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Masjid Lebuh Acheh

The Acheen Street Mosque is an old mosque located at the heritage enclave of George Town. It was also called the Mesjid Jamek as well as Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh. The mosque was founded in 1801, making it one of the oldest mosques in Penang. The founder was Tengku Sheriff Syed Hussain Al-Aidid, an Acehnese clan leader who moved to Penang at the invitation of Captain Francis Light, and settled at what became Acheen Street.

In the 18th century, with Malacca in decline, trades along the Straits of Malacca moved northwards to Acheh. When Francis Light established the trading post in Penang, he wanted to create a Britsh trading post that rivals Acheh. To do this, he attracted merchants and traders from all over to settle in George Town. As a result, Penang had substantial communities of immigrants from Phuket, China, South India, Acheh, Arabia, and Jews from as far away as Armenia. One of these who settled here was Tengku Syed, a wealthy Achehnese merchant of Arab descent.

The Acheen Street Mosque has a Arab-style minaret with a Achehnese roof. The difference between this mosque and the other one, the Kapitan Kling nearby, is that the Acheen Street Mosque was built by a Achehnese, hence a Malay, whereas the Kapitan Kling Mosque was built by the Indian Muslims.

Getting there

Take the Rapid Penang Bus Nos. 10, 103, 301, 302, 308, 401 or U502 to Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, walk down the road to Medan Cannon, and you'd see the Acheen Street Mosque at the end of Medan Cannon. You can also take Rapid Penang Bus Nos. 11, 101, 104, 201, 202, 203, U204 or U206 to nearby Lebuh Chulia, and then walk to Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, following by Medan Cannon.

Nearby Sights

  • Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi
  • Penang Islamic Museum
  • Penang Heritage Centre
  • 120 Armenian Street (Dr Sun Yat Sen's Penang Base)
  • Choo Chay Keong Temple (Yap Temple)
  • Yap Kongsi
  • Cheah Kongsi
  • Visiting Penang

    If you're planning a trip to Penang, please go through the information I have assembled in Penang Travel Tips. You'd find there information covering all aspect about Penang, including accommodation, transport, food, shopping, places of interest and more. Everything you need to know Penang is right there at your finger tips!

    Click for list of Penang Mosques and Muslim Sites




    Acheen Street Mosque (4 July 2004)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo

    Acheen Street Mosque Location Map







    Acheen Street Mosque (4 July 2004)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo


    Acheen Street Mosque (4 July 2004)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo


    Acheen Street Mosque (4 July 2004)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo


    Minaret of Acheen Street Mosque (4 July 2004)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo


    Minaret of Acheen Street Mosque (4 July 2004)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo


    The tomb of Tengku Syed Hussain Idid, founder of Acheen Street Mosque (4 July 2004)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo


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    Penang Travel Tips is researched and written by Timothy Tye, universally known as Tim. The text is the copyright of Timothy Tye, and may not be copied for commercial use or re-published in another website without the author's permission. Information provided is in goodwill and is believed to be correct and up-to-date at time of writing. Photographs on this website are the copyright of the author and may not be reused without prior permission. For commercial licensing of photographs, read the licensing terms.