"Culture" as stated in the Oxford-Advanced Learner's Dictionary means the customs and beliefs, art, way of life and social organization of a particular country or group whereas "cultural" means connected with the culture of a particular society or group, its customs, beliefs, etc.
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| Was built in 1860s, it symbolizes the wealth owned by the occupants of this mansion. |
Syed Alattas Mansion was built around 1860s, which means it is over 130 years of age. The building has gone through period of evolution which reflects a large range of cultural and ethnic influences. It offers the studying of the styles, building features, material, and techniques of building the mansion. The studying gives some ideas of the way of life and social organization of a particular society in which it is about the life of a Malay culture 100 years back.
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| The mansion before the restoration on 1993 -1994. |
Syed Alattas Mansion indicates that the civilizations of Malays existed in this area at those period. The mansion was the focus on celebrations, including annual Boria that used to take place during the Awal Muharram (the New Year for Islamic calendar).
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| The busy location for trading is displayed in this picture |
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| Acheen Street as the stopping point for pilgrims to go to haj |
It can be seen also, at these period of time, that for the first hundreds years of Penang, the export of Achenese pepper was the mainstay of Penang's regional trade. The pepper trade was focused in this area. Besides the pepper tradings brought the Malays here, those Muslim wanted to go for hajj also contributed the population. The ship that brought the pilgrims stop by at the stopping point namely Acheen Street area. There was a village name "Kampung Che Long" which was another name for Syed Alattas. The village was previously located across the street of the mansion, but the village was no longer there. Unfortunately, there was no written record on how the village disappeared.
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| The Lebuh Acheh-Lebuh Armenian area today. |
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It was stated in the book of "Hubungan perdagangan Aceh dengan Pulau Pinang" that even though various community lived in the areas or streets that of located of different community, the relationship did exist among them. There were interactions among them especially in the elite class of merchants. This could be seen when Syed Alattas became the son-in-law of Khoo Poh, a prominent trader of the Tua Pek Kong secret society. The married strengthened the Red Flag-Tua Pek Kong society alliances. As to this, Khoo Poh gave Syed a bungalow which has the same architectural design as the recent Syed Alattas mansion. As stated by Jayamalar and cited by Salina(2005)
" The substantial role Chinese and Indian traders played in the
Southest Asian Commercial scene was under the strong
patronage of local rulers"
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| House alike the mansion given by his father-in-law |
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| The "historic" trishaw used to be a major form of public transportation in the city. This is one of a tapestry of cultures still exist and used in Penang. |
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| The old faces of Penang |
References:
Jayamalar KW, 1993. "Restraints on the Development of Merchant Capitalism in Southeast Asia before 1800," Anthony Read, (ed) Southeast Asia in the early Modern Era, Trade, Power and Belief". Ithaca and London;Cornell university Press, pg 133.
Oxford-Advanced Learner's Dictionary. http://www.oxfordadvancedlearnersdictionary.com/; retrieved on 18 May 2011.
Salina HZ. 2005. "Hubungan perdagangan Aceh dengan Pulau Pinang", Kuala Lumpur; University Malaya, , pg 135.
Conservation report on "Syed Alatas Mansion Heritage Development Project",Penang Government, Penang Municipal, Federal government and French Embassy
"The old faces of Penang" retrieved from http://bdeen.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html
