best designer in UK 荣誉英国时装奖及配饰组最佳设计师。
2000: Bestowed a state award carrying the title of Dato' by the Sultan of Pahang state in Malaysia for his achievements 彭亨州苏丹封赐拿督勋衔。
8th June: Gold Award from Britain’s Association of Colleges whose members include 470 top schools 同年6月8日，亦是英国学院的杰出毕业生的他，获得英国学院联合会颁发金奖。
2001: Appointed as Professor in the University of the Arts London on 24th May 他于5月24日被伦敦艺术大学授予教授一职，开始其长期回馈设计领域的使命。
2003: Conferred an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his services to the shoe and fashion industry in the United Kingdom. 他的鞋艺受到设计界的认同和肯定，获得英女皇颁发英帝国勋章（OBE）
2004
4th Feb: He was admitted to the Freedom of the Company of Cordwainers and made an Honorary Liveryman of the Company. 2月4日，他加入鞋匠工业及担任该工业的名誉会员。同时，他对鞋业领域和伦敦设计学院所做出的贡献深获认同，
11th May:Awarded a fellowship by the University of the Arts London, conferring the use of the title Professor 于5月11日获得伦敦艺术大学委任荣誉伙伴。
19th July : He was made Doctor of Arts by Monfort University in July 2004 in recognition of his contribution to their unique Single Honours Footwear Design degree. 7月19日，他亦获英国 De Montfort大学颁发艺术（设计）博士荣誉学位文凭。
24th August: Awarded the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of his home state of Penang, which also carries the title Dato' 8月24日，他获槟州元首敦阿都拉曼阿斯封赐DSPN拿督勋衔。
Choo now lives in London. He is currently involved in a project to set up a shoemaking institute in Malaysia, where his iconic status is often evoked to inspire budding shoemakers and fashion designers. His company Jimmy Choo Ltd. produces some of the expensive high-end shoes.
Today, he was the best student from Shih Chung Primary School, the best apprentice from Hong Kong Shoe shop, and one of the best son Penang produced. The Penang is proud of his achievement ....
We hope that the institution that he found will have a place in Penang, his hometown.
Related articles:
1. Jimmy Choo official website, http://www.jimmychoo.com
2. 老店的故事：連新加坡人也來當學徒‧檳製鞋業曾叱咤風雨, http://mykampung.sinchew.com.my/node/94048?tid=29
3. The London College of Fashion website; http://www.fashion.arts.ac.uk/
4. How Jimmy Choo ‘lost’ his name(2007), by KEE HUA CHEE, The Star, http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2007/1/14/lifefocus/16336719&sec=lifefocus
5. Jimmy Choo and the shoemakers of Penang, http://www.mysinchew.com/node/35973
Jimmy Choo is world famous shoe designer, he is from a Hakka family in Penang. He has make Penang proud for being the world best in shoe design. The first shoe design lesson is from his father,then from a shoe making shop in Muntri Street, Hong Kong Shoe Shop(not from Hong Kong, but from Penang). His first shoe design is in Penang. He is the World Shoe King, Jimmy Choo, from Penang......
Dato' Jimmy Choo OBE, born Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat(周仰杰) is a Malaysian fashion designer based in London, United Kingdom. He is best known for founding Jimmy Choo Ltd that became known for its hand-made women's shoes.
Jimmy's determination to follow in his fathers' footsteps and master the art of shoe design saw him arrive in London where he established his couture label " Jimmy Choo" in 1986. His made-to-order designs include an extensive range of hand-crafted and personalised shoes for which he is internationally renowned.
Penang
Choo was born in Penang in 1961, Malaysia into a poor family of cobbler/shoe making. He is of Chinese Hakka descent. His childhood was at Hutton Lane(夜兰亚珍路), the side road from busy Penang Road,where his father Choo Kee Yin was operating his business. Educated in Shih Chung Primary School(时中小学) in Love Lane, a school formed by Hakka Chinese. Shoemaking for the shoe shops may not earn much money for the family. From small he was determined to follow his fathers' footsteps in the art of shoe design. Learning the skill of shoe making from his father at Penang Road, he made his first shoe when he was 11 years old. He later become apprentice in Hong Kong Shoe Shop(香港鞋店) at Muntri Street, learning from the famous Penang shoe making king Mr Wong Sam Chai(黃三才). But he was not satisfied only making shoes, he wanted to become a shoe designer, he wanted to further his knowledge in shoe designing. He planned to further study in London, but finance was his problem. He was accepted into the Cordwainers Technical College, London. His father was determined to sent him to London, with the finance from a friend and his father saving, which is sufficient only for one year. Jimmy need to need to find ways to pay for remaining 3 years. Jimmy Choo finally left Penang for London.
Jimmy Choo or Choo Yeang Keat(周仰杰) was born to Zhou(周)family, similar surname with China's famous premier Zhou Enlai(周恩來,1898—1976）and the popular Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat,(周潤發),who is the actor in the Oscar award movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". They are from the same family clan, the Zhou clan family. But the surname was wrongly spelled in his birth certificate as "Choo(朱)" instead of Chew(in Penang Hockkien)or Chow(in Cantonese) or Chew(in his dialect Hakka). Choo is a totally differently surname. This was because when the birth was reported by the family to the Registry of Birth, the registration clerk who are non-Chinese, may have heard wrongly the Hakka phonetic and registered the surname officially as Choo, instead of Chew or Chow. Otherwise he should be Jimmy Chew or Jimmy Chow. This mistake has resulted in the now well-known name of Jimmy Choo – a name that makes shoe-savvy women swoon.
London College
The money was only enough for one year, and not enough for his 4 years study in London. Choo has divulged that he worked part-time at restaurants and as a cleaner at a shoe factory to help fund his college education. He survive with instant noodles. Like many Chinese students from Malaysia, who were on their own, the study in London was not easy, they need to work part time. Finally he made it, and graduate in 1983. After graduation, he worked in shoe making factory, start from the bottom, he learn the process of manufacturing of shoes from design to production.
Jimmy met his future wife, the Hong Kong-born Datin Choo(Rebecca Choi) at Cordwainers College in 1982 when both were studying the art of shoemaking! Datin Choo is also a professional shoe designer.
Cordwainers College, The London College of Fashion,The University of the Arts London
He is perhaps the most notable of students of Cordwainers Technical College in London Borough of Hackney, London. The college in 2000, become part of the London College of Fashion. The London College of Fashion (LCF) is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses in fashion and related industries. It is the only college in Britain to specialise in fashion education, research and consultancy. The University of the Arts London, formerly known as the London Institute, is a collegiate university comprising six internationally recognised art, design, fashion and media colleges in London, England, UK. The University is Europe's largest provider of education in art, design, fashion, communication and the performing arts.
Jimmy's workshop in London
Jimmy Choo's beginnings can be traced back to his workshop in London Borough of Hackney, North London(East End of London), which he opened in 1986 by renting an old hospital building. The location is near his college, Cordwainers College. Initially he faced tough time as a new name. His craftsmanship and designs were soon noticed and he came to the verge of international notability when his creations were featured in a record eight pages in a 1988 issue of Vogue magazine. Patronage from Diana, Princess of Wales from 1990 onwards further boosted his image as shoe designer.
Jimmy Choo Ltd
In May 1996, he co-founded Jimmy Choo Ltd with British Vogue accessories editor Tamara Mellon. Under the partnership, Choo and Mellon each owned 50% of the company, Jimmy Choo Ltd, they co-founded. Tom Yeardye(Tamara's father) became the chairman and Jimmy Choo Ready-to-Wear was born. Tamara partnered with Mr Jimmy Choo to start the ready to wear company and sourced factories in Italy to produce the shoes on a larger scale. Consequently, plans were made to open the first Jimmy Choo stand alone boutique and to develop the wholesale business throughout the fashion capitals of the world. Jimmy Choo opened its first store in London in 1997.
Although he was a partner, the day-to-day running was left to the Yeardyes. Choo retreated, once again, to producing his exquisite, handmade couture shoes called Jimmy Choo Couture. The RTW line is Jimmy Choo London or just Jimmy Choo.
The first was in London, then in New York in 1998, Los Angeles in 1999, followed by Las Vegas and Milan.
Sale of Jimmy Choo Ltd - Jimmy lost his name
Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd(2001-2004)
In April 2001, Choo sold his 50% stake in the company's ready to wear business, to Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd for £10 million. Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd is a partnership formed by Phoenix Equity Partners and Robert Bensoussan, who became chief executive of Jimmy Choo Ltd. Jimmy Choo has since been concentrating his work on the exclusive "Jimmy Choo Couture line" produced under license from Jimmy Choo Ltd. This is available, by appointment only, at 18, Connaught Street,off Oxford Street in London. The Jimmy Choo London line, also known as Jimmy Choo Ready-To-Wear or, simply, Jimmy Choo, is under the purview of Tamara Mellon and Sandra Choi. Choi, who was an apprentice under Choo, is the Creative Director at the company. She is the niece of Choo's wife Rebecca.. The ready-to-wear line has expanded to include accessories such as handbags.
The expansion of Jimmy Choo took a quantum leap when Robert Bensoussan, CEO of Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd , who bought over Choo’s 50% shares became CEO of Jimmy Choo Ltd. Within 3 years, the company opened twenty six new stores, (in addition to the existing four) and introduced both handbag and small leather goods collections.
Hicks Muse (Europe)
On 19th November 2004 with Hicks Muse (Europe) announcing the acquistion of a majority shareholding in Jimmy Choo, in a transaction valuing the company at 110 million. Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst was found by Lyndon Lea in 1998, he left Glenisla to co-found the European operations, he was joined by Robert Darwent. Note: In January 2005, the company's European arm, separated from Hicks Muse to form Lion Capital LLP.
Phoenix Equity Partners backed Robert Bensoussan in acquiring 51 per cent of the business in 2001. It is understood to have generated a return of nearly four times its original investment with this sale.
Lion Capital(Dec 2004 - Feb 2007)
In November 2004, Lion Capital acquired a majority shareholding in Jimmy Choo. Lion Capital was founded in 2004 by Lyndon Lea, Neil Richardson and Robert Darwent. Lion Capital is a private equity investment firm focused on the consumer sector. Headquartered in London, the firm’s principals have been investing private equity capital together since the early 1990s and have invested €2.7bn of equity in transactions totalling €12bn in value.
Under Lion’s ownership from late 2004 to early 2007, Jimmy Choo opened over 35 new boutiques, more than doubling its retail sites to over 60 branded stores and in the process establishing a presence in many of the world’s top luxury retail locations.
During the period of Lion's ownership, Jimmy Choo grew to one of the largest European luxury brands in the United States by retail points of presence, expanding to 22 stores in the most attractive luxury markets in the US. In Europe, the company opened a flagship store in London and entered key markets such as Paris and Madrid with the opening of new boutiques. Under Lion’s ownership, Jimmy Choo achieved 25% annualised growth in shoe sales while handbag sales grew at an annualised rate of over 100%, such that in 2006, Jimmy Choo sold approximately 210,000 pairs of shoes and 50,000 handbags. In February 2007, Lion Capital sold the company to TowerBrook Capital Partners.
TowerBrook Capital Partners(Feb 2007-?)
TowerBrook Capital Partners has agreed to buy Jimmy Choo Ltd., whose shoes are worn by celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, for £185 million ($364 million). TowerBrook Capital Partners is a private equity firm with $2.5bn under management. The firm has offices in London and New York and focuses on making investments in European and North American companies. TowerBrook pursues control-oriented private equity investments in large and middle market companies. TowerBrook, the buyout firm spun off from George Soros’s fund management business, and Jimmy Choo’s management, including its founder, Tamara Mellon, and chief executive, Robert Bensoussan, will buy the company from Lion Capital, TowerBrook said yesterday in a statement.
Mr. Bensoussan plans to work with TowerBrook to make further unspecified acquisitions in the luxury goods sector, he said in the statement.
In 2009 his nephew Simon Choo-Deren currently residing in Rotterdam and London, will take over his position as the company's assistant head designer as announced at a board meeting in 2006.
Professor Jimmy Choo
Professor Jimmy Choo has been involved with De Montfort University for over five years. He was made Doctor of Arts in July 2004 in recognition of his contribution to their unique Single Honours Footwear Design degree. He is also the visiting lecturer of his alma mater, Cordwainers College.
Jimmy supports his passion for education by spending time inspiring students with creativity through skills. He still actively works with his team creating bespoke, handcrafted shoes at his Couture House, 18 Connaught Street, W2.
Awards
1980: Jimmy Choo become personal shoe designer for Princes Diana 因成为已故戴安娜王妃的鞋子设计师，而一举成名。他为戴安娜设计鞋子，直到戴妃车祸身亡。
1999: Awarded Best designer in UK 荣誉英国时装奖及配饰组最佳设计师。
2000: Bestowed a state award carrying the title of Dato' by the Sultan of Pahang state in Malaysia for his achievements 彭亨州苏丹封赐拿督勋衔。
8th June: Gold Award from Britain’s Association of Colleges whose members include 470 top schools 同年6月8日，亦是英国学院的杰出毕业生的他，获得英国学院联合会颁发金奖。
2001: Appointed as Professor in the University of the Arts London on 24th May 他于5月24日被伦敦艺术大学授予教授一职，开始其长期回馈设计领域的使命。
2003: Conferred an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his services to the shoe and fashion industry in the United Kingdom. 他的鞋艺受到设计界的认同和肯定，获得英女皇颁发英帝国勋章（OBE）
2004
4th Feb: He was admitted to the Freedom of the Company of Cordwainers and made an Honorary Liveryman of the Company. 2月4日，他加入鞋匠工业及担任该工业的名誉会员。同时，他对鞋业领域和伦敦设计学院所做出的贡献深获认同，
11th May:Awarded a fellowship by the University of the Arts London, conferring the use of the title Professor 于5月11日获得伦敦艺术大学委任荣誉伙伴。
19th July : He was made Doctor of Arts by Monfort University in July 2004 in recognition of his contribution to their unique Single Honours Footwear Design degree. 7月19日，他亦获英国 De Montfort大学颁发艺术（设计）博士荣誉学位文凭。
24th August: Awarded the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of his home state of Penang, which also carries the title Dato' 8月24日，他获槟州元首敦阿都拉曼阿斯封赐DSPN拿督勋衔。
Choo now lives in London. He is currently involved in a project to set up a shoemaking institute in Malaysia, where his iconic status is often evoked to inspire budding shoemakers and fashion designers. His company Jimmy Choo Ltd. produces some of the expensive high-end shoes.
Today, he was the best student from Shih Chung Primary School, the best apprentice from Hong Kong Shoe shop, and one of the best son Penang produced. The Penang is proud of his achievement ....
We hope that the institution that he found will have a place in Penang, his hometown.
Related articles:
1. Jimmy Choo official website, http://www.jimmychoo.com
2. 老店的故事：連新加坡人也來當學徒‧檳製鞋業曾叱咤風雨, http://mykampung.sinchew.com.my/node/94048?tid=29
3. The London College of Fashion website; http://www.fashion.arts.ac.uk/
4. How Jimmy Choo ‘lost’ his name(2007), by KEE HUA CHEE, The Star, http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2007/1/14/lifefocus/16336719&sec=lifefocus
5. Jimmy Choo and the shoemakers of Penang, http://www.mysinchew.com/node/35973
Leith Street（莲花河）
Map of Leith Street
Leith Street is one of the early streets of George Town, after the original Francis Light Grid. It was reported that it was built in late 18th century, at that time Penang Road included what is known as Northam Road. Leith Street was named after Major General Sir George Alexander William Leith(1765-1842), the Lieutenant Governor of Penang from 1800-1803. It is located between the junction of Chulia Street/Penang Road, and Farquhar Street. In 1969 road expansion, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah was extended and cut through Leith Street.
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The Chinese called it Lian-hua-ho(莲花河）, "lian-hua(莲花)" in Chinese means lotus flower, and "ho(河)" means river, literally the name in Chinese is Lotus River. But there was no river in Leith Street, but there was a lotus pond in front of Cheng Fatt Tze's mansion, may be it is because of the lotus pond the street was named lian-hua-ho by Chinese. The lotus is correct, the river is exaggerate to make it sound better or more romatic, or more Chinese like. May be river sound better than pond in feng sui, money coming. Before that, it was called Siang-hó-chhū-chêng(相好厝前), which literally means In front of Siang Ho's house. Where is Siang Ho's house, who is Siang Ho? it must be important person in history.
It was reported in one of the website of "The House of Lim", the blogger's family house was at No.7 Farquhar Street at late 1890s, and 25 Farquhar Street before 1910. They owned No.1 & 2 of the Dundas Court. Dundas Court, Leith Street Ghaut, now no longer exist. Dundas Court was a cul-de-sac(dead end), which was perpendicular to Farquhar Street. It was named after Lieutenant-Governor Phillip Dundas, who succeeded Lt.-Governor Farquhar. Leith Street Ghaut is directly opposite Dundas Court. The OXA building (Old Xavier Association) and SXI was bombed during the WW2. OXA building was at the corner of Leith Street and Farquhar, and next to No 25. No 25 was not affected. As part of the road-widening programme in 1969, Dundas Court no longer exists in the street directory of George Town, Penang. The Northam Road which end at Penang Road was extended to join Farguhar Street near Love Lane. It cut the Leith Street between Blue Mansion and MWE Plaza, resulted in disappearance of Sin Ping Jit Poh office .
The following is extract from "The House of Lim, http://www.houseoflim.us"(with thanks),to highlight some history on the Dundas Court, and life in the area, but the most important is that it may give us some clue why the Chinese called it Lian-hua-ho, lotus flower river:
" Lim Chean Hock [1871-1924]lived at No.7 Farquhar Street for a number of years and later moved to his own semi-detached house at 25 Farquhar Street in the early part of the 20th century, about 1910 A.D., before the first World War (1914 - 1918). During that time, the present football field of St Xavier's Institution was a lotus pond (Farquhar Street was also known as “Lean Hwa Ho” to the locals. “Lean Hwa Ho” means “Lotus Pond” ). The surrounding area was very lonely after nightfall and according to stories handed down from the elders of the Lim family, pirates in "perahu"s ( small wooden boats ) from the mainland (Province Wellesley) would land at night on the nearby beach which is approximately 150 meters away, to rob the houses in the area.
In the early nineteen twenties, 25 Farquhar Street was linked at the back and at right-angle to another house, No. 2, Dundas Court. "As such, the combined houses had two main doors, two staircases, three air-wells and eight bedrooms in all. This was where the late Lim Chean Hock and Khoo Saw Saik raised their family of 7 boys and 8 girls. The two houses together with the other houses in the area were acquired and demolished by the Government in the nineteen sixties to make way for new roads. The present area between City Bayview Hotel and St. Xavier's Institution, at the junction of Leith Street and Farquhar Street, is where Lim Chean Hock’s houses were situated."
The St Xavier's football field was the Lotus Pond, Farquhar Street was also known as Lian-hua-ho(莲花河). Perhaps it may be stream and lotus pond, and it was near the beach. That is the name Lian-hua-ho(lotus river),not lian-hua-ti(lotus pond). In 1805, an aquaduct was built from the waterfall via Pulau Tikus to a reservoir near Leith Street Ghaut. Any connection to the lotus pond.....the river may be the stream(aquaduct) to the lotus pond in the reservoir (located near the current St Xavier field)?. Lian-hua-ho may be referred to bigger area covered by Leith St and Farquhar Street until SXI football field. The place may be like the Gurney Drive or Esplanade of yesterday, where people can walk along the lotus river(莲花河)...
Note: Lotus-flower pond(莲花河), after a lotus-pond formerly at the side of the old St George's Girl's School(the building, now in a dilapidated state), which was filled up on account of many accidents involving people trying to get at the lotus. The old St George's Girl's School was in front of the Eurasian (Serani) school (St Xavier's Institution), and next to E&O Hotel. It was constructed in 1888 next to the residence of Anglican missionary.
The Malay called Leith Street Nyior Cabang, which in Malay is coconut leaves/branches. Nyior is Malay name for coconut, Cabang is branches. The Leith Street was lined with coconut trees, which gave the road its Malay name of Nyior Cabang. Initially the street was occupied by the peoples of the Indian subcontinent - the Benggalis, the Biharis, Malabari Indians, which were spilled off from neighbouring Chulia Street, Kampong Malabar, and Penang Road. Benggali Mosque was the legacy left by the Indian Muslim.
There was Leith St Ghaut, which was formerly known as Martina's Lane, which was named after Martina rozells, mistress of Francis Ligh. The street is no longer seen in the map. It was opposite the Boon Siew or former Sin Ping Daily's office, across the Farquhar Street, the road lead to the government quarters. In the late 70s I visited a friend's house, who was living in the colonial bungalow government quarter, a lecturer from MTC with the name of Mr Ng.
Leith Street later became an affluent enclave of rich Hakka Chinese during late 19th century. It was called the Hokka Millionaire's Row, because several prominent Hokkas had their mansions were built here. They included Leong Fee (the father of Leong Yin Kean), Tye Kee Yoon, and Cheong Fatt Tze.
George Alexander William Leith(1765-1842)
Major General Sir George Alexander William Leith, the second Baronet, (1775), K.C.B. O.B was the first Lieutenant-Governor of Prince of Wales' Island (Penang Island) taking the reins over from George Caunter, a Magistrate who was Acting Superintendent following the resignation and departure of the last governor, Superintendent, Major Forbes Ross MacDonald. He served in that position from his arrival in 1800 until 1803.
The first grant or land title was issued under his term. Among the institutions in the commercial town which date their foundation back to the Leith administration (1800-1803), when the first grants were issued by the East India Company, are the Kong Hock Keong (Goddess of Mercy Temple), the Kapitan Keling Mosque, the Tseng Lung and Kar Yin Hakka associations along King Street and the Kwantung and Tengchew Association on Penang Street. Over the next decade the Nagore shrine, built by Indian traders from Nagore; the Masjid Melayu, founded by the Arab merchant-prince from Aceh; and the Cantonese Tua Pek Kong Temple, on King Street; were also established. That means all these buildings were built before 1800.
Masjid Bengali(1803),Leith Street
According to some report, the Indians from Bengal first came to Penang in the late 18th century as 'sepoys' and convicts with the East India Company. Francis Light also brought out some 'Bengal farmers' from Calcutta to encourage agricultural enterprise on the island. The initial convicts may not be all from Bengal, they may be some from other states, the sepoys are Punjabi Sikh, who initially was stationed at Fort Cornwalli, but they are not Muslim. While the early Bengalis hailed from Bengal, the term 'Benggali' soon came to apply to other northern Indians who travelled overland to Calcutta in West Bengal and then sailed to Penang. The local always mistakenly called them Bengali. The Bengali are from West Bengal, North India near the North East; part of which is now Indian state, and another part is Bangladesh nation. The Argyll Road was also known as Bengali Hang or Bengali Lane, which revealed in old Penang, there were concentration of Bengali people or people from North India around the area, which included Bengali Muslim.
The mosque is believed to have been founded in 1803, on a site granted by the East India Company during George Leith's term as Lieutenant-Governor of Penang. The new mosque building was built in 1958. Urdu was probably the principal language used in this mosque, although in certain periods the dwindling Urdu-speaking population was overshadowed by an increase in Tamil worshippers. Today, the Masjid Benggaii has become a base for the Tablighi movement, and the main languages used here are Malay and Tamil.
Aquaduct 1805
1805, an aquaduct was built from the waterfall via Pulau Tikus to a reservoir near Leith Street Ghaut and Hutton Lane respectively.
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion(1897),No 14, Leith Street
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion(or The Blue Mansion ,蓝屋)is located at 14, Leith Street (Lebuh Leith), which is in the buffer zone of the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site. The mansion was built by Cheong Fatt Tze or Teow Thiaw Siat(1840-1916),a Chinese of Hakka descent from Dapu, who was one of the richest men in Southeast Asia. Cheong was a world renowned Chinese entrepreneur, and was once referred to as The J.P.Morgan of China by the New York Times.
The mansion is of traditional Chinese architecture, built in a Hakka Teochew style, but with fusion of Chinese and Anglio-Indian influence in the interior design. Cheong, being a Hakka from Dapu county which is close to Teochew, naturally will choose Hakka Teochew style Chinese traditional courtyard home, but being in strait settlement he was also influence by the Indian and western influence.
The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion was built between 1897 and 1904. It was one of the many mansions houses owned by Cheong Fatt Tze, who had properties from Java,Sumatra, Penang, Singapore, Hong Kong and China. The mansion at his home village of Dapu was much bigger than Blue Mansion, but his favorite residence is still Blue Mansion. All his 8 sons were raised in Blue Mansion and all received English education from St Xavier's Institution, which is opposite the mansion.
The house was once rent out to many tenants, like the Chinese movie "72 tenants". The tenants were the working class. One of them is the Shih Chung School's(时中学校) Head Master, editor of Sin Pin Daily and historian who had authored many Penang history books which are classic today, Mr Khong Kwek Siong(邝国祥). Khong is a Hakka. Those were the busy days and the neglected days of the mansion.
The building was later sold by the descendants, and the new owner charged the mansion to a local bank(Maybank)as security for a loan. But when the borrower default, bank found it, as a heritage building, was difficult to sell. The property fell into ruin over the years, but in 1989 it was rescued by a small group of Penang conservationists, and painstakingly restored to its former glory. The building is an architectural masterpiece, as recognized by winning numerous awards including the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Most Excellent Project in the year 2000. The Blue Mansion now operates as a heritage homestay, and guests have full run of the mansion and grounds, which is only interrupted by the fully guided historical and architectural tours that run twice daily.
A street was named after him, but it was disappeared during Komtar construction; the state then renamed Hong Kong Street as Cheong Fatt Tze Street, which is between Carnarvon Street and Rope Walk.
Leong Fee Mansion(1907)(No 7)
Leong Fee Mansion, constructed in 1907, at NO. 7, Leith Street, Victorian-style Leong Fee Mansion on Leith Street. Leong Fee arrived in Penang from China in 1876 and six months later moved to Perak where he was to make his fortune in tin mining. In time, he had homes in both Ipoh and Penang, marrying with four wives and an untold number of mistresses. His Penang house was at 7 Leith Street, opposite Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion on George Town's "Hakka Millionaires' Row", next to St Xavier Institution. Leong Fee's success, however, was measured not only in the acquisition of wealth and wives but also in attaining prominence in civic life as a community leader and philanthropist. He was active in local government as well as serving as vice consul for the Manchu government. His greatest contribution to the Chinese community was undoubtedly his support for education in the founding of schools such as the Chung Hwa School and the Shih Chung School. Leong Fee (I857-1911) is the Hakka name of the tycoon also known as Liang P'i joo (in the Mandarin language). A friend of Cheong Fatt Tze, he was the Qing Government's fourth Vice-Consul in Penang from 1902 to 1908 and a member of the Perak State Council till his death in 1911. Some said he is a son-in-law of Cheong Fatt Tze. He was a wealthy miner and an educational philanthropist The tin wines he owned in Tambun, Perak, employed European engineers in the 19t century and were among the first to introduce open cast mining with modern machinery. This mansion at 7 Lebuh Leith was built around the turn of the century. Although it was described as 'built in the latest European style', the mansion is a westernised form of a courtyard house with a pair of enclosed courtyards on either side of a central aisle. It is decorated with Victorian elements such as cast iron balconies, and is distinguished by its imported slate roof. After the war, Leong Fee's Mansion served as the St Xavier's Institution for a number of years. The mansion now belongs to the Christian Brothers and has been leased to an art school in recent years. now occupied by Equator Academy of Art in Penang.
Cheah Choon Seng(謝春生) Mansion(no.8) - demolished
The official Residence of the 3rd Qing Dynasty Chinese Vice Consul in Penang, Xie Chun Sheng (謝春生（榮光、夢池), just beside Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. Xie Chun Sheng was a Jia-ying Hakka, now called Meixian Hakka. It was later owned by Sin Pin Daily(星檳日報), a newspaper owned by Tiger Balm King, Aw Boon Haw's family. Aw Boon Haw was a Yongding Hakka. Historically, there were 5 Chinese Vice Consul in Penang, all are Hakka Chinese, they were :
(1) Zhang Bi Shi or Cheong Fatt Tze(張弼士, 1840 - 1916) Da Pu Hakka
(2) Zhang Yu Nan or Chang Yu Nan (張煜南（榕軒）,1851 - 1910) Jia Ying Hakka
(3) Xie Chun Sheng or Cheah Choon Seng(謝春生（榮光、夢池）, 1847 - 1916) Jia Ying Hakka
(4) Liang Bi Ru or Leong Fee (梁碧如（廷光、廣輝),1857 - 1911) Jia Ying Hakka
(5) Dai Xin Ran(戴欣然) or Tye Kee Yoon(戴喜雲)(欣然,春榮、喜雲）, 1849 - 1919) Da Pu Hakka
The house was now demolished and a road joining Northam Road and Farquhar Street by pass the land betwen the The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion and MWE Plaza. Northerm now extend to Farquhar Street, crossing Leith Street. The location of the Mansion was part of the road now between MWE Plaza and Blue Mansion. It was NO. 8, Leith Street.
Tye Kee Yoon Mansion, Leith Street(No 20)
Tye Kee Yoon's mansion is next to Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. The owner Tye Kee Yoon(戴喜雲) was a Vice Consul of China in Penang, one of the founders of the Kek Lok Si, and was part of a group known as The Five Great Sponsors. He is a Da Pu Hakka.
Tye Kee Yoon (1849-1919) had arrived in Penang penniless, and had to work as a coolie. However, through sheer determination, he became one of the largest property owners in 19th century George Town. His businesses also included opium, spirits, pawn shops and medicine shops. As with many Chinese who made it big, he contributed generously to Penang society, including giving large sums for the setting up of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, the Penang Adventist Hospital, Kek Lok Si Temple, the Penang Free School and Chung Hwa Confucious School.
Tye Kee Yoon bought up Goh Chan Lau, the mansion built by Cheah Tek Soon from Cheah's son-in-law Goh Say Eng, when the latter needed to raise funds for Dr Sun Yat Sen's revolutionary movement. Together with another early 20th century Chinese tycoon, Leong Fee, Tye Kee Yoon founded the Shih Chung School, which was located within Goh Chan Lau.
Tye Kee Yoon became the Fourth Chinese Vice-Consul of Penang in 1907-12 and Acting Consul-General of Singapore in 1911-12.
The mansion was once used as Leith Pub. Now the mansion is Red Garden Food Paradise, a one stop Penang food center. The mansion was painted red. May be we can call it Red Mansion to be compare with the Blue Mansion. It is located at 20, Leith Street. It is next to Cheong Fatt Tze's mansion, the Blue Mansion. The official website is http://www.redgarden-food.com/location.php. I hope the website will have a site for history of the mansion.
Tye Kee Yoon Road, or Jalan Tye Kee Yoon, in Penang Island was named after him.
Penang Heritage Chocolate Boutique Mansion(NO 22)
There are 80 varieties of high quality chocolate from Beryl’s at the newly-opened “chocolate mansion” in 22, Leith Street categorised under seven different themes - tiramisu, fruit, health, sweetheart, coffee, panned chocolate and Malaysian. The best-seller is without doubt the absolutely gorgeous Tiramisu Chocolate — made of white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk, butter and mint. Another favorite is Panned Chocolate with a choice of almond, green tea, hazel and white chocolate.
The boutique also sells traditional white coffee and espresso coffee using roasted coffee beans coated with dark chocolate that makes a great drink to go with bread or cookies.
Anyone know who owned this mansion?...
The World Optical Co, Leith Street(no.24)
World Optical Co was found by Lam family, located at 24, Leith Street. An old optical shop, said to be Penang's pioneer in optical business. The optical shop was found by LAM HOHNSON(藍允旋) in 1934. He went to Singapore, and trained as optical technician, and gradually opened the shop when the business opportunity is good. Lam Hohn Son is a Dapu Hakka, an active community leader in Penang. He was the director(董事) of Penang Teochew Association, director(董事)of Chung Ling High School board of directors(董事会).He was also the President of Penang Taipu Association 1955-1958. The shop is now managed by LAM PIN LIK(藍秉力)and his wife. The optical shop was the premier optical shop not only in Penang, even kedah and south Thailand patronizing the shop. The regular customer including Tunku Abdul Rahman and royalty of Kedah and Perlis.
Cathay Hotel(No. 15)
Cathay Hotel（國泰旅社）, located at No 15, Leith Street, historical hotel at a colonial bungalow. A heritage hotel offering mid-budget accommodation. In old day, it was once an international hotel, where Chinese painter Xu Bei Hong(徐悲鴻)may had lived and painted many art pieces here。Its neighbour is another hotel, Waldorf Hotel.
Li Teik School, Leith Street
The Li Teik School 5th branch(蓮花河麗澤第五分校), actual location unknown. The school is no longer there. I try to locate the place, but my late grandmum(died at age of 98 years last year), who was very familiar with Leith Street and Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion was not able to remember the school. The school was established pre WW2. A report in 1935 still reported the existence of the school. Art exhibition by early art group used to be held in the school. Anyone know the location? I guessed it was at 19, Leith Street, as it looked like building structure suitable for school. I hope I am correct....
Shanghainese Tailor
The Shanghai Tailor in Leith Street. The tailor shops owned by Shanghainese Chinese are the high end tailor in old Penang. Another business the Shanghainese are famous for was the laundry service. There was an old saying, you make a high class coat with Shanghainese in Leith Street, and you wash it with Shanghainese laundry. The tailor were located at Leith Street. There are still two laundry shop in the street,one at No. 52, even called Great Shanghai Laundry. It is located just opposite the Bengali Mosque.
Japanese businesses
The Japanese community in Leith Street as in 1910 report were ,
(i) Nagata Dental Clinic, Leith St branch
(ii)Nikko Studio at Leith Street - The Japanese brought in the cameras and introduced the concept of photo studios to Penang. At the beginning of the 20th century, a Japanese by the name of Okaniwa had already operated a photo studio named Nikko Studio at Leith Street
(iii)Kondo Hairdressing, Leith St
(iv) Japan Hotel at Leith St,
There is no more traces of Japanese community in Leith Street after WW2.
20 Leith Street Fun Pub & Bistro(no. 11A)
Boasting as the biggest beer garden in the Upper Penang Road enclave, 20 Leith Street Fun Pub & Bistro sits directly opposite the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion. It was owned by Cheong Fatt Tze for his other wives. Ironically, 20 Leith Street is actually located at 11-A, occu-pying three lots in a row of double-storey heritage terrace houses. A stark contrast to the blue mansion which stands “si-lently” on the corner of Leith Street, the outlet comes to life in the evening as the crowd starts trickling in. I wonder why it is called 20 Leith Street? is it it was formerly at 20, Leith Street?....Please take care of the heritage building while enjoy your drink.....
Leith Street in 20th century
By the mid 20th century, Leith Street had lost its glory. All the early millionaires have passed away, and their mansions have fallen into disrepair. Some of their children lived oversea and moved out from Penang. Some of the properties were sold and eventually each of the properties at Leith Street changed hand and begin a new lease of life, as hotels,hawker complex or pubs. The street has changed to entertainment hub linked to Upper Penang Road. However some of the heritage buildings were fortunate to remain. Leong Fee's mansion became a learning institution, the Akademi Seni Equator. Cheong Fatt Tze's mansion was restored in a project that won a prestigious Unesco award, and today serves as a boutique hotel.
At the junctions of Leith Street
Adventist Hospital, Muntri Street(moved)
The Adventist Hospital was found in 1924. The original building of Adventist Hospital is still standing today, at the junction of Muntri Street and Leith Street,just opposite the World Optical Company, and today it houses Lum Fong Hotel and kopitiam coffee shop on the ground floor. The hospital had moved to Burma Road.
Chongqing Photo Studio, Chulia Street(closed)
Photo studio by Yong Mun Sen(1896 – 1962), Chongqing Photo Studio(at the corner of Chulia street and Leith Street). Reported to be the pioneer Chinese photo studio of Penang, most of the old photo in Penang were taken from the shop. Another Siow Siong Photo Studio in Penang Road, was Yong Mun Sen's relative and apprentice. Both Yong and Siow are Dapu Hakka. Yong was a pioneer artist in Malaysia. 1920 marked the important stage in the Penang art history, as it was the year Yong Mun Sen came to Penang and built his studio. An Art class, Tai Koon art studio was conducted by the pioneer artist at the upper floor of the double storey shop house of the photo studio. The shop house is now abandoned and unoccupied. Yong Mun Sen was a pioneer artist in Malaysia, he was named Father of Malaysian Painting. His art studio, Mun Sen Gallery opened in 1936, was at a double storey shop in Penang Road, across the road(Argyll Road) from Odean Cinema, the same row to Boon Pharmacy, next to a hotel. Both the art studio and hotel no more around, the place is now a car park.
Hong Kong Shoe Shop(香港鞋店), Muntri Street
Hong Kong Shoe Shop(香港鞋店), located at corner of Muntri Street and Leith Street. An old shoe shop found by Wong Sam Chye(檳城鞋王黃三才). Jimmy Choo(周仰傑 worked here and apprentice from the owner of the shop prior to his departure to London. This ‘one in a million’ guy is a Penang Hakka Chinese, born into a family of cobbler. Became a shoe designer (he even created his first pairs at the age of 11) and moved to London. His life voyages which liken a typical Chinese movie where a small town boy make it big in London, to an international fame. The brand is best known for its exquisitely hand-made, incredibly expensive shoes and handbags. Jimmy Choo is a world famous shoe designer, a proud son of Penang. He was once an apprentice in Hong Kong Shoe Store, Muntri Street. He is a ex-student of Shih Chung School at Love Lane(which was also found by Hakka Chinese).
Related articles
1 George Alexander William Leith, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Alexander_William_Leith
2.Days Gone By: Growing up in Penang(2007), by Christine Wu Ramsay, published by Areca Books, Penang(written by the great-granddaughter of Leong Fee)
3. Jalan Tye Kee Yoon, http://www.penang-traveltips.com/tye-kee-yoon-road.htm
4. Jimmy Choo – From Penang to London-based Billionaire, by Zul, http://skorcareer.com.my/blog/jimmy-choo-from-penang-to-london-based-billionaire/2007/11/16/
5. Official website of Blue Mansion, http://www.cheongfatttzemansion.com/
6. The House of Lim, http://www.houseoflim.us(Very interesting blog on Lim family, it was part of Penang history, highly recommended).
Leith Street is one of the early streets of George Town, after the original Francis Light Grid. It was reported that it was built in late 18th century, at that time Penang Road included what is known as Northam Road. Leith Street was named after Major General Sir George Alexander William Leith(1765-1842), the Lieutenant Governor of Penang from 1800-1803. It is located between the junction of Chulia Street/Penang Road, and Farquhar Street. In 1969 road expansion, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah was extended and cut through Leith Street.
View Larger Map
The Chinese called it Lian-hua-ho(莲花河）, "lian-hua(莲花)" in Chinese means lotus flower, and "ho(河)" means river, literally the name in Chinese is Lotus River. But there was no river in Leith Street, but there was a lotus pond in front of Cheng Fatt Tze's mansion, may be it is because of the lotus pond the street was named lian-hua-ho by Chinese. The lotus is correct, the river is exaggerate to make it sound better or more romatic, or more Chinese like. May be river sound better than pond in feng sui, money coming. Before that, it was called Siang-hó-chhū-chêng(相好厝前), which literally means In front of Siang Ho's house. Where is Siang Ho's house, who is Siang Ho? it must be important person in history.
It was reported in one of the website of "The House of Lim", the blogger's family house was at No.7 Farquhar Street at late 1890s, and 25 Farquhar Street before 1910. They owned No.1 & 2 of the Dundas Court. Dundas Court, Leith Street Ghaut, now no longer exist. Dundas Court was a cul-de-sac(dead end), which was perpendicular to Farquhar Street. It was named after Lieutenant-Governor Phillip Dundas, who succeeded Lt.-Governor Farquhar. Leith Street Ghaut is directly opposite Dundas Court. The OXA building (Old Xavier Association) and SXI was bombed during the WW2. OXA building was at the corner of Leith Street and Farquhar, and next to No 25. No 25 was not affected. As part of the road-widening programme in 1969, Dundas Court no longer exists in the street directory of George Town, Penang. The Northam Road which end at Penang Road was extended to join Farguhar Street near Love Lane. It cut the Leith Street between Blue Mansion and MWE Plaza, resulted in disappearance of Sin Ping Jit Poh office .
The following is extract from "The House of Lim, http://www.houseoflim.us"(with thanks),to highlight some history on the Dundas Court, and life in the area, but the most important is that it may give us some clue why the Chinese called it Lian-hua-ho, lotus flower river:
" Lim Chean Hock [1871-1924]lived at No.7 Farquhar Street for a number of years and later moved to his own semi-detached house at 25 Farquhar Street in the early part of the 20th century, about 1910 A.D., before the first World War (1914 - 1918). During that time, the present football field of St Xavier's Institution was a lotus pond (Farquhar Street was also known as “Lean Hwa Ho” to the locals. “Lean Hwa Ho” means “Lotus Pond” ). The surrounding area was very lonely after nightfall and according to stories handed down from the elders of the Lim family, pirates in "perahu"s ( small wooden boats ) from the mainland (Province Wellesley) would land at night on the nearby beach which is approximately 150 meters away, to rob the houses in the area.
In the early nineteen twenties, 25 Farquhar Street was linked at the back and at right-angle to another house, No. 2, Dundas Court. "As such, the combined houses had two main doors, two staircases, three air-wells and eight bedrooms in all. This was where the late Lim Chean Hock and Khoo Saw Saik raised their family of 7 boys and 8 girls. The two houses together with the other houses in the area were acquired and demolished by the Government in the nineteen sixties to make way for new roads. The present area between City Bayview Hotel and St. Xavier's Institution, at the junction of Leith Street and Farquhar Street, is where Lim Chean Hock’s houses were situated."
The St Xavier's football field was the Lotus Pond, Farquhar Street was also known as Lian-hua-ho(莲花河). Perhaps it may be stream and lotus pond, and it was near the beach. That is the name Lian-hua-ho(lotus river),not lian-hua-ti(lotus pond). In 1805, an aquaduct was built from the waterfall via Pulau Tikus to a reservoir near Leith Street Ghaut. Any connection to the lotus pond.....the river may be the stream(aquaduct) to the lotus pond in the reservoir (located near the current St Xavier field)?. Lian-hua-ho may be referred to bigger area covered by Leith St and Farquhar Street until SXI football field. The place may be like the Gurney Drive or Esplanade of yesterday, where people can walk along the lotus river(莲花河)...
Note: Lotus-flower pond(莲花河), after a lotus-pond formerly at the side of the old St George's Girl's School(the building, now in a dilapidated state), which was filled up on account of many accidents involving people trying to get at the lotus. The old St George's Girl's School was in front of the Eurasian (Serani) school (St Xavier's Institution), and next to E&O Hotel. It was constructed in 1888 next to the residence of Anglican missionary.
The Malay called Leith Street Nyior Cabang, which in Malay is coconut leaves/branches. Nyior is Malay name for coconut, Cabang is branches. The Leith Street was lined with coconut trees, which gave the road its Malay name of Nyior Cabang. Initially the street was occupied by the peoples of the Indian subcontinent - the Benggalis, the Biharis, Malabari Indians, which were spilled off from neighbouring Chulia Street, Kampong Malabar, and Penang Road. Benggali Mosque was the legacy left by the Indian Muslim.
There was Leith St Ghaut, which was formerly known as Martina's Lane, which was named after Martina rozells, mistress of Francis Ligh. The street is no longer seen in the map. It was opposite the Boon Siew or former Sin Ping Daily's office, across the Farquhar Street, the road lead to the government quarters. In the late 70s I visited a friend's house, who was living in the colonial bungalow government quarter, a lecturer from MTC with the name of Mr Ng.
Leith Street later became an affluent enclave of rich Hakka Chinese during late 19th century. It was called the Hokka Millionaire's Row, because several prominent Hokkas had their mansions were built here. They included Leong Fee (the father of Leong Yin Kean), Tye Kee Yoon, and Cheong Fatt Tze.
George Alexander William Leith(1765-1842)
Major General Sir George Alexander William Leith, the second Baronet, (1775), K.C.B. O.B was the first Lieutenant-Governor of Prince of Wales' Island (Penang Island) taking the reins over from George Caunter, a Magistrate who was Acting Superintendent following the resignation and departure of the last governor, Superintendent, Major Forbes Ross MacDonald. He served in that position from his arrival in 1800 until 1803.
The first grant or land title was issued under his term. Among the institutions in the commercial town which date their foundation back to the Leith administration (1800-1803), when the first grants were issued by the East India Company, are the Kong Hock Keong (Goddess of Mercy Temple), the Kapitan Keling Mosque, the Tseng Lung and Kar Yin Hakka associations along King Street and the Kwantung and Tengchew Association on Penang Street. Over the next decade the Nagore shrine, built by Indian traders from Nagore; the Masjid Melayu, founded by the Arab merchant-prince from Aceh; and the Cantonese Tua Pek Kong Temple, on King Street; were also established. That means all these buildings were built before 1800.
Masjid Bengali(1803),Leith Street
According to some report, the Indians from Bengal first came to Penang in the late 18th century as 'sepoys' and convicts with the East India Company. Francis Light also brought out some 'Bengal farmers' from Calcutta to encourage agricultural enterprise on the island. The initial convicts may not be all from Bengal, they may be some from other states, the sepoys are Punjabi Sikh, who initially was stationed at Fort Cornwalli, but they are not Muslim. While the early Bengalis hailed from Bengal, the term 'Benggali' soon came to apply to other northern Indians who travelled overland to Calcutta in West Bengal and then sailed to Penang. The local always mistakenly called them Bengali. The Bengali are from West Bengal, North India near the North East; part of which is now Indian state, and another part is Bangladesh nation. The Argyll Road was also known as Bengali Hang or Bengali Lane, which revealed in old Penang, there were concentration of Bengali people or people from North India around the area, which included Bengali Muslim.
The mosque is believed to have been founded in 1803, on a site granted by the East India Company during George Leith's term as Lieutenant-Governor of Penang. The new mosque building was built in 1958. Urdu was probably the principal language used in this mosque, although in certain periods the dwindling Urdu-speaking population was overshadowed by an increase in Tamil worshippers. Today, the Masjid Benggaii has become a base for the Tablighi movement, and the main languages used here are Malay and Tamil.
Aquaduct 1805
1805, an aquaduct was built from the waterfall via Pulau Tikus to a reservoir near Leith Street Ghaut and Hutton Lane respectively.
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion(1897),No 14, Leith Street
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion(or The Blue Mansion ,蓝屋)is located at 14, Leith Street (Lebuh Leith), which is in the buffer zone of the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site. The mansion was built by Cheong Fatt Tze or Teow Thiaw Siat(1840-1916),a Chinese of Hakka descent from Dapu, who was one of the richest men in Southeast Asia. Cheong was a world renowned Chinese entrepreneur, and was once referred to as The J.P.Morgan of China by the New York Times.
The mansion is of traditional Chinese architecture, built in a Hakka Teochew style, but with fusion of Chinese and Anglio-Indian influence in the interior design. Cheong, being a Hakka from Dapu county which is close to Teochew, naturally will choose Hakka Teochew style Chinese traditional courtyard home, but being in strait settlement he was also influence by the Indian and western influence.
The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion was built between 1897 and 1904. It was one of the many mansions houses owned by Cheong Fatt Tze, who had properties from Java,Sumatra, Penang, Singapore, Hong Kong and China. The mansion at his home village of Dapu was much bigger than Blue Mansion, but his favorite residence is still Blue Mansion. All his 8 sons were raised in Blue Mansion and all received English education from St Xavier's Institution, which is opposite the mansion.
The house was once rent out to many tenants, like the Chinese movie "72 tenants". The tenants were the working class. One of them is the Shih Chung School's(时中学校) Head Master, editor of Sin Pin Daily and historian who had authored many Penang history books which are classic today, Mr Khong Kwek Siong(邝国祥). Khong is a Hakka. Those were the busy days and the neglected days of the mansion.
The building was later sold by the descendants, and the new owner charged the mansion to a local bank(Maybank)as security for a loan. But when the borrower default, bank found it, as a heritage building, was difficult to sell. The property fell into ruin over the years, but in 1989 it was rescued by a small group of Penang conservationists, and painstakingly restored to its former glory. The building is an architectural masterpiece, as recognized by winning numerous awards including the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Most Excellent Project in the year 2000. The Blue Mansion now operates as a heritage homestay, and guests have full run of the mansion and grounds, which is only interrupted by the fully guided historical and architectural tours that run twice daily.
A street was named after him, but it was disappeared during Komtar construction; the state then renamed Hong Kong Street as Cheong Fatt Tze Street, which is between Carnarvon Street and Rope Walk.
Leong Fee Mansion(1907)(No 7)
Leong Fee Mansion, constructed in 1907, at NO. 7, Leith Street, Victorian-style Leong Fee Mansion on Leith Street. Leong Fee arrived in Penang from China in 1876 and six months later moved to Perak where he was to make his fortune in tin mining. In time, he had homes in both Ipoh and Penang, marrying with four wives and an untold number of mistresses. His Penang house was at 7 Leith Street, opposite Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion on George Town's "Hakka Millionaires' Row", next to St Xavier Institution. Leong Fee's success, however, was measured not only in the acquisition of wealth and wives but also in attaining prominence in civic life as a community leader and philanthropist. He was active in local government as well as serving as vice consul for the Manchu government. His greatest contribution to the Chinese community was undoubtedly his support for education in the founding of schools such as the Chung Hwa School and the Shih Chung School. Leong Fee (I857-1911) is the Hakka name of the tycoon also known as Liang P'i joo (in the Mandarin language). A friend of Cheong Fatt Tze, he was the Qing Government's fourth Vice-Consul in Penang from 1902 to 1908 and a member of the Perak State Council till his death in 1911. Some said he is a son-in-law of Cheong Fatt Tze. He was a wealthy miner and an educational philanthropist The tin wines he owned in Tambun, Perak, employed European engineers in the 19t century and were among the first to introduce open cast mining with modern machinery. This mansion at 7 Lebuh Leith was built around the turn of the century. Although it was described as 'built in the latest European style', the mansion is a westernised form of a courtyard house with a pair of enclosed courtyards on either side of a central aisle. It is decorated with Victorian elements such as cast iron balconies, and is distinguished by its imported slate roof. After the war, Leong Fee's Mansion served as the St Xavier's Institution for a number of years. The mansion now belongs to the Christian Brothers and has been leased to an art school in recent years. now occupied by Equator Academy of Art in Penang.
Cheah Choon Seng(謝春生) Mansion(no.8) - demolished
The official Residence of the 3rd Qing Dynasty Chinese Vice Consul in Penang, Xie Chun Sheng (謝春生（榮光、夢池), just beside Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. Xie Chun Sheng was a Jia-ying Hakka, now called Meixian Hakka. It was later owned by Sin Pin Daily(星檳日報), a newspaper owned by Tiger Balm King, Aw Boon Haw's family. Aw Boon Haw was a Yongding Hakka. Historically, there were 5 Chinese Vice Consul in Penang, all are Hakka Chinese, they were :
(1) Zhang Bi Shi or Cheong Fatt Tze(張弼士, 1840 - 1916) Da Pu Hakka
(2) Zhang Yu Nan or Chang Yu Nan (張煜南（榕軒）,1851 - 1910) Jia Ying Hakka
(3) Xie Chun Sheng or Cheah Choon Seng(謝春生（榮光、夢池）, 1847 - 1916) Jia Ying Hakka
(4) Liang Bi Ru or Leong Fee (梁碧如（廷光、廣輝),1857 - 1911) Jia Ying Hakka
(5) Dai Xin Ran(戴欣然) or Tye Kee Yoon(戴喜雲)(欣然,春榮、喜雲）, 1849 - 1919) Da Pu Hakka
The house was now demolished and a road joining Northam Road and Farquhar Street by pass the land betwen the The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion and MWE Plaza. Northerm now extend to Farquhar Street, crossing Leith Street. The location of the Mansion was part of the road now between MWE Plaza and Blue Mansion. It was NO. 8, Leith Street.
Tye Kee Yoon Mansion, Leith Street(No 20)
Tye Kee Yoon's mansion is next to Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. The owner Tye Kee Yoon(戴喜雲) was a Vice Consul of China in Penang, one of the founders of the Kek Lok Si, and was part of a group known as The Five Great Sponsors. He is a Da Pu Hakka.
Tye Kee Yoon (1849-1919) had arrived in Penang penniless, and had to work as a coolie. However, through sheer determination, he became one of the largest property owners in 19th century George Town. His businesses also included opium, spirits, pawn shops and medicine shops. As with many Chinese who made it big, he contributed generously to Penang society, including giving large sums for the setting up of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, the Penang Adventist Hospital, Kek Lok Si Temple, the Penang Free School and Chung Hwa Confucious School.
Tye Kee Yoon bought up Goh Chan Lau, the mansion built by Cheah Tek Soon from Cheah's son-in-law Goh Say Eng, when the latter needed to raise funds for Dr Sun Yat Sen's revolutionary movement. Together with another early 20th century Chinese tycoon, Leong Fee, Tye Kee Yoon founded the Shih Chung School, which was located within Goh Chan Lau.
Tye Kee Yoon became the Fourth Chinese Vice-Consul of Penang in 1907-12 and Acting Consul-General of Singapore in 1911-12.
The mansion was once used as Leith Pub. Now the mansion is Red Garden Food Paradise, a one stop Penang food center. The mansion was painted red. May be we can call it Red Mansion to be compare with the Blue Mansion. It is located at 20, Leith Street. It is next to Cheong Fatt Tze's mansion, the Blue Mansion. The official website is http://www.redgarden-food.com/location.php. I hope the website will have a site for history of the mansion.
Tye Kee Yoon Road, or Jalan Tye Kee Yoon, in Penang Island was named after him.
Penang Heritage Chocolate Boutique Mansion(NO 22)
There are 80 varieties of high quality chocolate from Beryl’s at the newly-opened “chocolate mansion” in 22, Leith Street categorised under seven different themes - tiramisu, fruit, health, sweetheart, coffee, panned chocolate and Malaysian. The best-seller is without doubt the absolutely gorgeous Tiramisu Chocolate — made of white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk, butter and mint. Another favorite is Panned Chocolate with a choice of almond, green tea, hazel and white chocolate.
The boutique also sells traditional white coffee and espresso coffee using roasted coffee beans coated with dark chocolate that makes a great drink to go with bread or cookies.
Anyone know who owned this mansion?...
The World Optical Co, Leith Street(no.24)
World Optical Co was found by Lam family, located at 24, Leith Street. An old optical shop, said to be Penang's pioneer in optical business. The optical shop was found by LAM HOHNSON(藍允旋) in 1934. He went to Singapore, and trained as optical technician, and gradually opened the shop when the business opportunity is good. Lam Hohn Son is a Dapu Hakka, an active community leader in Penang. He was the director(董事) of Penang Teochew Association, director(董事)of Chung Ling High School board of directors(董事会).He was also the President of Penang Taipu Association 1955-1958. The shop is now managed by LAM PIN LIK(藍秉力)and his wife. The optical shop was the premier optical shop not only in Penang, even kedah and south Thailand patronizing the shop. The regular customer including Tunku Abdul Rahman and royalty of Kedah and Perlis.
Cathay Hotel(No. 15)
Cathay Hotel（國泰旅社）, located at No 15, Leith Street, historical hotel at a colonial bungalow. A heritage hotel offering mid-budget accommodation. In old day, it was once an international hotel, where Chinese painter Xu Bei Hong(徐悲鴻)may had lived and painted many art pieces here。Its neighbour is another hotel, Waldorf Hotel.
Li Teik School, Leith Street
The Li Teik School 5th branch(蓮花河麗澤第五分校), actual location unknown. The school is no longer there. I try to locate the place, but my late grandmum(died at age of 98 years last year), who was very familiar with Leith Street and Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion was not able to remember the school. The school was established pre WW2. A report in 1935 still reported the existence of the school. Art exhibition by early art group used to be held in the school. Anyone know the location? I guessed it was at 19, Leith Street, as it looked like building structure suitable for school. I hope I am correct....
Shanghainese Tailor
The Shanghai Tailor in Leith Street. The tailor shops owned by Shanghainese Chinese are the high end tailor in old Penang. Another business the Shanghainese are famous for was the laundry service. There was an old saying, you make a high class coat with Shanghainese in Leith Street, and you wash it with Shanghainese laundry. The tailor were located at Leith Street. There are still two laundry shop in the street,one at No. 52, even called Great Shanghai Laundry. It is located just opposite the Bengali Mosque.
Japanese businesses
The Japanese community in Leith Street as in 1910 report were ,
(i) Nagata Dental Clinic, Leith St branch
(ii)Nikko Studio at Leith Street - The Japanese brought in the cameras and introduced the concept of photo studios to Penang. At the beginning of the 20th century, a Japanese by the name of Okaniwa had already operated a photo studio named Nikko Studio at Leith Street
(iii)Kondo Hairdressing, Leith St
(iv) Japan Hotel at Leith St,
There is no more traces of Japanese community in Leith Street after WW2.
20 Leith Street Fun Pub & Bistro(no. 11A)
Boasting as the biggest beer garden in the Upper Penang Road enclave, 20 Leith Street Fun Pub & Bistro sits directly opposite the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion. It was owned by Cheong Fatt Tze for his other wives. Ironically, 20 Leith Street is actually located at 11-A, occu-pying three lots in a row of double-storey heritage terrace houses. A stark contrast to the blue mansion which stands “si-lently” on the corner of Leith Street, the outlet comes to life in the evening as the crowd starts trickling in. I wonder why it is called 20 Leith Street? is it it was formerly at 20, Leith Street?....Please take care of the heritage building while enjoy your drink.....
Leith Street in 20th century
By the mid 20th century, Leith Street had lost its glory. All the early millionaires have passed away, and their mansions have fallen into disrepair. Some of their children lived oversea and moved out from Penang. Some of the properties were sold and eventually each of the properties at Leith Street changed hand and begin a new lease of life, as hotels,hawker complex or pubs. The street has changed to entertainment hub linked to Upper Penang Road. However some of the heritage buildings were fortunate to remain. Leong Fee's mansion became a learning institution, the Akademi Seni Equator. Cheong Fatt Tze's mansion was restored in a project that won a prestigious Unesco award, and today serves as a boutique hotel.
At the junctions of Leith Street
Adventist Hospital, Muntri Street(moved)
The Adventist Hospital was found in 1924. The original building of Adventist Hospital is still standing today, at the junction of Muntri Street and Leith Street,just opposite the World Optical Company, and today it houses Lum Fong Hotel and kopitiam coffee shop on the ground floor. The hospital had moved to Burma Road.
Chongqing Photo Studio, Chulia Street(closed)
Photo studio by Yong Mun Sen(1896 – 1962), Chongqing Photo Studio(at the corner of Chulia street and Leith Street). Reported to be the pioneer Chinese photo studio of Penang, most of the old photo in Penang were taken from the shop. Another Siow Siong Photo Studio in Penang Road, was Yong Mun Sen's relative and apprentice. Both Yong and Siow are Dapu Hakka. Yong was a pioneer artist in Malaysia. 1920 marked the important stage in the Penang art history, as it was the year Yong Mun Sen came to Penang and built his studio. An Art class, Tai Koon art studio was conducted by the pioneer artist at the upper floor of the double storey shop house of the photo studio. The shop house is now abandoned and unoccupied. Yong Mun Sen was a pioneer artist in Malaysia, he was named Father of Malaysian Painting. His art studio, Mun Sen Gallery opened in 1936, was at a double storey shop in Penang Road, across the road(Argyll Road) from Odean Cinema, the same row to Boon Pharmacy, next to a hotel. Both the art studio and hotel no more around, the place is now a car park.
Hong Kong Shoe Shop(香港鞋店), Muntri Street
Hong Kong Shoe Shop(香港鞋店), located at corner of Muntri Street and Leith Street. An old shoe shop found by Wong Sam Chye(檳城鞋王黃三才). Jimmy Choo(周仰傑 worked here and apprentice from the owner of the shop prior to his departure to London. This ‘one in a million’ guy is a Penang Hakka Chinese, born into a family of cobbler. Became a shoe designer (he even created his first pairs at the age of 11) and moved to London. His life voyages which liken a typical Chinese movie where a small town boy make it big in London, to an international fame. The brand is best known for its exquisitely hand-made, incredibly expensive shoes and handbags. Jimmy Choo is a world famous shoe designer, a proud son of Penang. He was once an apprentice in Hong Kong Shoe Store, Muntri Street. He is a ex-student of Shih Chung School at Love Lane(which was also found by Hakka Chinese).
Related articles
1 George Alexander William Leith, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Alexander_William_Leith
2.Days Gone By: Growing up in Penang(2007), by Christine Wu Ramsay, published by Areca Books, Penang(written by the great-granddaughter of Leong Fee)
3. Jalan Tye Kee Yoon, http://www.penang-traveltips.com/tye-kee-yoon-road.htm
4. Jimmy Choo – From Penang to London-based Billionaire, by Zul, http://skorcareer.com.my/blog/jimmy-choo-from-penang-to-london-based-billionaire/2007/11/16/
5. Official website of Blue Mansion, http://www.cheongfatttzemansion.com/
6. The House of Lim, http://www.houseoflim.us(Very interesting blog on Lim family, it was part of Penang history, highly recommended).
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