Alattas Mansion: History

History of the Syed Mohamad Alatas Mansion

An outstanding example of an early Muslim residence.

Located at No 128, Lebuh Armenian, a two-storey white mansion, built in 1860s is recognised as one of houses that has the finest examples of an upper class Muslim residence to survive from that period. This outstanding architectural design is incredibly eye-pleasing, incorporating a mixture of Indian, European and Malay influences, has become the residence of one of influential Muslim leaders in Penang in the mid of 19^th century, which was Syed Mohamad Alatas.

The history of this mansion can be seen into three areas:-

Historic Area

Penang was well known as a place for trading settlement. The pepper trade from Acheh was the backbone of Penang’s regional trade which located in the Lebuh Acheh- Lebuh Armenian street area. Offices, godowns and residences of wealthy traders were located here. As stated by Tregoming (1965),

" Acheh in particular and nothern Sumatra in general reached quickly to the establishment of Penang, the prevailing winds were ideal for them (Achenese traders) to sail accross the straits and to return, and pepper, their chief commodity, was such that journey was rarely in vain."

Penang Port during the coming of Francis Light

New port

Due to this, throughout early 19^th century, religious and political leaderships from Acheh built their community here. Some of them were Tengku Hussain, the founder of the Masjed Acheh, Tok Guru, Shaikh Omar Basheer and Syed Mohamad Alattas.

One of the historical mosques with significance value

Adding to that there were also the Straits Chinese associations moved and lived in the residential shop houses around this area. The Malay-speaking straits Chinese were Cheah Kongsi (1828), Tua Pek Kong Temple(1840s) and the Khoo Kongsi (1851).

Features of the historical architectural design

About Syed Mohamad Alattas

Syed Mohamad Alattas, a former residence of the mansion.

Penang trade, specifically in Lebuh Acheh and Armenian, in the mid of 19^th century, was controlled by two powerful secret societies. There were the teams of the Straits Chinese and the Muslim society, Tua Pek Kong society and Red Flag, named accordingly, fighted with Ghee Hin society and White Flag society.

Syed Mohamad AlAttas was a well-known and wealthy Acehnese spice merchant. He was the leader of the Lebuh Acheh community. He was also the leader of the Red Flag society. Not only was he consulted by the Malay community but also by the Chinese and Indian community. He was someone whom the community could refer to for any matter arose.

He had two wives, a Malay princess and a daughter of the Straight Chinese leader. His marriaged with Khoo Poh’s daughter, the leader of the Tua Pek Kong society, strengthened the Tua’s and Red Flag alliances. The Malay community declined, when the Dutch siege on Acheh in 1870s. The pepper trade was then taken over by the Chinese and the European. Upon this, Alattas smuggled arms to the Acehnese to help against the Dutch. He died in the mid of 1890s. During his lifetime, his house was used for religious activities as well as for secret meetings to plan the revolution.

The mansion architectural history

The mansion before the restoration.

This mansion has gone through three major periods:-

· 1870s – 1890s – Residence of Syed Mohamad Alattas

The mansion was built around 1960s and stood proudly as the mansion that carries the cultural and historical values that depicted the wealthy Muslim house during this period.

· 1890 -1930 – Residence of the late Syed Mohamad Alattas’s dependants

Used to be the stables.

The new building use for office.

Additional area or buildings were added during this period. There were the stables, fence and covered area at the back of the house. Though there were no exact of the period of this architectural identity, it provided space and security to the house.

· 1930s – 1990s – The Chittier’s collection centre for scrap materials

The condition of the mansion when the chettier occupied it.

Along the road there is still the scenery of the chettiers selling and buying scrap materials.

There were no additional architectural renovation done in the mansion by the Chettiers when the MPPP took over the mansion. This was actually a good sign for the restoration project as it maintains the original architectural design. During the overtaken of the occupancy, some of Syed Alattas’s furnishing and artifacts were retrieved.

The old furniture left which belongs to the Syed Alattas

The video clip of Syed Al-Attas Room

After the took over of the mansion, it was proposed to make way for a road project. Luckily, the proposal turn to a project which then open the eyes of especially the surrounding people and generally to the people in Penang about restoration. This was due to the act of Penang Heritage Centre to use the funds partly from the Federal Government for restoration works in 1993, the two-storey white mansion was saved and restored with the help of French conservationist Didier Repellin.

After the restoration, 1995 - 2002, the Penang Heritage Center was the next occupancy of the mansion. Workshops and training programs on restoration of buildings were carried out here. It was done to enhance the awareness of the important of restoring old buildings which carry historic significances.

By the year of 2002 until now, it is under the supervision of "Dewan Perniagaan Melayu" and with that it is now become the Penang Islamic Museum where it displays all of Islamic history and artifacts.