Dear MCG members, As 2004 draws to a close, it is a time for reflection. The Malaysian Culture Group has enjoyed a very successful year judging by the fantastic attendance at our many events. We have covered a myriad of topics including the environment, natural healing, textiles, performing arts, dying arts, famous personalities, religion … the list is endless. I want to thank the hardworking Committee and all of the team for making my job as President a pleasure … most of the time anyway! To all of you who have helped us in whatever capacity, my sincere thanks. Special thanks to the Events Planning Team who keep coming up with unique and interesting events month after month. I wish all of you a joyous Christmas season and to everyone a very Happy and Healthy New Year! If you are traveling over the holidays, enjoy your journey and have a safe return. See you in 2005!
- Cindy Zeier PS: Almost forgot - don't forget to get your renewal forms returned to us promptly! Otherwise you may miss out on some very exciting events! PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
MCG ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS
As you will have no doubt noticed, this newsletter covers December 2004 and January 2005. The next newsletter will be the February 2005 issue which will come out at the end of January. The deadline for articles is January 12, 2005. I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who submitted articles this year, please keep them coming - it is appreciated! If you have any interesting stories, travelogues or photographs you'd like to submit, we would love to have them. You can submit articles, artwork and photographs to the editor at mcgevents@yahoo.com with 'newsletter' in the subject line. Please send text as MS Word documents. Artwork/photos should be at 300dpi resolution. Stories are edited for reasons of clarity, space or accuracy of expression. The opinions expressed in the MCG newsletter are those of the writers concerned and not necessarily those of the MCG.
- Lorna Wilkinson REPORTS FROM PREVIOUS EVENTS
A PRELUDE TO DIWALI
- 21 October 2004
About thirty members gathered at the business premises of Afshaan which is stocked with various types of Indian clothes, tablecloths, pottery, paintings and artifacts. The owners, Archana and Annette welcomed us with coffee and local delicacies. The talk on saris began with 'model of the day' Joan Hunter walking into the room wearing a sari patterned in pink and cream checks. Archana had acquired this "Patola" piece from Hyderabad. Apparently, colours and designs differ with each region of India where the fabric is made, and can be silk, chiffon or cotton. Using Ardy, as the next model, (she just happened to have the right accessories to match the beautiful brown Kalamkari patterned cotton sari on display!), Archana demonstrated how a sari is worn which took all of 5 mins - easy as pie. The rest of us who are not so practiced in the art of draping a 5½ metre piece of fabric would of course struggle to get it done in one hour, (speaking from my personal experience)! The piece that hangs over the shoulder is called the "pallava" and it is usually draped over the left shoulder. There is a sari for each different occasion and Archana passed around a wine-red sari suitable for going to the temple - it had a border pattern in fine silver wire thread. The next piece was a heavily stitched chiffon piece which came from Uttar Pradesh. We went through several more pieces from Archana's personal collection which has been collected over the years. Saris come in such a wide range of colours and designs that Archana believes that even at a huge wedding gathering, it is unlikely that two people will turn up with the same sari. We learnt that saris are the oldest form of clothing in India, followed by lengahs, (wide long skirts worn with a blouse). Later forms of clothing are the salwar kameez (influenced by the Moguls) and this is basically a long tunic with trousers and the churidar. Nowadays, saris are generally worn for special occasions or when the mood dictates, such as Deepavali or Diwali. Literally meaning a row of lamps, this Festival of Lights sees each home decorated with small oil lamps, called diyas, which are placed around the house, verandahs, gardens, courtyards. The festival signifies different things in different regions of India. In the north it celebrates the return of Rama after his 14-year exile and his conquest of good over evil. Everywhere it is also a celebration of a new beginning, prayers are offered for home and business matters with special tributes made to Ganesh, to Saraswathy, the goddess of wisdom and learning and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, new clothes are worn, sweetmeats exchanged amongst family and friends and fireworks are lit. It will be an experience to don a sari or salwar kameez and those of you who do take part in the Deepavali celebrations would have enjoyed and contributed to a colourful spectacle!
WHAT'S IN A NAME - Malaysian Names and Titles- 30 October 2004
On a lovely Saturday evening on the 30th of October, Geoff and Jo Randall kindly opened up their home for an MCG talk on Malaysian Names and Titles. The talk was given by Colette Hassan who has been in Malaysia for more than 30 years and worked in the Swiss Embassy as a Protocol Officer. She is thus in a unique position to 'educate' all of us on the subtleties of Malaysian society and hierarchy. The talk was a fascinating one and if I were to try to detail it all here, I would need another 10 pages! Colette did recommend that if anyone wanted to read further on the subject, they should try to get a book titled "Malaysian Protocol 3rd edition" by Abdullah Ali. (We have two copies of book in the MCG library if you wish to borrow it) Colette started off by outlining the formats and structure of Malay, Indian and Chinese names. She also went through the Government structures at a Federal, State and Judiciary level and ended by going through various titles and awards given in Malaysia. By the end of the talk, we were thus able to decipher that: Dato' Dr Hj Megat Mohd Johan Daud had performed a service to the country (Dato' title), held a professional qualification (Doctor), had performed the Haj Pilgrimage 10 weeks after Hari Raya (Hj), had royal blood on the maternal side (Megat), was a first born son (Mohd), was named Johan and his father was named Daud. Similarly, attentive listeners would have learned that the King is chosen from one of the nine royal houses and this is rotated every five years. He then lives in the Istana Negara for that period of reign. To make things more complicated, there is not just one form of address - each of the nine royal houses has its own idiosyncrasies and with this comes different forms of address and title. The remaining 4 states in Malaysia (Malacca, Sabah, Sarawak, Penang) have governors and not royalty. The full title of His Majesty The King is: DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Ibni Al-Marhun Tuanku Syed Putra Jamulail Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. The King can award titles on his birthday. These can number over 2,000 at a time. The titles are awarded to persons in recognition of services rendered to the King, to the country or to the community. If a man gets a title, his wife will also receive a derivative title but if a woman receives a title, her husband will not receive one. Also, as we have all seen in the news, these titles can be withdrawn. Colette's brief but comprehensive overview was extremely enlightening to all of us who have read the local papers and been stymied by the long honorifics in it. It was a great evening and it felt very virtuous to have learned something on a Saturday night!
LADY SWETTENHAM LECTURE - 3 November 2004
Our speaker, Dato' Henry Sackville Barlow, has the credentials and background which drew a large attendance for his talk on the morning of November 3rd on the topic of Lady Swettenham. Not only has he has written a book entitled "Swettenham" but if one types "Henry Sackville Barlow" into a search engine at Amazon Books, 450 results will show you how often our Speaker is quoted on this subject! Dato' Henry Sackville Barlow was educated at Cambridge and holds a Masters Degree in Arts. He is a Chartered Accountant as well as a Director of Guthrie Ropel Berhad and HSBC (Malaysia) Berhad. With thirty-one years of experience in the plantations industry and his association with the Heritage of Malaysia Trust and Council of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Dato' Henry Barlow's study of the Swettenhams is a work that is enhanced by his broad perspective. Our Speaker's initial interest was in Sir Frank Swettenham, who in 1882 was appointed Resident (advisor) to the Malay state of Selangor. Sir Frank Swettenham was an important part of the history of Malaysia and much of his legacy helped to forge the Malaysia we live in today. Our Speaker described Sir Frank Swettenham as a passionate and ambitious man who saw his career as a British Colonial official as an opportunity to be successful in an otherwise prospectless life. Sir Frank Swettenham achieved his career ambitions and has gone down in history as a man who was highly influential in shaping British policy and the structure of British administration in the Malay Peninsula. In the course of his study of Sir Frank Swettenham, our speaker was naturally interested in Lady Swettenham. Despite her husband's prominence, little is known about her as much of her life and activities were undocumented. Piecing together the garnered snippets of Lady Swettenham's life allows us a special view of life for women during the colonial period in this part of the world. As our MCG members and guests enjoyed a refreshing flow of cool air provided by the quiet ceiling fans of the Badan Warisan, Dato' Henry Barlow gave us a chronological account of events from which a rather tragic, unbalanced yet, at times, humorous portrait of Lady Swettenham's life emerged. The environment lent an aura conducive to imagining as our Speaker's skilful narrative transported forty or so modern expatriate women to another time- an era when social mores dictated lives very tightly bound by convention and rules. One can not help but revel in the comparative freedom and independence the expatriate woman of today enjoys in Malaysia. One important element that stood out through Dato' Henry Barlow's presentation is the fact that Lady Sidney Swettenham's existence was very much controlled and created by the principal men in her life. Although we may not have made the same choices as Sidney Swettenham did, many of us could not help but feel a sympathy for her born out of female solidarity. Living in such a small colonial community, the formal, Victorian values of Sidney Swettenham's time were far more unforgiving than in the KL we know today. As our speaker stood delivering the tantalizing fragments which his superb detective work obtained, he showed us black and white slides which brought to life the times of Sidney Swettenham. Frank Swettenham was advised by sources he respected that marriage to the right woman was an important step to success in his career so, during a rather short leave in England he quickly made his choice. Described as petite, beautiful, and "highly strung", Sidney Holmes was only eighteen years old when she was chosen by Frank Swettenham as the accessory which would make his image complete as a successful leader in his chosen career. The wedding was lavish and Frank offered Sidney a much-longed for escape from her family. In many ways the marriage was doomed from the beginning. Aside from the age difference, both partners were themselves, from dysfunctional families and didn't seem either capable or interested in creating a successful relationship. Sidney's father, Cecil Holmes, was an over-bearing man and parent. He was conservative, intolerant of new things and believed in a strong grounding in the classics. While Sidney was still young, her mother, unable to tolerate her husband, had left what was described as an "uncongenial home". After her marriage, Sidney's father's autocratic position in her life, was replaced by her over-bearing husband. Sidney seemed a shadow to Frank as he energetically set about building railroads and the many other projects which have ensured him a prominent place in history. For the first years of their marriage, Sidney all but disappeared from any records. It is known that Sidney enjoyed some success in her duties as a colonial wife. She played tennis, was involved in horticultural events, created pleasure gardens and was successful at some social events because of a particular style she carried off well. In time, Sidney's high strung nature turned into a severe mental disorder which eventually destroyed the quality of her life, destroyed her marriage and led her to be institutionalized. A deep insecurity appeared to be created in Sidney's life under the unbalanced and dominating control of her father. This nervous condition, a lack of opportunity for the maturing of her personality combined with the insensitive way her husband treated her may have led to the emotional instability evident in the stories our Speaker related to us. Sidney had bouts of manic moods and her emotional outbreaks caused her husband to keep much of his personal life separate and secret from her. We learned that she appeared to distrust her husband with all women. Perhaps experience had taught such her such distrust but even women journalists and historians who sought Frank Swettenham out on a work-related basis had to be kept secret and hidden from Sidney. If she had known of their meetings Sidney would have caused scenes which her husband wanted to avoid. As the marriage broke down both husband and wife had extra marital relationships. Our Speaker informed us on the practices concerning illegitimate children and once again the very strict social rules of the times were reflected in the individual cases of the Swettenhams. Society's unwillingness to accept children of liaisons between races led to great complications and tragedy. In the case of Frank's illegitimate son, the mother blackmailed Frank to insure a good education for the boy. After an education in medicine he went on to a successful practice in KL and enjoyed some prestige as an adult. To avoid scandal, Frank made arrangements with other expatriate men in similar circumstances. Illegitimate sons were married to illegitimate daughters and they lived their lives in special social niches created for them. Sidney became pregnant, was sent to England to deliver the child and the child was registered as "still born". Rather chillingly, our Speaker told us how babies of mixed races were often quietly murdered at birth. Lady Swettenham's role as the wife of Sir Frank Swettenham appeared on the surface to be an elegant one but Dato' Henry Barlow's presentation has shown us the harsher realities underneath that veneer. The conditions imprinted on Lady Swettenham in her early years (mostly by her father) set her up for making poor decisions including a bad choice in husbands. Due to her disposition and her husband's attitude, Sidney Swettenham, despite being Sir Frank Swettenham's wife, was not successful or happy as a part of the mainstream colonial society. Instead, she lived her life on the fringes of society and her actions caused much controversy. Tragically, she spent the latter part of her life in institutions. One feels sad to learn that in the end the only one left to defend her was her maid. Sidney sent this maid to represent her at court when Sir Frank Swettenham filed for divorce. Although the maid was inarticulate and had her own private agenda, she was successful in leading the Judge to make the telling remark that perhaps it was Sir Frank Swettenham who was the cause of Lady Swettenham's mental illness.
DEEPAVALI LUNCH - 4 November 2004
As I arrived at Manjus' I was greeted by the stunning sight of 50 MCG women and 1 man, all attired in beautiful Indian outfits. Some wore saris, others salwar kameez. The colors were vibrant. Each guest received a bindi and all were invited to have their hands, or other parts of their body, decorated with henna. I knew we going to be treated to a very special day when Manju invited us to leave our adult selves at the front gate and be childlike for the afternoon. Manju, a gracious hostess and wonderful cook, opened her beautiful home to us. Upon arrival we were beguiled by the intricate rangoli design by the front door which was created by Manju's sister-in-law, Anu. A rangoli is made from colored rice flour and designed to invite the Goddess Lakshmi into the home. Across India similar Rangoli's are prepared daily. Manju explained the meaning of Deepavali to us. She said that the festival, though celebrated throughout India, does not have one single meaning, and each region celebrates in its own way. Indeed, it is not so much a religious festival but a cultural festival. In this way it is about good overcoming evil, about dispelling darkness in favor of light and turning ignorance into knowledge. The festival is particularly enjoyed by children who enjoy the lighting of lanterns and seeing their homes beautifully decorated. Manju explained that at this time in India people chose to spring-clean their homes as part of the preparations for making their homes attractive for Lakshmi to enter. In Malaysia, which is such a multicultural society, it is encouraged that people from all races join in and celebrate Deepavali. In this way, we are all part of a fantastic melting pot of culturally rich traditions. Following this brief talk we were then treated to a stunning lunch. Manju had brought back from India authentic street plates, made from reeds which are discarded after use, in the same way as a paper plate. Upon these we were served traditional street food as an entrée and then later an amazing delectable range of Indian dishes, including homemade paneer, lentil dumplings, chicken and fish curries. Being a bit of a serious Indian sweet gourmet I was looking forward to the sweets and was not disappointed. I tried a new yogurt dish and enjoyed old favorites. All the flavors were sublime.
MCG NEWS BOOK CLUB REPORTSWhispers at the Pagoda: Portraits of Modern Burma by Julie Sell On October 29th, Book Group 1 met at Jean Wingfield's home to discuss the evocative book, Whispers at the Pagoda, Portraits of Modern Burma, published in 1999. The topic was very timely given the prevalence of news regarding the current upheaval among Burma's ruling generals. Author, Julie Sell, now a correspondent for the Economist magazine, points out that there are two very different images of Burma: that of a delightful, alluring land with picturesque pagodas and charming people, or the darker image of military repression and widespread suffering. Ms Sell made several trips to this little-known country in the late 90's and was eventually able to hold clandestine interviews and conversations with unique Burmese individuals from all walks of life: journalists, scholars, doctors, monks, students, soldiers, to name a few. People were willing to risk potential harm in the hope of spreading the word of their plight (all names have been changed to protect them). Pictures of great strife and lives of fear and poverty emerge with successive interviews. The author's bravery and persistence as well as her clever interviewing skills were apparent throughout. Particularly revealing were those interviews with student democracy leaders who had been in the 1988 uprising and massacre, or those with minority tribal people forced to flee, to relocate en masse, or to do hard labor for the ruthless military generals. Julie Sell's characters truly came alive with vivid descriptions of real people in their own day-to-day context. She grouped her interviews according to subject and was faithful to the words of her interviewees. The photographs introducing each chapter were also very revealing. Burma under the British had developed into an educated, advanced society but has now fallen into serious decay with only the top generals leading lives of wealth and ease, largely fed by the drug trade and the exploitation of the nation's natural resources. The discussion leader was able to contact the author who said she had been in touch with Burmese dissidents in exile, but that her book is banned in Burma and she would never be able to return there under the present administration. When asked if tourists should avoid travel to Burma in an effort to boycott the military regime, she admitted such a fascinating country is inviting so she gave pointers as to what one should do or not do. The bottom line for everyone is to spread the word, make the world see the plight of the Burmese people. As a group, we worried about a solution but could only conclude that with so little help from the outside and with so little known about this isolated country and at a time when there are so many other hot spots in the world, it will be a long time before much improvement can be made. Change would have to come from inside but from such a diverse yet docile people, this will be hard. Everyone appreciated the book and felt it an especially valuable read for anyone traveling to Burma.
Tiziano Terzani, Italian by birth (but unmistakably Asian at heart), lived in Asia for most of his life. A man obviously not afraid of living amidst of one of the world's most geographically unstable regions during the 70s and 80s, Terzani worked for over three decades as a Far East correspondent for Der Speigel, reporting on everything from wars to revolutions. In 1977, Terzani was told by a fortune-teller, "Beware! You run a grave risk of dying in 1993. You mustn't fly that year. Don't fly, not even once." Sixteen years later, on the eve of Jan 1st 1993, Terzani was faced with the decision of either putting his journalistic career on hold by heeding the fortune-teller's advice or by tempting fate. Terzani chose the former. This book is about the year he spent travelling through Asia and Europe by every means imaginable, other than by air. In addition, Terzani decides, "with the decision not to fly I also took another, a logical extension of the game. I decided that wherever I might go that year I would seek out the most eminent local fortune-teller … ask him to look into my future, and try to learn something of my fate." Thus lies the premise of this book on Terzani's "Earthbound Travels". Although our group generally enjoyed the selection and considered it a worthwhile read, our discussion remained primarily focused on Terzani's seemingly schizophrenic and highly opinionated views. Early in the book, Terzani laments, "What an ugly invention tourism is!", forgetting entirely his role as a traveler and the basis of all his book sales - a "travelogue". Terzani seems to make some indiscernible distinction between tourists who arrive in a plane from afar, intent to learn about another culture "with their insatiable cameras and camcorders" and himself, a journalist who traveled extensively to write about the region. The following page after this comment, Terzani takes off to pay his respects at the gravesite of a fellow "adventurer", Henri Mouhout, the Frenchman who "discovered" Angkor Wat in 1860. Readers are left puzzled by the obvious contradiction: what precisely is the difference between any of these? - all are individuals who choose to travel, discover something new and share it with the world. Terzani speaks a great deal about the negative impact of consumerism, industrialization and progress. Having lived in a home that was featured in an international architectural magazine, regularly staying in up-market hotels and dining with diplomats, one wonders how Terzani can offer negative judgment on the impact of consumerism as a whole. Assuming his home and hotels had air conditioning, running water and all the amenities we cherish, Terzani's comments about the "loathsome" superhighways and large airports - the very access points which probably bring him a number of the items which make his lifestyle possible seem out of place. The "consumerism" aspect of modernization Terzani demonizes is a part of the price any developing nation pays to provide better healthcare, improved access and services to all its residents (including foreign journalists!) - yet that notion does not seem to occur to our author. Similarly, although the basis of his entire book is about his following the advice of a fortune-teller (and consequently making money from it), on more than a few occasions Terzani writes about the locals' ideas of mysticism in a condescending manner. The reader is thus repeatedly baffled by the hypocrisy behind Terzani's statements. The other subject of Book Group 2's discussion revolved around Terzani's strong sweeping views of the countries he visited. Being an obviously well-studied journalist, Terzani does not hold back on providing a running commentary on the history, economics, social welfare and politics of every country he visits. What he does not do, however, is provide a balanced view of his ideas. Having lived in the region and travelled extensively ourselves, a number of us found exception to his opinions. We hope that the average reader would understand that while many of his points of view may have been valid, they only represent a small part of the entire picture. Any generalizations made by Terzani of an entire country or culture based on the brief encounters noted in this book will hopefully not be taken entirely seriously by "armchair travelers" or potential explorers. We also hope that Terzani's audience will read his works with a far less critical eye than he had when passing judgment on the numerous cities, cultures and peoples he encountered! Despite the fact that most us found "A Fortune Teller Told Me" a bit hypocritical, judgmental and Terzani's perceptions somewhat contradictory, we did agree that it was an enjoyable, light-hearted read. Tiziano Terzani had a passion for Asia, and overlooking some of the above criticisms, he was truly "one of us" (expats living abroad who enjoy learning more about the region). Unfortunately Tiziano Terzani passed away in July of this year at the age of 66. Thanks to Betsy for hosting (again!) and a warm welcome to our new Book Group 2 members: Gwen, Julie and Lorna.
LIBRARY REPORT Welcome to the library members who signed up at the newcomers' coffee morning in October. They are: Hootoksi Tyabi, Judith von Nostitz, Renata Neef, Jessie Mahal, Ardy Timmer, Janneke Bomhoff, Nadia Mosano and Jasbeer Singh. Welcome also to new member Kon Cze Yan. I sent out an email notice to tell let you know that I would be away for a few weeks in November. The library will be open again from 4 to 18 December and then again from 31 January 2005. I look forward to seeing you at either stage - just call to fix a time. We've spent a few ringgits on some new books. They include Traditional Muslim Architecture in Malaysia (with plans and illustrations of mosques, houses and shophouses) and, by special request, Cuzinhia Cristang: a Malacca-Portuguese Cookbook. For the coffee table we have Malaysia: a Pictorial History, which traces Malaysia's development from 1400 to the present. The advent of photography gives the British colonial period a strong showing in this book, and many colour photos illuminate Malaysia's modern achievements. There is also a copy of Whispers at the Pagoda, which offers insights into Myanmar's history, culture and current events through interviews conducted by Julie Sell, a journalist now working for "The Economist". Read the review in this issue - it was Book Club 1's choice for October. You also might be interested in following up on the November lecture about the Swettenhams. You can read Dato' Henry Barlow's comprehensive book on Sir Frank Swettenham, or Sir Frank Swettenham's own Malayan Journals 1874 to 1876. Other general background on the British in Malaya includes Margaret Shennan's Out in the Midday Sun (the British in Malaya 1880- 1960) and Eric Lawlor's Murder on the Verandah: Love and Betrayal in British Malaya. Alternatively, you may wish to learn more about Malaysian protocol, following Colette Hassan's talk held on October 30. We have two copies of Abdullah Ali's comprehensive guide. Please let me know what other new books you would like to see in the library. Our purchasing policy is very accommodating, while funds remain. See you at the library.
WORTHY OF MENTION ELLIE ZHOU PERFORMING ARTS BI-ANNUAL SHOW The Ellie Zhou Performing Arts are hosting their biannual performance, Tapestry of my Heart, on January 22nd and 23rd, 2005. The dancers will be Ellie Zhou's professional dancers and senior adult students and the dances will include Neo Classical Ballet, Tibetan Dances, Ethic Dances, Mongolian dances and Contemporary dances. If you enjoyed (or missed) the visit, here is your chance to see a full performance. Dates: January 22, 3pm and 8pm, January 23, 8pm. Buffet dinner starts at 6.30pm If you wish to attend any of these performances please contact Ellie Zhou Performing Arts directly on 7804 5600 or 016 383 0960.
CHEONG FATT TZE MANSION - Penang The Mansion, now dazzling in its original indigo-blue, incorporates 38 rooms, 5 granite-paved courtyards, 7 staircases and 220 windows. Master craftsmen were originally imported from China, in the 1880's and again in the restoration in the 1990s. The paradigm Chinese Courtyard House has been embellished with Chinese timber carvings and porcelain cut and paste decorative shard works as well as Gothic louvred windows, art nouveau stained glass panels, Stoke-on-Trent floor tiles and Scottish cast iron works. It is an edifice of impressive delicacy, awesome in its "feng shui" subtleties and is an extraordinary tribute to the construction and design skills of the past. Today, the mansion is only of three of its kind still left standing outside China About Cheong Fatt Tze. Epitomizing the rags-to-riches story, Cheong Fatt Tze left China, a penniless 16-year-old in 1856 and grew to become a one-man multinational conglomerate. Dubbed "China's last Mandarin and first capitalist", Cheong was honoured with the title of "Rockefeller of the East" by the New York Times. Consult General for China, Mandarin of the Highest Order, director of China's railway and first modern bank, flags were ordered to be flown at half-mast by the Dutch and the British in their colonies, to honour this man when he passed away in 1916. Although he had homes throughout the East, he chose Penang as his operational base and built a late 19th Century architectural legacy of the highest order. It was designed to reflect his stature as well as to embody his ability to successfully combine an eclectic approach to life. The cycle of life has been restored to the Mansion, to reactivate the intrinsic meaning of the place. As a private, inward-looking home, the values of family life & filial piety were nurtured by Cheong Fatt Tze who led by word and deed. Except for the incorporation of modern sanitary and ventilation amenities in the bedrooms, the original building fabric has been lovingly restored in pursuit of authenticity. High ceilings, timber floorboards on joists, ventilated rooms with open cast iron fanlights, sheltered verandahways around courtyards open to the sky, hand-plastered walls, lime-wash in Indigo Blue & Chinese lacquered doors and windows are some elements that pay respect to the traditions of a distant past. The mansion is located on Leith Street, Penang and is well worth a visit. BOOKING POLICY FOR EVENTS Reservations Wait List Payments Cancellations Refunds Eligibility Event Participation
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