Hu Yew Seah, Penang

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Hu Yew Seah is an organisation created to promote Chinese language education among the English speaking Chinese in Penang. Located along Madras Lane, it was founded by Choong Thiam Poe (1888-1930) in 1914. Choong Thiam Poe was himself received English education at the Penang Free School. However he had the privilege of learning Chinese and getting acquainted with Chinese literature through home tuition.

Hu Yew Seah (1 August 2006)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Choong Thiam Poe was involved in the Tung meng-hui revolutionary movement, and this perhaps propelled his desire to set up an organisation for his fellow Straits Chinese - also called the Babas - to have an opportunity to learn and appreciate the rich Chinese heritage and culture. To this end, he set up Hu Yew Seah to offer Mandarin language classes.

The present Hu Yew Seah building along Lorong Madras was opened in 1927 by Rabindranath Tagore, the 1913 Nobel Prize laureate for Literature from Calcutta, Bengal. Located next to Hu Yew Seah is the Hu Yew Seah Girls' School.

Hu Yew Seah (1 August 2006)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Getting there

Take the Rapid Penang Bus Nos. 10, 101 and 104 to Jalan Macalister. Then walk from Jalan Macalister to Lorong Madras. Hu Yew Seah is located on the right side of Lorong Madras, about 200 meters from the junction.