Penang Islamic Museum (Syed Alatas Mansion)

Penang Islamic Museum Location Map

Penang Islamic Museum

Penang Islamic Museum, also known as the Syed Alatas Mansion, is a heritage building at 128 Lebuh Armenian, 10200 Penang. The museum was created to celebrate the role and contribution of Malay leaders in the development and propagation of Islam in Penang. It also documents for posterity the history of the Malay settlement in Acheen Street and provides details on Malay personalities of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Syed Alatas Mansion was built by Syed Mohammad Alatas, an Achenese by descent, who built his mansion along Armenian Street. The mansion, in mid-19th century Straits Eclectic style, was built in 1860, and stands today as one of the few bungalows with Islamic elements from that era. It is one of the few bungalows erected by the Malay elite of the 19th century, similar to the Teh Bunga Mansion. A defender of the liberty of Acheh against the Dutch, Syed Alatas provided support to the Achenese resistance in the form of fire arms. His mansion was the venue for clandestine base for Achenese rebels.

Syed Alatas was the leader of the Red Flag secret society, which is centred at Malay Town, as the Muslim settlement around Acheen Street and Armenian Street were called at that time. The Red Flag, aligned with Khian Teik Tong (read Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple and Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi) The Red Flag society fought with the White Flag secret society in the Penang Riots of 1867. Syed Alatas had two wives. The first wife was from a Malay royal family while his second wife was the daughter of wealthy Straits Chinese pepper trader, Khoo Tiang Poh, who was a member of the Khoo Kongsi and the Khian Teik Tong. The marriage to Khoo Tiang Poh's daughter strengthened the alliance between the Red Flag and the Khian Teik Tong.

As a result of the rioting, Syed Omar Basheer, leader of the Acheen Street Mosque, issued a fatwa outlawing the people of Islamic faith (the Malays, Achenese, Indian Muslims, etc.) from being involved in secret society activities.

The mansion became the property of the Municipal Council. Restoration work was carried out on it in 1996, with technical assistance coming from the France, and financed by the Federal and State governments as well as the Municipal Council. The restoration work was honored by Badan Warisan Malaysia with a Best Project award in 1999.

The Penang Islamic Museum is open daily except Tuesdays, from 9:30 am to 6:00pm. Entrance fee is RM3 for adults and RM1.20 children below 12 years old.

Getting there

The Penang Islamic Museum can be reached by taking the Rapid Penang Bus 10, 301, 302, 307, 401 and U502, disembarking at Lebuh Carnavon. Check the Rapid Penang Bus Routes for details. Walk along Lebuh Carnavon to the junction with Lebuh Acheh. A short distance down, to the left, is Lebuh Armenian. The Penang Islamic Museum is on the left side at the junction.