Heah Swee Lee’s ancestral mansion is a dilapidated landmark at the edge of Bukit Tambun. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
DESPITE losing some of its old-world charm due to a lack of proper maintenance, a century- old double-storey mansion in Bukit Tambun, Penang, has continued to draw curious crowds.
Several community programmes were held at Heah Swee Lee’s mansion, including the Chinese New Year celebrations in 2019 and again in 2022, all largely due to the mansion’s Peranakan-style design.
“Film crews have also chosen the mansion as a shooting location for The Little Nyonya and The Promise movies,” said Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik.
Despite its striking architecture and cultural value, much of the interior of the mansion remains in ruins, with crumbling walls, decaying structures and creeping vines reclaiming the space.
It is understood that the owner, who is residing on Penang island, is not keen to restore the building.
Penang Heritage Trust president Clement Liang has called for the authorities to take action against the owner for neglecting the mansion which has become a public safety hazard and an eyesore.
“In many other countries, you cannot even leave your garden unkempt without being sued by the city council or neighbours.
“Just because such properties are privately owned, the authorities are not willing to take stern action.
“This only encourages irresponsible behaviour among the house owners. They should instead be fined heavily on a daily basis,” said Liang.
Framed by classical columns and adorned with ornate plasterwork, the exterior of the mansion has tiled panels depicting scenes from the classical story 24 Examples of Filial Piety.
The imposing wooden doors, decorative window grilles bearing the Chinese double-happiness motif (shuangxi), and a full-length verandah reflect a Peranakan Chinese shophouse.
The local community had even tried to enhance the surroundings by painting murals and decorating nearby rows of old houses to showcase the village’s cultural and heritage charm.
Much of the mansion’s interior is in ruins with decaying structures and creeping vines
Although the mansion is on private land, Seberang Perai mayor Datuk Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid hoped that the owner would preserve the southern Chinese heritage structure built in the early 1900s.
“The building is listed as a Category I heritage building in the inventory of Seberang Perai, but not gazetted under the Penang State Heritage Enactment Act 2011.
“As it is privately owned, our role is limited to providing conservation advice and guidance, without the authority to carry out direct restoration works.
“But we are always prepared to provide advisory services and guidance related to conservation methods, in line with heritage building conservation guidelines,” he said.
Category I heritage buildings are those considered important as they reflect the authenticity of the cultural landscape.
They should remain as originally intended while repairs carried out should use authentic, traditional ways of building methods and materials, according to George Town World Heritage Incorporated.
Historical accounts say the house was built by sugarcane baron Heah Jin Wooi, a prominent figure among the Teochew community in Kuala Kurau during the 19th century.
The mansion later became widely known by his son’s name. Heah Swee Lee was born in Batu Kawan in 1875 and passed away in 1924, according to genealogical records.
In its heyday, the two-storey clan house stood as a symbol of the area’s once-flourishing plantation community.
