The Kapitan Cina Of Perak: A Showcase Of The Splendours Of British Malaya - PART 1

 FROM THE RAKYAT POST (PART 1) - BY FERNANDO FONG

Today, there are few reminders of Malaya’s glorious 19th-century and pre-Merdeka past.

From the start of the British colonial era to pre-war Malaya, the tin-mining industry created untold wealth for the overseas Chinese to flaunt their wealth.

Rare and precious artifacts from the era can now be seen through a multifaceted lens at Phin Kee Chan, the former headquarters of Kapitan Cina Chung Thye Phin.

Thye Phin, who inherited the tin empire from his father – the famous Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Kwee – built Phin Kee Chan in Ipoh, and rightfully so.Once upon a time not too long ago, Ipoh was the center of one of the world’s biggest tin mining towns.

Completed in 1905, the three-story building survived the passages of time.

It became a dispensary in the 30s until the early 2000s when it was sold to a private owner.

In 2011, history and heritage enthusiast Michael Chan bought the place and renamed it Arlene House after his wife Arlene Loke.

Visitors admiring a fully-functioning wind-up gramophone at Arlene House.
(Credit: Fernando Fong)

A New Lease Of Life

After much labor of love, Arlene House is now a treasure trove of entertaining and informative exhibits.

Chan, together with his wife, returned Phin Kee Chan to its former glory with more than 10 years of preservation, conservation and restoration work.

Arlene House is setting an example in attracting younger audiences to museums.
(Credit: Fernando Fong)

With the theme ‘Made In Ipoh’, Arlene House takes visitors on a journey of history and heritage edutainment.

Arlene House has sections on the different era that marks the pre-Merdeka history while exploring artifacts thematically such as war and plunder, personal luxuries, trade and sensual pleasures.

Taiping Heritage Society members posing with classic mahjong set at Arlene House.
(Credit: Fernando Fong)

"Arlene House is a heritage, history, culture and art edutainment gallery cum museum that showcased the stories, life and legacy of the last Kapitan of Malaya and Ipoh."

Arlene House owner and curator, Michael Chan to TRP on the purpose of Arlene HouseChan took great pains to fill the place with wide-ranging items from the colonial days, such as a gramophone, Mandarin robe, gambling table, Baba Nyonya bed and more.

Chan (center) explaining the history of Malaya to visitors at Arlene House.
(Credit: Fernando Fong)

He also replicated the Kapitan’s working desk, complete with the office equipment of that era such as a vintage cheque writer, a marble sculpture tray and an abacus.
Arlene House also turns back the clock with old photographs, posters and illustrations.

At the same time, the place evokes the memories of youth with games and toys of yesteryear.

Where It All Started                                              

A staff curating the exhibits at Arlene House. (Credit: Fernando Fong)

                                                                                                             Chan said it was by chance that he came across the building sometime in 2010.

    "My wife and I knew its existence much earlier but did not really give it much thought. Neither did we notice its detailed built heritage until we admired it from afar. Its charming architectural designs and trademarks were unfolded when we scrutinized the facade carefully."

Arlene House owner and curator, Michael Chan to TRP on how Arlene House started

When he came up with the idea to turn the place into a museum, Chan was met with skepticism and ridicule.

The place was run down and required substantial money to give it the facelift it deserves.        

Keng Kwee’s son Thye Phin was so influential as a businessman, he even minted his own money. (Credit: Fernando Fong) 

                                                                                            

Family and friends advised him against the idea as they consider it to be financially risky.

But Chan, who worked as a corporate advisor previously, took the risk and decided to give it a go.

"We hope that history and heritage will connect with Malaysians of all ages and background because it shows that we all share a common origin, and the nation had come together because of the people."
Arlene House owner and curator, Michael Chan to TRP on the value of history and heritage

Among the challenge was deciding which objects to put in.

It had to be something beautiful but also something with a really interesting story.

Traditional Chinese wedding dress on display at Arlene House. (Credit: Fernando Fong) 

                                                    

The Man From China

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Keng Kwee’s birthday.

But who is he?

According to Lillian Tong, president of the Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Pulau Pinang, both Keng Kwee and his son Thye Phin were prominent tin miners, with Thye Phin being the last Kapitan China of Perak and Malaya.

A philanthropic millionaire and a pioneer in the field of tin mining, Keng Kwee is the founder of the modern city of Taiping in Perak.

Keng Kwee was also among the first in Malaya to own an automobile, the Ford Model T.

An aerial view of Taiping Lake Gardens. (Credit: Fernando Fong)

"Based in Penang, he was revered by the Chinese and European communities in the Straits Settlements during the British colonial period. His survival in the turbulent era was due to his position as leader of Hai San, a Chinese secret society in British Malaya during the Larut Wars from 1862 to 1873."

Lillian Tong, president of the Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Pulau Pinang to TRP on Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Kwee

An artist’s impression of the Larut Wars between Hai San and its rival Ghee Hin.
(Credit: Fernando Fong)

 

He was one of the six members of the Perak State Advisory Council appointed by the British Straits government.

When he passed away, Thye Phin, who is the fourth son, took over the family business.

When Thye Phin passed away in March 1935, he was said to be the wealthiest man in Penang.

A solitary tomb on a hill in Taiping where some of the battles in the Larut Wars were fought. (Credit: Fernando Fong)

 

Gazette Tunku's bungalow as a national heritage, Pemenang tells goverment

Pemenang president Tan Sri Mohd Yussof Latiff said this was to ensure the house, which is rich in history, would continue to be protected and preserved. - NSTP/ZUHAINY ZULKIFFLI.

Audrey Dermawan - NST 18 March 2021

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Malay Association (Pemenang) has called on the government to gazette the former residence of the first prime minister of Malaysia, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj in Pulau Tikus here, as a national heritage.

Pemenang president Tan Sri Mohd Yussof Latiff said this was to ensure the house, which is rich in history, would continue to be protected and preserved.

Yussof said Pemenang had written to Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri on the matter.

"We are requesting the National Heritage Department, through the commissioner of heritage, to gazette Tunku Abdul Rahman's house here as a national heritage.

"This house, which bore witness to many historical events in Tunku Abdul Rahman's lifetime, is rich in history and should be protected at all cost.

"Pemenang has also written to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to support our cause," he told the New Straits Times today.

The former residence of Tunku Abdul Rahman was recently put on the market for a whopping RM62 million.

The six-bedroom, double-storey detached residence with an annexed servants' quarters has been listed for sale on several property portals, including international listings.

The property sits on 0.6 hectare of freehold land fronting Jalan Park and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, a road named after the Tunku, who lived there until his demise in 1990.

The house with a built-up area of 9,867 sq ft and a land size of 64,472 sq ft, is a well-preserved heritage property, according to the listings.

Real estate experts had said if the deal goes through at RM62 million, it would be the most expensive landed residential property sold in the market today.

The current owner of this historical property is believed to be a private company (a non-developer) that bought it more than a decade ago.

To date, 173 heritage items in Malaysia including buildings, objects, intangible cultural heritage, archaeological sites, and living heritage treasures have been listed as national heritage under the National Heritage Act.

Elaborating, Yusoff said Tunku Abdul Rahman had vowed to make Penang his home when he retired in 1970 and the former premier initially bought a single-storey bungalow opposite Western Garden.

"Later, Tunku Abdul Rahman's close friend, Tan Kim Yeow, offered him to buy a bungalow -- No 16, Jalan Ayer Rajah (now Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman), which he named 'Takdir' -- the Malay word for fate. At that time, parliament had given him a gratuity (of RM200,000), in recognition of his role as the prime minister. It was with that money he bought the bungalow.

"It was in this very bungalow that many significant events took place. Tunku Abdul Rahman continued to welcome both local and foreign dignitaries, including the retired Thailand prime minister then, in this house. He also hosted a dinner here for the country's second prime minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.

"It is also in this bungalow every year where we throw Tunku Abdul Rahman a birthday party, on every Feb 8, while at the same time, we organised the Piala Bapa Malaysia. Many other meetings were held in this house until his health took a toll on him in 1988. I used to go there every now and then.

"Indeed, the bungalow is rich in history and should be protected and preserved," he added.

Yusoff said, both the federal and state governments, should also come together to see how they could turn the bungalow into the Tunku Abdul Rahman's gallery.

Last Friday, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had said that the state government would get more information on the sale of the bungalow.

"Tunku is a national legend...(his residence is a) national asset that should be protected.

"We hope the federal government will also take note, but meanwhile the state government will get more information and look into it," he was quoted as saying then