Clan Jetties of George Town
Pengkalan Weld, Penang

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The Clan Jetties of George Town are the traditionalo settlement created by Chinese immmigrants who share common historical, geographical and lineage origin. Today there are still six clan jetties along the waterfront, and they are as follows, from north to south:

Seh Koay Keo was demolished around 2005 to make way the construction of flats off the Jelutong Expressway, despite protests from historians and conservationists. Apart from Chap Seh Keo, with its mixed clanage, the rest used to be exclusively inhabited by its respective clansmen. Thus is the distinctive identity of the George Town jetty communities, including the Noordin Ghaut Jetty, Peng Arn Jetty and Ban Liaw Jetty , which are all located further south, along the Jelutong seafront. Collectively, they constitute Penang's waterfront society. There used to be more community jetties along the waterfront, including the Poh Lan/Lallang Jetty, Hup Choon Jetty, old Lee Jetty and the old Ong Jetty, all of which have been erased by time.

Location Map of the Clan Jetties

View Clan Jetties of George Town in a larger map

Although there are efforts to save and preserve the clan jetties as an integral part of the heritage of Penang, to be honest, the jetties have lost much of its authenticity as well as its raison d'etre. It was originally constructed to house the port labourers and indenture coolies who were too poor to find housing on land. Today, the descendents of these labourers are no longer finding work at the Penang harbour, now that harbour work has been very much mechanised. Therefore, what is preserved is not the jettys as they were, but a shantytown or water-borne ghetto. Even the building material for the clan jetties have evolved. From the original thatch roofing, the houses now have zinc roofs and satellite dishes.

As a historian and researcher, I have worked hard to celebrate the heritage and historical treasures of Penang. However, I disagree that the clan jetty should be preserved as they are. While many argue that they are a tangible heritage, I feel they have evolved beyond recognition. Moreover, the original jetty dwellers lived there not out of will, they did because they have no other choice. It was the only form of dwelling they could afford. I feel their children should be given the opportunity for better dwelling, even if it means a nondescript high rise apartment, as long as they get to enjoy the higher living standard that escaped their forefathers. There are romantics who fought zealously to have the jetties preserved. I would love to have the heritage jetties preserved, but what we are preserving here is not the original, thatch-roof, wooden jetties. Nor are we preserving the original lifestyle of the inhabitant. What we are preserving is something neither here nor there.

Associated Sites

Clan Jetty Academic Paper

Clan jetties along the George Town waterfront.

Top: Main door of a clan jetty home.
Right: View of Koay Jetty with the city of George Town in the background.
Below: A less appealing perspective to jetty living.

A less appealing perspective to jetty living.

Bridging the gap of time.

Click for list of Penang Heritage Sites

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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.