Kapitan Keling Mosque Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, George Town
Location Map
Map below shows the location of the Kapitan Keling Mosque and a suggested walking route from the Weld Quay Bus Terminal.
The Kapitan Keling Mosque along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (formerly Pitt Street), is one of the best known mosque in Penang. Before the construction of the Penang State Mosque, the Kapitan Keling Mosque was used as the state mosque of Penang, since it is the largest historic mosque in George Town. The Kapitan Keling Mosque was named after Caudeer Mohudeen, the head of the Indian Muslim community credited to have built it around 1800.
The name "kapitan keling" is used to denote the headman or leader of the South Indian Muslim community. The term "keling" is derived from the ancient Hindu kingdom on the Coromandel coast of South India, and the local Hokkien community corrupts the word to derive "keling-na" for Indians in general, particularly those from South India (The North Indians are pooled together with another term, "banggali", though they are not necessarily from Bengal). The title "Kapitan" is a corruption of the English word "Captain", and is used to denote the leader of the community. Similarly, the leader of the Chinese community during that period is called a Kapitan China.
The Kapitan Keling was the first Superintendent of the mosque. He brought in the builders and stones from India for the project. The original mosque structure was a single-storey rectangular building with a sloping roof on all sides and surrounded by a stone bench. It was surrounded by shophouses, with access through a narrow gateway.
Kapitan Keling Mosque
It is generally accepted that the 18-acre plot of land on which the mosque stands was granted to the Indian Muslim community by the then Lieutenant Governor of Penang, Sir George Leith, in November 1801 for the building of a "Mohamedan Church for ever". This was not to be, however, as over the years, and as George Town grew, the government had to buy back parcels of land from the mosque, for the town's social amenities. This includes the land for the nearby police station and the Campbell Street Market. The Kapitan would not have to live to see this happening to his mosque, having died in 1834. His tomb can be found at Kampung Kolam, not far from the mosque itself. As I write this (February 2005), the tomb is in a rather neglected state.
Meanwhile, the land belonging to the mosque continued to shrink in size, brought on by encroachment and improper management. Private homes were soon within a few feet of the mosque itself. By 1903, the original 18 acres had reduced to only 8.
In 1905, the government set up the Mohammedan and Hindu Endowment Board, to supervise the administration of trust lands (tanah wakaf). An extensive urban renewal programme was underway. In the 1910s, the mosque was given a major facelift in the British Moghul Revival style, with the addition of Mughal domes and turrets, a large minaret and a madrasah, completed around 1916. The mosque complies with Kiblat, which rules that it must face the direction of the Ka'aba.
Another renovation in 1930 gave the Kapitan Keling Mosque its present appearance after the previous design was deemed impractical. In keeping with tradition, the mosque was not rebuilt, but only enlarged. Among the major work during this period included doubling the height of the central prayer hall, improvement to the ventilation system, and allowing more natural light to enter. The exterior is ochre yellowed while the interior had white marble floors and a high ceiling. The interior aisles are formed by a series of horseshoe arches, crowned with King Edward's plaques. The façade of the building and its interior were decorated with geometric designs, as human and animal forms are forbidden in Islam.
The Kapitan Keling Mosque underwent its most recent refurnishment in 2003, with a RM5 million grant, as water seepage and poor drainage were affecting the building, closing it down for a year. In this renovation, some alterations that do not compromise on the original aesthetics of the building were included. Among the new extensions was a covered walkway and a women's ablution area. Calligraphy was added to the interior of the main dome and walls, where once these were decorated with foral motifs. An Islamic Information Centre is also set up on the ground floor of the minaret.
The Kapitan Keling Mosque is used by Muslims five times a day, seven days a week.
Getting there
Using the Weld Quay Bus Terminal as starting point, cross Pengkalan Weld using the pedestrian bridge. Turn left and walk along Pengkalan Weld until the junction of Gat Lebuh Chulia. Turn right into Gat Lebuh Chulia. Walk along Gat Lebuh Chulia. At the junction with Lebuh Pantai, Gat Lebuh Chulia becomes Lebuh Chulia. Continue along Lebuh Chulia until the junction of Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. Cross Lebuh Chulia, then cross Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. Now turn left, walk along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling until you see the Kapitan Keling Mosque on your right. This entrance at Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling used to be a side entrance; the original main entrance is at Lebuh Chulia.
What to see and do
Admire the Indian Muslim architecture. Take note that the mosque underwent a makeover in the 1930's which radically altered its appearance. Take note that the worship hall is out of bounds to non Muslims. Take photograph of the mosque and its minaret.
Nearby Sights
Masjid Kapitan Keling is located within the core zone of the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site. There are numerous sights around it that you can also visit. Their location is reference to the Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling entrance of the mosque. Among them:
Teochew Ancestral Temple: From the entrance of Masjid Kapitan Keling, turn left. At the junction with Lebuh Chulia, turn right and go down Lebuh Chulia. The Teochew Ancestral Temple is on the right side of Lebuh Chulia in front of the Lebuh Queen junction.
Sri Mahamariamman Temple: From the entrance of Masjid Kapitan Keling, turn left. At the junction with Lebuh Chulia, turn right and go down Lebuh Chulia. A short distance you is the junction to Lebuh Queen to the left. Turn in, and the Sri Mahamariamman Temple is on the left side of the street.
Nagore Shrine: From the entrance of Masjid Kapitan Keling, turn left. At the junction with Lebuh Chulia, turn right and go down Lebuh Chulia. Go past Lebuh Queen, and you will arrive at the Nagore Shrine at the next junction, Lebuh King.
Lim Kongsi: From the entrance of Masjid Kapitan Keling, cross Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, then enter Lebuh Ah Quee on the opposite side of the road. Go down Lebuh Ah Quee, and you will find Lim Kongsi on the right side of the road.
Kuan Yin Teng: From the entrance of Masjid Kapitan Keling, turn left. Cross the junction of Lebuh Chulia and continue along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. The Kuan Yin Teng is on the left side of the road, at the junction of Lorong Stewart.
The Kapitan Keling Mosque at Pitt Street (Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling).
(top) The Kapitan Keling Mosque at Pitt Street (Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling). (right) The Kapitan Keling minaret. (below) Minaret of the Kapitan Keling Mosque at nightfall.
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