Historical 'House of 72 families’ to go

Sisters Goay Choo (yellow), Goay Eng, 66, (red) and Goay Lan, 64, (purple) drying clothes at the premises where they had spent their childhood. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

THE future of another building carrying more than a century of history along Burmah Road is in the dark.

This old two-storey building was famously called ‘Lang Chia Keng’ in Penang Hokkien, which means ‘House of Trishawmen’.

It was also called the ‘72 families’ house.

The few tenants who remained behind were served eviction notices and must leave by end of next month.

They do not know what will become of their home.

Trishaw rider Low Sek Kooi, 88, said he has been staying there for more than 30 years.

“We have no idea what the land owner is planning to do with the site.

“Everything is being kept hush-hush,” he said when reporters visited his home recently.

The house is easily missed as one turns into Burmah Road from Penang Road, where it is sandwiched on the left between a large building and food outlets.

It once had more than 20 rooms and more than 100 people used to live in it as sort of a micro community.

It gained its name as the upper floors had dormitory for trishaw riders and single men.

(From second left) Tanjong MCA secretary Datuk Lim Gim Soon, Tan, Ng(centre) and H’ng (right) giving out some dry rations to members of the families who are still living in the heritage building.

Today, only four families still live there but they would be gone soon. They have been served with eviction notices last November and given six months to vacant the premises.

Padang Kota Gerakan constituency coordinator H’ng Khoon Leng said a check with the land office showed the property was held by three trustees with a caveat by an individual with a Penang address but its sale had not been made known yet.

Five sisters, who are among the last families staying there said they do not have the heart to leave because they have been living there since their childhood.

“The building is filled with memories and heritage values and it also has a unique history.

“Families here used to do everything together and as kids we will run and play together,” said Eoh Goay Choo, 75.

Goay Choo said the kitchens of every household were connected to each other at the back of the lower floor and all the wives cooked together while sharing stories or recipes.

She added that most of the rooms are unoccupied or used as a store now, while the rooms on the upper floor were empty and locked.

Tanjong Gerakan constituency coordinator Datuk Ng Siew Lai said this is another living heritage in the heart of George Town at stake.

“We hope the building will be restored,” she said when she visited the house.

H’ng also said that at the back of the building is a temple, which is believed to be more than a century old and has a ‘one-of-a-kind’ statue of Mazu, the goddess of the sea protecting fishermen and sailors.

He said the temple, which is another gem, will also need to go if the building is going to be demolished.

“The building shows how the people of Penang used to live in the yesteryears and may be the only one left in the Tanjong constituency,” he said.

Also present at the site was MCA Komtar constituency coordinator Tan Hing Teik.