Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Francis Light Grid


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Capt Francis Light occupied Penang in 1786, he landed at Fort Cornwallis, which is at the North-East corner of the island(now the Esplanade), where its "padang" (Esplanade field) provided a clear parade ground. He then laid down the Francis Light grid of commercial area to the south. That is the beginning of George Town(喬治市), and Capt Francis Light was the founder of George Town(not Penang).

Francis Light Grid is rectangular commercial area within the heart of old George Town, surrounding by Light Street(Lebuh Light), Beach Street(Lebuh Pantai), Malabar Street(now called Chulia Street), and Pitt Street(now Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling).

When Francis Light arrived in Penang 0n 11-8-1786, he named it Prince of Wales Island after King George III(1760-1820) of Britain. He found a group of 500 Chinese from Kedah who has established a main street on north-eastern part of the island since 1773. Capt Light incorporate the Chinese settlement into George-Town, the colonial city which then developed into a predominant Chinese identity. The main street was called Tua Kay
(大街) ,now China Street, which act as the central east-west axis of the urban street system (later become Francis Light Grid). It was reported that the leader of the Chinese residents was the first Capital China of Penang, Koh Lay Huan. (note: There were also small group of Malay residents outside George Town, who were fishermen at the time).

Light initially marked out the north shore for the cantonment and the public buildings, Fort Cornwallis, and the Government House,both of which was later reinforced by using convict labour. Georgetown was on the north-eastern shore of the island, with the British residents and the immigrant communities packed together in the tight orthogonal gridiron of the streets laid out by Light in 1794.

The Europeans settled at the northern part of the grid and shoreline, at Light Street. The Eurasians from Kedah and Phuket stayed at Bishop Street and Church Street (Lebuh Gereja). The Straits Chinese traders from Kedah and Melaka who came here to seek new opportunities converged at China Street while the Indian traders settled at Chulia Street. The other immigrant community from regional geographies were allocated adjacent street named after their ethnicity or place of origin, such as Armenian Street, Chulia Street, and Acheen Street.

Capt Francis Light was able to use the urban grid to organize the diverse settlers according to ethnicity and along streets. The division between blocks, instead of the lot themselves, became the criteria for identifying space.

1. Light street(莱特街) is in the city of northern public edge.



















(Foo Tye Sin Mansion)

Light Street was named after Capt Francis Light himself. At the cape area, from Fort Cornwallis going south, along Beach Street, Bishop Street, Church Street and part of Weld Quay, was the Eurasians zone. Going to the east, the zone included Light Street and Farquhar Street as well. St George Church(built between 1817 and 1819,the circular monument in front of the church to Captain Francis Light(1817)and across the Light Street, the Palladian Supreme Court were within the area. Today, Eurasians are no longer there, many has moved out e.g. to Pulau Tikus , and some migrated to other countries. The area remained as the place for state assembly, court building, schools, Chinese Chamber of Commence, Great Eastern, Hong Leong Bank, Bank Negara etc, mainly public administration and commerce area.

Light street is also called po-le-khau(Police 口),which literally means entrance to the court. The local Chinese called judge as po-le-chu in Hockkien dialect. Po-le is the polluted term for English word police, there was a police court at Light Street. In the early Penang, the military from East India Company is the only uniform unit which function as army as well as police. There was no separation of duty between army and police. They are called po-le or police by the local. Some of the top military leader like Capt Francis Light act as judge in the police court. The local used the term po-le-chu for judge,which literally mean the master or leader of the police. Light Street is called po-le-khau,literally means entrance to the police court, as there was a police court at the beginning of Light Street, the current state assembly building. . Mr Manington arrived as the first magistrate in 1794, just after the death of Francis Light; John Dicken was the first appointed Judge(or Hakim in Malay language)in 1800 (but reported arrived in 1801) during Sir George Leith term as Lieutenant -General of Penang. Police force of Penang only formed in 1807 when King George III awarded Penang "Charter of Justice" to form police force and the Court of Justice. The central police station was at the current Immigration office building(built in 1890). Both buildings, Immigration office and state assembly building were part of the police complex. Today, the police station is reduced to a small building facing Beach Street with staff quarter behind it.
Note: Police justice, or Police magistrate, a judge of a police court(minor court to try person bought before it by police).

The Light Street was end with a pier, which served East Indian Company(EIC), which is now near the Penang Port Commission building. But when Weld Quay was formed after reclamation, Light Street was then linked to it. The part of Light Street between round about and Weld Quay is then named King Edward's Place.

2. Beach street (
土庫街) is in the eastern coastal edge.



Beach Street remains as one of the longest streets and is well known as Penang banking district. Most of the heritage buildings remained are now headquarters of premier banks in the state. The historic commercial centre was segmented into the banking and trading areas related to port activities which included shipping companies, the import and export trade, and the wholesalers who dominate the southern section of Beach Street until now. The warehouses and godowns extended from Beach Street to the sea. By the 1880s, there were ghauts leading from Beach Street to the wharf and jetties as Beach Street receded inland due to land reclamation. A new waterfront was created at Weld Quay, where commercial buildings sprang up.

(i)Between Light St. to China St(Ang Mor Thau Kor Kay, 土庫街) - European Commercial warehouse Street

At the turn of the 19th century, the northern section of Beach Street and the adjacent Bishop Street were the ‘high street’ where the ‘modern’ European emporium and stores selling imported merchandise were situated. Among the early foreign companies that located their offices on Beach Street were the Netherlands Trading Society, the Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), the Chartered Bank, Boustead & Co., Guthne & Co., Caldbeck & Macgregor, Behn Meyer, Sandilands & Buttery, G.H. Slot and the stores of Pritchard & Co., Whiteaway, Laidlaw & Co., and others.

This area is now still the banking hub of the Penang. Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation(HSBC) is now Hong Kong Bank, Chartered Bank is now Standard Chartered Bank, these are the two banks still remained .

(ii)Between China St. to Chulia St(Kang'a Kh'au, 港仔口) - Harbor Front - before land reclamation

Among the local businesses that were established here during this period were H.M. Noordin, Tiang Lee & Co., Guan Lee Hin Steamship, Tye Sin Tat, Pinang Sales Room, Koe Guan and others. Penang’s first petroleum lamps were installed on this section of Beach Street by Huttenbach & Co. Today, this area has lost its glory, as Chinese traders have moved out and Indian retailers are moving in. Ghee Hiang is the few old name that still remained.

Early to Mid 19th Century, land reclamation between 1880 and 1904 created the George Town that we know today, forever changing the character of Beach Street. Although it is no longer right at the beach, it still retains the name. Opposite the ghats, perpendicular to Beach Street, new roads were built inland e.g. Victoria Street, Pengkalan Weld. As with the buildings on Beach Street itself, the earliest structures along these off-roads were of wood and attap. Among them was the Catholic church formed in 1786 , which gave its name to Church Street, before it moved to Farquhar Street, and is still there, as the Church of the Assumption(1860). The Presbytery of the bishop of the Church of the Assumption gave its name to Bishop Street, which was the closest street off Beach Street from the European quarter at Light Street.

Beach Street was also later moved out of the original grid, extending its road until Sia-buai , intersecting by Jalan Magazine, and joined with Jalan CY Choy at the intersection of Jalan Noordin, which is the Chinese dominant commercial area. The part of the street outside the grid are:-

(i) From Chulia Street to Armenian Street - 中街 Tiong-ke(Middle Street)
(ii) From Armenian Street to Acheen Street - 緞羅申 Toan-lo-sîn(Tuan Losin or Tengku Syed Hussein street)
(iii)From Acheen Street to Malay Street - 拍鐵街 Phah-tih-ke(Blacksmith Street)
(iv) From Malay Street to Lebuh Noordin - 社尾 Sia-bui, Ujong Pasir(end of the beach)


3) Chulia street(牛干冬) on the southern















It was initially called Malabar Street, after Malabar Indians.Malabar is a region between Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. 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. Malayalam is the chief language of the region

By 1798, it had already acquired the name Chulier Street, as it was then written. Until 1803, Chulier Street reached only till Love Lane. When Chulia Street was extended, the section beyond Love Lane was then known as Chulier Road. Today the whole stretch is known as Chulia Street, or Lebuh Chulia. This name is derived from the old Chola kingdom, and like Malabar, refers to the early Indians that settled there

The Chola Empire was ruled by a Dravidian Tamil dynasty of that name that ruled primarily in southern India until the 13th century. The dynasty originated in the fertile valley of the Kaveri River. Under Rajaraja Chola I and his son Rajendra Chola I, the dynasty became a military, economic and cultural power in South Asia and South-east Asia, including large part of Malaya and Indonesia. The old Chola country comprised the region that includes the modern-day Tiruchirapalli District and the Thanjavur District in Tamil Nadu.

From the beginning of the 18th century, after Malacca fell into Portuguese hands, it was closed to Muslim trade. Tamil Muslims traders or Chulias, originating from the Coromandel coast, started settling in Kedah. And when Light established a trading post in Penang, they began to move from Kedah to the island as well. Malayalee immigration to Penang can be divided into two waves. The first wave(1786-1950) was a mix of (i) voluntary individual immigrants, including those who came as traders and (ii) convict labour brought in to Penang after it became a penal settlement for India in 1789. The second wave (1920-1957)was made of educated young men who came voluntarily to the country in search of employment opportunities, primarily in white-collar occupations.

Chulia Street had also been previously known as Kling Street , like a similarly named street in Singapore. Indian Community strongly felt that "Kling" had taken on a degrading connotation. It had become a socially undesirable term, referring exclusively to the Indian coolies /convicts who were considered the lowest of low in Strait Settlement.

In 19th century, all Hindus from Madras and elsewhere in Southern India were known as Klings in bazaar Malay. But over time, the term kling became restricted among the English-speaking residents to mean the coolie class, Tamil or Telegu. The Peninsular Malays though still spoke of Indians of all classes from the Coromandel Coast in Southern India as Orang Kling, and the Madras presidency as Negri Kling.

Kling had its origin in the term "Kalinga", the ancient empire of Southern India which traded with the Malay Peninsula and Java and Sumatra. Kling is a corruption of Kalinga called by local Malay.In Penang, the local Hockkien however called the South Indian, “ kelinga”, which is much closer to Kalinga than Kling. The local Chinese still called the South Indian as kelinga or ke-ling-- jan in Cantonese. Chulia street(east of Chulia street which is within the original grid) and King Street(south of market street), and now the Market Street is called kit-len-a-kei(吉寧仔街).

The earliest immigrants from Southern India were known to the first European merchants and officials as the Chulias, who were mostly Muslims. Presumably, the later European residents and the Chinese settlers heard the local Malays calling the Hindus Klings, and followed suit.

Kalinga was an early kingdom in central-eastern India, which comprised most of the modern state of Odissa / Utkal, as well as some northern areas of the bordering state of Andhra Pradesh. Kalinga was an independent kingdom blessed with prosperity. During 260 B.C Asoka, the great emperor invaded Kalinga. This war was a turning point in the life of Asoka. The Kalinga war saw huge loss of lives and bloodshed. This massacre forced Asoka to resort to Buddhism. Kalinga Kingdom is a glorious kingdom in history of India. The Kalinga is not degrading name, but it is an honour to be named after Kalinga. The name did not refer only to the coolies or convicts, it refer to a great historical kingdom. We should be proud of the name kalinga, and remove the misunderstanding, the one who disgrace the name is the one who do not know history.

The Chinese Hokkien divided the Chulia street into 3 parts:

1. East of Pitt Street(original street) : 羅粦街 Lo-lin-ke( refer to HM Noordin shop); 吉寧仔街 Kiet-lêng-á-ke ( literally mean Indian Street, now usually Market St)
2. Love Lane to Pitt Street: 大門樓 Toa-mui-lau, which means great archway, after the two archways into a large compound house formerly here
3. West of Love Lane: 牛干冬 Gu-kan-tang, which was derived from Malay words "Kandang Kerbau", which literally means the cattle pen in Malay(kandang). (Note: A pen is an animal enclosure)

Generally now Chulia Street is called Gu-kan-tang(牛干冬).




















Chulia Street was also extended seaward during 1888-1904. The resulting road from the central fire station(built in 1909) to the sea was called Chulia Street Ghaut. Until then, there was a pier where Chulia Street ended(just after Yeoh kongsi). Chinese called it 姓楊公司街( seh-eiow-kong-si-ke,meaning Yeoh kongsi street), 柴路頭(cha-lo-thau,meaning firewood was sold there before Maxwell Road), 吉寧仔街路頭 (Kiet-leng-a-ke lor-thau,meaning entrance or beginning of Chulia Street)大水井 (Toa-tsuí-che, meaning big well after big water tank there,the road also include Pitt St (middle).

Chulia Street was initially occupied by Indian, both Hindus and Muslims. The Hindu Indian was later concentrated on the region inside the grid(now Little India). It was the Chulias Indian Muslim that have great influence to the character of the original Chulia Street within the grid. The most notable heritage here are Nagore Durgha Shrine, Masjid Kapitan Keling(land given in 1801 built only in 1910), and Noordin Family Tomb. The Chinese began moving into Chulia Street only after the end of the 19th century when Indian Muslims population in Chulia Street declined. It may be due to their moving to wakaf land near Masjid Kapitan Keling , Pitt Street and other new development area in Penang e.g. Kampong Malabar and Chowrasta Market. The street was then occupied by Chinese traders. Han Chiang Ancentral Temple(built in 1870) of Penang Teochew Association is the only clan temple at the original Chulia street within the old grid. Yeoh kongsi(楊氏霞陽植堂),built in 1841,is with address 2, Chulia Street at Chulia Street Ghaut. It was reported at the time when it was built, it was located right on the waterfront and has its own jetty. But reclamation created Victoria Street, and added new land in front of the temple across Victoria Street.

Chulia Street is now between Beach street to Penang Road,out from the original grid. It become the street for Chinese traders. But recently some Mamak Nasi Kandar restaurant are moving into the Chulia Street within the original grid(from Beach street to Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling), may be the place is closer to Little India,and good for business prospect.


4)Pitt street( 椰脚街) are on the western inland boundaries.















Pitt Street was named after William Pitt, the prime minister of Britain when Francis Light first established Georgetown in 1786. Pitt Street was the formal name of this road before they changed it Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. Pitt Street has three other Chinese names and one Malay name which are:

1. South of Chulia Street: 'Ia Kha' (椰腳)(meaning: under the coconut tree) or 大水井 Toa-tsuí-che (also Chulia St Ghaut), which means big well.

2. Between China Street to Chulia Street: 'Tua Balai'(大峇唻 or 大Balai) (meaning: big police station(balai), after the Pitt St Police Station which is located near the shops)

3. Between Light Street to China Street: 'Kuan Im Teng Cheng'(觀音亭前) (meaning: in front of Kuanyin or Goddess of Mercy Temple)

4.'Simpang Lelong' (meaning: Auctioneer's Junction)- the junction between Chulia Street and Pitt Street, named after the public auctions that were carried out here.

Generally Chinese called Pitt Street, Ia-Kha(椰脚)




















Pitt street,now Jalan Masjid Kapitan Kling, remained as it is of the old grid. The street is also known as harmony street. It is because all 4 main religion are represented here. Kuan Yin Temple(1800,觀音亭/广福宫) , Sri Maha Mariamman Hindu Temple (1833), Kapitan Keling Mosque (1801), and Anglican St George Church(1817-1819) were located along the street. During the term of Lieutenant-Governor Sir George Leith (1801-1803), some of the religious institutions along Pitt Street were issued land titles. Next to Kuan Yin Teng temple is Penang Chinese Town Hall(槟州华人大会堂), located at 22, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Kling, formerly known as "Ping Chang Hui Kuan"(平章会馆), established in 1881. Pitt Street is famous for its Indian Muslim jewelry retailing and money changers.

Pitt street except for the change of name, remained as it is.( But it was also reported that Pitt Street was actually until Prangin Canal)

Streets within the Grid

The streets within the original Francis Light Grid are:-

1. Market Street(Lebuh Pasar)- Pasar 街(market street) , 吉寧仔街 kit-leng-a-ke(Indian street)
2. China Street(Lebuh China)- 大街 toa-ke(main street)
3. Church Street(Lebuh Geraja)- 義興街(gi-hin-ke,name after kongsi Ghee Hin)
4. Bishop Street(Lebuh Bishop)- 順德公司街(sun-tek-kong-si-ke), 漆木街(chhat-bok-ke), Luzon禮拜堂前, 柴工街 (chha-kang-ke)
5. Penang Street(Lebuh Penang)-廣東街(kui-tang-ke), 唐人街(tng-lang-ke),九間厝(kau-keng-chhu),馬交街(ma-kau-ke), Chettiar 街(che-ti-ke)
6. King Street(Lebuh King)- 大伯公路(toa-pεh-kong-lơr),九間厝後(kau-keng-chhu-au),廣東大伯公街 (kui-tang-toa-pεh-kong-ke),啊片公司街(a-phien-kong-si-ke),和成公司街(ho-seng-kong-si-ke),舊和成街 (ku-ho-seng-ke),吉寧仔街(kit-leng-a-ke,also Market St).
7. Queen Street(Lebuh Queen)- 十二間(tsap-ji-keng), 舊和合社街(ku-ho-hap-sia-ke)
8. Union Street(Lebuh Union)- Police後(po-le-au,behind the police station)
9. Lorong Che Em - Pekan 裏 (pok-kan-lai, which means within the town).

Little India was later developed inside the grid, it is now included Market Street, King Street, Queen Street,and Penang Street,which are within the Grid.

Moving outside the Grid
The plan of the city reflected an economy contingent on the cooperation of the non-European traders. The ethnicity identity and proximity however shaped the migrant community's self-determination. Initially the grid was effective in controlling and categorizing the subject population, but it soon collapsed. The Jawi-Peranakan community, a hybrid of Muslim Indian and Malay, and Chinese Peranakan (Baba) flourished in Penang. Moreover the various communities combined across the racial lines in periodic feuding against territorial rivals.
(extract from Hidden Hands and Divided Landscapes: A Penal History of Singapore's Plural,by Anoma Pieris, University of Hawaii Press, 2009)

By early 1800s, Georgetown had grown to include two more streets - Armenian Street inhabited by the Armenians and Acheen Street, home to the Achehnese, other Sumatrans and Malays. For the Chinese Hokkien community, Armenian Street was separated into two parts. The first stretch of the road between Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling and Acheen Street, was called Pak Thong-ah Kay (拍銅仔街,Coppersmith’s Street) or Ta Thung Kai in Cantonese.

Penang Road is reported to be the first road to be built outside the Francis Light Grid.

In 1832, Penang formed part of the Straits Settlement with Melaka and Singapore. It gained its city status in 1957.

Besides being a commercial interest and land of opportunities, Penang was also a liberal haven to the various communities - the Malays escaping Siamese attacks in Kedah, the Eurasians fleeing religious persecution in South Thailand, the Manchu-oppressed-Chinese and the South Indians who left a homeland of poverty and strife.

To encourage settlers, the port was accorded a duty-free status and new arrivals were allowed to claim as much land as they could clear. From virtually an uninhabited island, the population grew to 10,000 by the end of the century. Penang became a trading post for tea, spices (clove and nutmeg from local plantations), china, pepper from Acheh and textiles from India. Later on, the regional trade grew to include tin, then rubber.

It became the crossroads of great civilizations, a melting pot of the east. Traders and settlers came from the Europe, India, China, the Malay Archipelago, Thailand and Burma.

Francis Light Grid failed in its intention to control people based on division using space along the street within the grid area ; the grid's border was broken, there was social interaction, trade dealing, racial alliance(similar to political coalition today), and inter-marriage resulted in collapse of grid's purpose of controlling by space. The interaction cross the border, cross the island, finally cross the nation......George Town began to develop and grow in size....

The area and people within the original grid prosper until Penang lost its free port status. Francis Light Grid is now only part of Heritage Zone in the Heritage City of George Town. But George Town is now more than Francis Light Grid.......

Security alert

1. "(檳城‧威南)威南警區主任沙比安澄清,警方在涂茹莉被劫殺的案件上從不鬆懈,在案發後總共扣留了17名印裔男子助查,但皆因無證據證明他們謀害涂茹莉,唯有將他們釋放。他說,警方在涂茹莉案發3週後,曾經逮捕一名與閉路電視上的嫌犯長相相似的印裔男子,最後只能證明對方與怡保一宗命案有關,因此把這名男子交給怡保警方處理"。

前武吉淡汶州議員賴秋福的妻子涂茹莉於2008年9月23日凌晨12時左右,從她經營的油站返回淡汶英達花園住宅門口,遭劫匪搶劫及行剌身亡,事隔1年沒有任何嫌犯落網,賴秋福在9月27日發表針對警方查案的進展表示不滿,並宣佈取消5萬令吉的懸賞金。

2. "士姑來麗寧國中二校的中五生陳淑芳於9月17日下午2時30分,乘坐母親駕駛的電單車到住家附近的銀行提款,淑芳在士姑來皇后花園本卡得卡1路遭攫奪,結果她和母親皆摔倒在地,送院8天後不治"。

(Extract from Sin Chew Daily 29-9-2009)

We knew personally the girl , who passed away in JB after the robbery while on the way to the bank. Many of young friends who knew her as friends cried sadly, and are shock with the cruel incident, it was the bad news they cannot take it.

At the same day, in the news that suspects were relieved due to insufficient evidences....it seems to be common now, where suspects were escaped due to insufficient evidences.

I remember the TAR college students from Ipoh who was killed in Wangsa Maju....what is the development on the case, has it been solved?

I am still having nightmare on the past experience of robbery at LRT , Taman Melati station, Kuala Lumpur, during the Hari Raya Haji sometime ago, by 6 young teenagers....

The agony of my own children in SS, Petaling Jaya. As a student they have to face the agony of having to experience the robbery few times....

The repeated consolation given by police that you are lucky if you are still alive, when you went for report in police station. Is it a norm that even the police are treating as routine?

But despite the umbrella concept introduced recently by the police , which has positive impact; the cases still going on, some are not reported as it is sudah biasa( common now)...how many cases are not reported?

Where are the police protection? where are the citizen right of basic protection?

It seems that the privately organized anti-crime units in the locality are more efficient to prevent crime.....

What is wrong? Are the police now has no sense of urgency and are naive to the petty criminal cases, which now even petty crime killed......

Why?????????? what is wrong?.......

Heritage Buildings

I happen to read the column in Sin Chew Daily on comment by one of the editor 鄭丁賢, his two articles on the conservation of old houses are very meaningful. I hoped I can translate it. Thank you for the articles....


1. 鄭丁賢‧老屋的明天
2009-09-28 18:26

話說陳禎祿之女陳金瑞女士,斥資購買兩間荷蘭街老屋,送給新加坡大學。

新大建築系派了學者和專家,花了幾年時間修復老屋。

他們沒有把老屋雅緻的屋瓦換成眩目的琉璃瓦;沒有把石灰牆打掉,砌起洋灰牆;沒有挖出峇峇地磚,鋪上時尚的羅馬瓷磚;沒有換掉屋樑,鋪上石膏天花板;沒有把屋子漆上大紅色;沒有掛上大燈籠……。

老屋修復,感謝老天,沒有變成中國式的妓院

新加坡的專家,知道他們的任務不是蓋新房子,而是要老屋還原。

修復過程中,一磚一瓦一木,都要編號記錄,可以使用的就留下,不復使用才想辦法找回同樣的質材。

整修之後,按照原來圖樣,一件一件的裝回去。

這是向歷史負責,對文化交待的態度。

置身其中,讓人回到150年前,峇峇和娘惹的馬六甲。

說來簡單,其實繁雜困難;單單是屋瓦,就有大學問。

一般房屋的屋頂,是用排水管把雨水從屋頂排入地上溝裡。

老屋的屋頂,獨具巧思,使用兩種瓦片,一是向上,稱為“笑瓦,一是向下,稱為“哭瓦”;兩者相扣,鋪出秩序井然的屋頂。

(文化人小曼有次從樓上窗口望出,荷蘭街的屋頂櫛比鱗次,好像一本本古代線裝書,不由驚嘆這是一片“明朝的天空”。)
下雨時,雨水從屋簷均勻滴下,雨水就是天然的幕簾,稱為“雨簾”;賞心悅目之外,也有實際的排水功能。

這就是老屋之美。

如果不懂得,或不珍惜文物價值,只要找幾個印尼工人,一天時間就可以拆掉屋頂,釘上新樑,鋪上新瓦,裝上排水管,費用一萬幾千令吉,保證不會漏水。

然而,古屋也就毀了。

荷蘭街許多其它老屋,一些已經是鳥糞堆積地;一些被改建得花枝招展,彷如企街的賣笑女郎;另一些則破落損壞,等待拯救。

這兩間老屋獲得特別眷顧,何其幸運。

政治人物和官員,不小心收到一張“世界文化遺產”的通知書,卻不知道文化遺產是何物,只是急著將之賣錢。

只有少數民間志工,以及像陳金瑞的智者,投入搶救老屋,不讓它們成為廢墟,也不恥於淪為現代娼館。

如果大馬文化部和甲州政府依然無動於衷,應該考慮把整條荷蘭街外包,由新加坡、英國和荷蘭政府、大學來承包修復和日後之管理。

如此,老屋才有明天。



2. 鄭丁賢‧荷蘭街腫瘤
2009-09-27 18:21

海峽第一華人陳禎祿最後一名在世女兒――陳金瑞女士,花了150萬新元(約馬幣360萬令吉),買了兩棟馬六甲荷蘭街老屋,送給新加坡大學,連修復費也墊了。

一般人會摸不著頭腦,奇怪這位89歲的老太太,是不是嫌錢太多,買屋送人;而且,還是送給外國大學,不是馬來亞大學,或馬六甲州政府。

會不會是老太太年紀大了,忘了馬來西亞和新加坡40年前已經分家,如今是一邊一國。

錯了!陳女士真不虧是陳禎祿後人,腦筋之清醒,心胸之恢宏,真是讓人尊敬,佩服。

作為典型海峽華人,陳女士最瞭解海峽華人的文化和文物;對荷蘭街老屋,也最有感情。

老屋不是用來養燕子,也不是觀光勝地,賺取國內外遊客的嘖嘖稱奇;老屋甚至不是用來獲取“世界文化遺產”的典當物。

真正的老屋,是一些人特有的文化,一個時代的見證,一個童年的記憶。

而這些文化、見證和記憶,已經快要湮滅,或是裹上一層廉價的商業糖衣。

不是老屋不行,而是大馬不行。

我的老友何國榮,在荷蘭街認真的經營文物館。幾年前,有人買下隔壁老屋,改了門窗,擋住陽光,把150年的老屋,改為燕屋。

燕屋的濕氣,很快的滲透隔壁的屋子;燕子的排泄物,也污染了週圍環境。

150年的瑰麗建築,成為鳥糞堆集地。

還有人買了老屋,干脆整間拆掉,用洋灰磚塊疊成燕屋,發他們的燕窩財。

也有人搭馬六甲旅遊業的順風車,把荷蘭街老屋租下或買下,找一批印尼工人將之改頭換面,“裝修”成為不倫不類的媚俗怪屋,然後開門做起遊客生意。

一條狹窄的荷蘭街,還是市內交通要道之一,車輛長驅直入,一路鳴笛嚇人,車後還有團團黑煙噴入人肺;遊客和路人閃閃躲躲,一不小心,可能被車輾過,或是掉入水溝。

荷蘭街已經患上腫瘤,但是,政府不知文物為何物,或根本不在乎,只懂得把它當成招牌,向外吹水誇耀。

如此下去,腫瘤惡化成癌症可期。

或許,我們得承認,馬來西亞人沒有能力管理自己的古蹟文物。

最好的方法,像陳金瑞女士般,把它送給外國人,就讓外國人來幫忙保護吧。

星洲日報/馬荷加尼‧作者:鄭丁賢‧2009.09.27

There is another good article by 陳耀威, a respected heritage builder/conservationist in Penang:

3. 建築雞姦
2008-07-27 10:40


古跡或歷史建築物保存方法有很多種:從內到外完整的保留,其一。外殼保留,裡面改造,其二。部分(通常前段)保留,其餘加以改建或增建,其三。還有一種表皮式的做法,就是把原有的建築拆得只剩一層立面表皮,內部再來新建,或是把舊的門面鑲在新建的大樓上。

這第四種方法叫做“立面主義”(facadelism),尤其是在保護歷史街區中,只為了或只能保留沿街建築的歷史風貌和訊息。這種被國際文化遺產保護界嘲諷為皮相、臉譜式的保護,大多流行於90年代,我國的首都吉隆坡尤其盛行。在馬新,由於城市的老店屋絕大多數都有五腳基,這種大樓就退縮到那5尺之後,緊抓牆皮拔地而起。

不管是第三或第四種,多數是勉為其難的古跡保存方式(地方政府的保護指南或條規如是允許),而背後新建的建築軀體尺度、風格表情,則透露業主和建築師對待老建築的態度。

通常的例子是在“老弱矮小”的老建築背後,強蓋一棟大樓。溫柔一點的,新舊之間的距離會拉遠一點(如檳城某開放大學)。有的則貼得很近,但假裝和老建築穿同樣的服飾。最慘不忍睹的是,超高、現代的冷酷表情,硬硬從背後緊貼“霸上而起”,簡直是雞姦老建築的姿勢。

星洲日報/張圖寫意.陳耀威.27/07/2008

I hope they do not mind that I report their articles in my blog, the two heritage city of Penang and Malacca, are facing some renewal of conservation of old buildings. But the conservation by politician and businessmen sometime did not really restore the buildings to its old glory, but to do a cosmetic surgery to convert the old building for their respective modern usage. It is just like what Tan have said it is the rape of heritage buildings.

If the state government are not able to manage the heritage building, it is time to employ the expert from the foreign countries. We have to do it fast before it is too late. Otherwise the heritage buildings will be gone to its pseudo-conservation.

I hope the re-posting of these three articles will bring awareness to the people of the two states, especially the politician. Please be very careful, when re-built or when on the building conservation projects. Seek the opinion of the expert. Otherwise let foreign professional manage the Heritage zone. It will be better for the future.

I have seen colonial shops renovated with imported doors, window, and deco, which is not the original building style, but imported Chinese style. The buildings are not matched with its surrounding, the renovated buildings are totally different from our colonial style. Please take note that even we may have derived some technique and style from China, but we have also borrowed Indian, Anglo-Saxon, Indonesia, and Siamese influences. It is the unique strait settlement style; definitely not pure Chinese style....

Tan also mentioned about many ways of the pseudo-conservation. By visiting the Northam Road in Penang, you can see many of these styles. I was also wonder why even the government or statutory bodies(EPF,SOCSO,Anti corruption agencies etc),are also not aware of the building conservation. There are high rise office building, built on the location of heritage building, some preserved the bungalow at their frontage, and behind is their modern high rise buildings. When I first see these building, I nearly vomited and begin to worry for the old city. I wonder why a government department will need to have tall high rise building, to have their state or regional offices in the heritage zone or historical road, where the cost is high. They, as people elected government should know the value of heritage and cost saving. The competition of each government department and agencies to have their regional or state offices built in expensive high rise building and in the high cost location , is waste of people money. I wonder how many of these building are fully occupied. Did they really need to occupy such place instead of using the money in conservation of historical buildings?. The foreign businesses like Chartered Bank, Hong Kong Bank, are doing much more for heritage building conservation. Look at the Beach Street, their effort can be seen in many of the old buildings which are now still proudly maintain and still remained. It is a pity that local politician, government, and businesses did not appreciate the heritage.....

Some of the advertisement material are so big, it has covered up the beauty of the architecture, of the colonial shops, or even the houses. Did the local council appreciate the beauty of the buildings, is there any law to guide the owner on proper put up of advertisement? This is another disrespect to the heritage. Is the local council rules out of dates, and not suitable for conservation of heritage buildings, then it need to review urgently....

The hu and ha will soon be over; did Penang and Malacca still wonder what to do with their Heritage City status?

No wonder the heritage lovers are worried......

"把它送給外國人,就讓外國人來幫忙保護?。應該考慮外包,由新加坡、英國和荷蘭政府、大學來承包修復和日後之管理"。

I am really worry..... 老屋幾时才有明天.....。

Is Malaysia boleh? 大馬行不行?.......

Dates(海枣)

I love dates, the palm fruits from Arabia and Middle East. In Malaysia, especially in old days, fresh dates can only be found in the market during Ramadan or fasting month of Muslim calendar. In the old days, they are normally preserved date fruits.But now you can even found fresh date fruits from all over middle east and African countries.

Date palm fruit is green and turn to yellow, red and dark red to black colour. It contain a single seed. It is fruits from date palm, scientifically called Phoenix dactylifera.

I have seen date palm tree sometime ago in Doha, Qatar, before the Asian games. In Doha,you can see date palm trees everywhere; in the street, at the golf club, in residential area... I have tried dates from many countries; Iran, Tunisia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and China( the red variety). But all are processed and imported in boxes.

The fresh dates I have tried was in old Qatar market, where the hawker in the market was selling the fresh fruit. It is harder than the ripe date, green in colour.

But the best date I have ever tried is from Israel, fresh from the farm. It was at a restaurant in Galilee. Since that day, dates has been my favorite fruit.

Now you can find varieties of dates in the market.

Dates have been a staple food of the Middle East for thousands of years. They are believed to have originated around the Persian Gulf, and have been cultivated since ancient times from Mesopotamia to prehistoric Egypt, possibly as early as 4000 BCE. There is archaeological evidence of date cultivation in eastern Arabia in 6000 BCE. (Alvarez-Mon 2006).

In later times, Arabs spread dates around South East Asia, northern Africa, and Spain and Italy. Dates were introduced into Mexico and California by the Spaniards by 1765, around Mission San Ignacio.

(extract from wikipedia)

The dates I bought for this raya season is Mozafati date from Iran. According to wikipedia,

"it is mainly grown in Kerman province, and often named "Bam (Mozafati) dates", after a city in that province. It is a dark, soft and sweet date of medium size. It is exceptionally well-suited for fresh consumption, because of its long shelf life. At a temperature of -5 celcius it can be kept for up to 2 years. It accounts for 10% of total Iranian date crop. (100.000 tons, of which 30% is exported)"

Some note on date palm in Qatar:

"Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) (2n = 2x = 36) is dioecious, perennial, monocotyledon fruit trees that belong to the family of Arecaceae. Date is the major fruit crop of arid climate region in countries of Middle East and North Africa. It is the most important fruit tree in Qatar and is also used as an ornamental or shade plant in parks, gardens and alongside roads. Date Palm plantations represent 71% from the total area planted with fruit trees. Total area cultivated approximately 1366 ha (Containing 335765 trees bearing fruits and 146955 non productive trees). Most cultivation are in the North and Middle area of the state where environmental conditions are favorable, soil has deep profile with low salinity compared with other parts of the country (Abufatih et al., 1999)".

The one I ate at Galilee may be Medjool or (Mujhoolah) - from Morocco, also grown in the USA, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestine and Israel; a large, sweet and succulent date. It is named unknown because who owned it at first didn't know its species and thus called it unknown.

If you have not try dates, give it a try, a beautiful fruit.






























It is Mozafati dates from Iran.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Chulia Street beef noodle

Chualia Street Beef Noodle or should we call it Beach Street Beef noodle? As it is located in the coffee shop, located at the left corner of traffic junction between Beach Street(港仔口) and Chualia Street(if you come from Pengkalan Weld(Weld Quay). It is directly opposite the fire station.

The coffee shop is a single storey,it is called "Lam Ah", which literally means south asia. The beef noodle or beef koay-teow is considered by some food blogger as the best in Penang. Some called it Gu Ba Koay Teow Th'ng(Beef flat noodle soup). It is the anchor stall of the two stalls in the coffee shop,the other stall is selling Oh-chien(or fried oyster).

When we arrived at the shop, the lunch crowd has just disappeared as it is late afternoon. This is monday, just nice without the normal crowd. The owner and her workers are preparing for the next customer crowd ,that will be after office hours. The shop is normally very crowded as it is popular place for beef noodle. You can order beef ball, beef strips(gnu kin in Hockkien or ngau kan in Cantonese ),cow's internal organs; but we ordered only the red meat, plain beef meat. You can order either white flat noodle(koay-teow) ,yellow noodle(mee) or mixed of both. Koay-teow is the little flat noodle, which is in white colour.

The soup is with the typical aroma of beef soup, with coriander leaves, garlic, fried onions. The beef soup is come with special chilly sauce.

The traffic outside the shop is equally crowded and busy, not easy to get parking here.

If you like beef, remember this is the stall to patron.


Address:
Lam Ah Coffee Shop (Opposite Beach Road Fire Station)
Beach Street (at the junction where it meets Chulia Street)
George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Business hours: 9 am - 3 pm (Close on Sunday and Public Holiday)















Lam Ah Coffee shop,just opposite the Beach street fire station; located at Beach street/Chulia street corner.















The stall is located at the traffic junction between Chulia street, Beach street, Gat Jalan Chulia















Beef Noodle















Beef



















































The coffee shop







































































I found the pillar post boxes

The red pillar post box is the icon of England. It is one of the most familiar street furniture. It was introduced in 1853. Malaysia, in view of its colonial past, there are some pillar post box still remained.

Gat Lebuh China
(China Street Ghat)

The pillar post box is located just in front of Wisma Kastam, Gat Lubuh China. The imperial or royal cypher is ER VII - Edward VII (1901-1910).




















A special place for a special heritage pillar post box




















The royal cypher, ER VII; with the crown




















Edward VII, it is 1901-1910, look at the key hole at the side




















Jalan Pantai(Beach Street)

The pillar post box located along the Beach Street. The pillar box is without a crown. But the monogram or Imperial Cypher(Royal Cypher) is VR, the era of Queen Victoria ( d 1901). This pillar box is older than the one at Gat Lebuh Cina.

manufacturer : A.Handyside & Co Ltd, Derby & London
location: Beach Street, Penang




















The old heritage pillar post box, has a younger companion




















Beside that, there is another companion for fast post, in yellow color(hidden)



















A proud and tall pillar post box















The manufacturer: A.Handyside & Co Ltd, Derby & London















The royal cypher, VR; but without crown. VR is Queen Victoria period, before 1901.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Blog name changed

I changed the title of the blog from " Life is beautiful" to " Life is more than beautiful"

As I found another blog with the same name.....

Sorry for the inconvenience caused

Thank you.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Jelutong Market(日落洞巴刹)

Jelutong Wet Market & morning open market


View Larger Map

Jelutong(日落洞) is named after the tree Dyera costulata, which is now commercially grown for timber. The area may has numerous Jelutong trees in the old days. The earliest settlers in Jelutong are the Malays and North Sumatrans,their built their settlements along Sungai Pinang. Places such as Kampung Rawa trace its origin to the original settlers which arrived even earlier than Francis Light.

Jalan Jelutong is a long road, which is between Sungai Pinang Bridge and Bukit Dumbar. It come from Jalan CY Choy as the main road away from Georgetown, and joined Jalan Glugor to the north.

Jelutong market is one of the largest and vibrant morning market in Penang. Other than fresh produce, it is also popular venue for breakfast , especially for those who are having daily exercise at nearby Bukit Dumbar.The char-koay-tew, wan-tan-mee, Hockkien mee(or prawn mee), curry mee, chee-chong fan, sha-hor-fan are the popular street food available at Lorong Ipoh. The coffee shops are Ah Cheng Cafe(most popular), 88 cafe, Lai Lai Cafe, and the coffee shop opposite(name unknown). At the corner coffee shop at Jalan Penaga, just opposite the junction, the Lorong Ipoh across the junction, there is another area popular for breakfast. The Lor Mee at Kim Hee coffee shop there is popular, but it only open in afternoon on 3 p.m..

Hussain Mee Goreng and Mee Rebus, located at Jalan Penaga, in front of the coffee shop at the corner of Jelutong Road/Jalan Penaga,just near the wet market building. Hussain have been operating the stalls for more than 20 years. He can speak a very fluent hokkien!. This stall is located right after the turn to the right into Jelutong Wet Market.

At evening and night the same area near the Jalan Penaga junction, become the night market. The tong-sui stall at the corner coffee shop , with the name Mat-tho-yau is popular, the nasi kandar opposite at Lorong Ipoh, the Char -koay-teow, and other street food stall in front of the wet market building at Jalan Penaga, where the herbal chicken noodle is popular.















The shop at the right corner of Jalan Penaga,just in front of the pedestrian crossing at Jalan Jelutong(Jelutong Road)















The entrance from Jalan Jelutomg ( by foot only , impossible to move by car)
















This is the coffee shop (Ah Cheng Cafe) I took my breakfast, along Lorong Ipoh. If you enter from Lorong Ipoh, it is on the right side, just opposte the popular Char Koay Teow stall. The kopi-o here is good, kau-kau...The coffee shop is with several food stalls with variety of Penang food. Try the curry mee, prawn mee,lor mee, sha-hor-fan etc
















Lor-mee, a starchy noodle. This noodle only found in Penang












































Char Koay Teow, a fried white flat noodle
















A notice in Chinese poetic format, remind patron of the coffee shop to keep the place clean and be polite, to patiently wait for the food. A very meaningful reminder.




















kopi-peng(ice coffee with milk)
















Koay Teow T'ng




















Mee Jawa(爪哇麵)




















Kopi-O( Local coffee without milk, or black coffee). kau-kau....














The stalls and table at coffee shop, very busy each day, with varieties of food
















A coffee shop, with the monk going for his morning donation drive. But please beware of bogus monk, it is not the habit of Malaysian monk to go for donation walk each morning like Thailand or Laos. This coffee shop is behind the Char -koay-teow stall. Popular food stalls are wan-tan-mee,chee choong fan, and of course,the Char Koay Teow.
















A signage in front of Char Koay Teow stall















The popular Char-koay-teow stall




















Frying char-koay-teow(small flat noodle) at the stall
















The food hawker




















Wan- tan- mee stall, very popular stall. When we arrived in the market the noodle has all sold out.































Chee Chong Fun stall, another popular stall




















The man is selling Chinese herbal




















Moon cakes- the other variety(kong-chai-peng?)
















The motorbike trying to move in within the crowd















Egg seller















Kuei or cake seller




















Frying koay-kak





























The raw koay kak
























































Cha-koay-kak(炒粿角) stall, at Jalan Penaga, just in front of the shop directly opposite the wet market building, but may be hidden from the street hawker stalls.




















A flower stall, a Malay woman is passing by




















An Indian stall that sell spices and nuts















































A old coffee shop at the entrance of Jalan Penaga/Jelutong Road.















The view of open air market from Jalan Penaga















The crowd for the morning market




















The entrance to the wet market building




















Fish seller




















Hey,my fish is fresh




















Pick some prawn?















An old signage showing the pork section, may be a colonial signage as it show four languages,which is rare for post -independence signage which are mainly in Malay or Bahasa Malaysia,the national language .















Pork seller















Street vegetable seller and his stall















Sundry good stall















Another vegetable stall, behind is the food stalls and coffee shop















The cobbler















Apom Telur, 4 for two Malaysian dollars. A typical Malaysian Indian food.















The flour mixing















Making Apom in the small customized pan











The Indian delicacy, Apom.















It is rolled up















Ready to eat, Apom Telur( Apom with egg)















The friendly couples















An Indian man selling fresh coconut water. I love coconut water, better than mineral water, especially when you travel in the rural areas in South East Asia.















Flower stall















Bigger Yam(芋頭) and smaller Taro(小芋頭), which is a must for moon cake festival or Mid-Autumn festival(中秋節), which fall on the 15th day of 8th month of lunar calendar.















"ox-horn"(菱角), a type of traditional food for moon cake festival. What is its actual name?















Fruit stall















Durian seller, now is off season.















The crowd at Lorong Ipoh street















The beginning of the market at Lorong Ipoh, today is weekday. The weekend or public holiday, the morning market is extremely busy; the stalls may line up until the end of Lorong Ipoh.





























The friendly Malay fruit seller with his pick up truck(with Thai number plate), selling pomeloes and logan fruits. He is from Padang Besar, the Thai border town. The pamelo fruit from Baling is sweet and juicy, 3 for RM10.















Lorong Ipoh
















Lebuhraya Jelutong,with its food hawker complex, but only open at night