Nam Hoe Villa, now abandoned, is said to have once hosted pre-independence meetings chaired by Tunku Abdul Rahman.
I HAD a chance to travel back in time by visiting the abandoned Nam Hoe Villa in Klebang, Melaka.
As a building surveying student who explored this mansion with friends for our university coursework, I was moved by the significance of this house.
Throughout our visit, we were able to witness the convergence of Peranakan, British and Roman architectural styles, each telling a story of its own.
The fact that this building has served as a guest house for dignitaries, a venue for political gatherings and a temporary residence for VIPs, adds layers of historical importance to it.
Remnants of Peranakan-style tiles used to build the historic house in Klebang, Melaka.
The said VIPs included founding figures like former finance minister Tun Tan Siew Sin, former deputy prime minister Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, former MCA acting president Datuk Dr Cheah Toon Lock and former justice minister Tun Leong Yew Koh.
I was told that pre-independence meetings chaired by our first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj were also held there.
Compared to similar mansions, the layout of Nam Hoe Villa stands out with interesting features such as the positioning of its staircase, the open spaces within the house and the surrounding sub-houses.
It is a living testament to a bygone era and it was an honour to have had the chance to discover its hidden story.
The conflict between the villa’s owners and local authorities that has caused this repository of history and culture to be abandoned is disheartening.
It is a stark reminder of the challenges we face in conserving historical landmarks.
But, this only fuels our determination to advocate for the preservation of such sites.
Nam Hoe Villa represents a link to our past, and its potential registration as part of our national heritage would be an important step in ensuring its conservation.
My visit to the villa has strengthened my belief in the importance of conserving old buildings for they are living testaments to our history and identity.
As we concluded our exploration, I felt an immense sense of responsibility to promote the significance of the villa and advocate for its conservation.
Preserving old buildings honour the stories they hold and the lessons they can teach us.
Perhaps one day, everyone can visit a “Nam Hoe Villa Museum”, complete with stories from our collective past – one that would help chart our way towards a harmonious future.
TAN HOU AN
Faculty of Built Environment,
Universiti Malaya
Kuala Lumpur
