Meng Eng Choo (Ghee Hin Memorial Hall of Heroes)

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Meng Eng Choo (13 February 2005)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Door gods of the Meng Eng Choo (13 February 2005)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Meng Eng Choo Location Map

Memorial at the Penang General Hospital commemorating the donation from the Ghee Hins and other parties (6 March 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Meng Eng Choo, also written Meng Eng Soo, or Ghee Hin Memorial Hall of Heroes, is the base of the infamous Ghee Hin Secret Society of the 19th century. They set up their base in Rope Walk after they were ousted from their original base in Church Street by their nemesis, the Hai San leader Kapitan China Chung Keng Kwee, who took over the Church Street premises and turned it into his residence and home, called Hai Kee Chan. The Ghee Hin's new premises at Rope Walk is located next to the base of their Malay associates, the White Flag Society based at Masjid Pintal Tali.

The Meng Eng Choo acts as a clan temple for the Ghee Hins, who are mostly of the Teochew and Cantonese dialect groups. They are a spin-off from the Hung League triad group in China, and in the Malay peninsula, they had their branches in Penang, Taiping, Ipoh and Singapore. As a triad, they cause much trouble to the British authorities for their fondness to attack and burn post offices. They were also the players in the three Larut Wars, although it must also be pointed out that they are not always the ones to start the warfare, but are often retaliating against what they perceive as unfair deals or simply outright bullying from the Hai San Secret Society.

The third Larut War resulted in the Pangkor Engagement (Perjanjian Pangkor), which gave the Ghee Hins the short end of the deal. The most lucrative tin mines in the Larut region, Krian Pauh, went to the Hai San, while they were given the mining area of Krian Baru, which is inferior in tin deposit. These two areas become the towns of Taiping and Kamunting respectively today.

When the British outlawed secret societies, it compelled the Ghee Hin Society towards dissolution. The setting up of the Meng Eng Choo is what I would deem a 19th century version of "money laundering". The society had to sell or transfer all its assets by June 1890. The property previously known as Hong Eng Tong (or in Mandarin Hong Ying Tang) at 48 Jalan Pintal Tali had to be registered to new trustees. The Meng Eng Choo was then set up as a legitimate society with the purpose of offering prayers to noted deceased Ghee Hin members, numbering 165 in all.

Getting there

Using the Komtar Bus Terminal as point of reference, cross Lebuh Tek Soon to Prangin Mall. At Prangin Mall, walk along Lebuh Lintang to Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong. Cross Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong and enter Jalan Pintal Tali. Cross the junction of Lebuh Kimberley and continue along Jalan Pintal Tali. Meng Eng Choo is on the left side of Jalan Pintal Tali, immediately after Masjid Pintal Tali, near the junction of Pesara Claimant.

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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.