Koh Lay Huan's Grave
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Koh Lay Huan's Grave (12 July 2025)
Koh Lay Huan's Grave (GPS: 5.3939, 100.29631) is located in Island Park, immediately behind 98 Greenlane. Originally exposed to the elements, the grave itself is today sheltered by a shed. However the area surrounding the grave has become overgrown, and is not reachable when I visited the area.
Koh Lay Huan is the first and only Kapitan Cina of Penang. I describe him in this website as well as on video. After he died in 1826, he was buried at the foot of a hill in the then Batu Lanchang area, which later was developed as Green Lane.
From what I understand, the entire piece of land from Batu Lanchang to Bukit Gelugor used to belong to Koh Lay Huan, given to him by Captain Francis Light. At that time, it was undeveloped and forested, and it was left to him to clear. The land passed down through the generations to his descendants, among them Koh Seang Tek and Koh Seang Tat.
Koh Seang Tat, who rose to prominence in 19th century Penang sold off parts of the land plot by plot to be developed, as does subsequent generations. Perhaps the most recent development in the vicinity to Koh Lay Huan's grave is 98 Greenlane, developed from land that was once the burial ground of the Koh clan. The graves of many of Koh Lay Huan's descendants, including Koh Seang Tat, was located there. To make way for the development, the graves were exhumed and the remains relocated to a columbarium nearby.
Today I am able to view Koh Lay Huan's Grave from afar. Due to the undergrowth that has engulfed the surroundings, it was not possible for me to reach it. The roof of the shelter for the grave is visible from Lorong Gangsa within the gated 98 Greenlane.
Koh Lay Huan's Grave is 
on the Map of Lorong Gangsa, Penang
Private columbarium housing the remains of Koh Lay Huan's descendants (12 July 2025)
Koh Lay Huan's Grave on Google Street View
Koh Lay Huan's Grave (May 2018)Video: Koh Lay Huan, First and Only Kapitan Cina of Penang
List of Cemeteries in Penang and Cemeteries in Malaysia
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