Kapitan Kling Mosque
The Kapitan Kling moque is one of the oldest on Penang ( the other Old
mosque is located in Armenian Street). In 1801, Sir
George Leith, then Lieutenant Governor of Penang, granted the Muslims a
7ha piece of land for religious purposes.
Cauder Mohhidden, the Kapitan of the
Indian Muslim settlers, was credited with the founding of the mosque
that was subsequently named after him.
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The first people who came from India to Penang were Muslims and
settled down near Pitt Street an Chulia Street. They had their Kapitan
Kling Mosque.
The first Arab traders settled down near Armenian Street and that
became their Muslim enclave. They
founded the Acheen Street Malay Mosque in 1808.
Both (Arabs and Indians) became rich by buying in
spices between Sumatra (Aceh) and selling the spices on Penang
to the Europeans.
In the old days there was some dispute between the
people Armenian Street (Acheen Street
Malay Mosque) and the Kapitan
Kling Mosque about the ramadan.
But that's over now!
Nowadays there is a unique tradition in
George Town in which Muslims performed their Friday prayers
alternately at the Kapitan Keling Mosque and the Armenian Street Malay
Mosque.
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The Kapitan Kling mosque is easy to find in Georgetown.
It's a very nice trip to walk. Start walking at the Komtar. You walk
down Penang Road.
You can have a look at the Chowrasta Wet
Market. This is a well-stocked bazaar boasting
of prices that even the locals will call cheap.
After the Chowrasta (at your right hand side) starts another beautiful
rod with many shops: Lebuh Campbell.
This is a renovated old street with many beautiful shops: specially
gold shops.
It's such a nice walk, that you didn't notice, that you're at the end
of the street (in the meantime this street has also got another name).
At your left hand you'll see the Kapitan Kling Mosque
with it's dark brown dome.
You can visit the mosque and take some pictures. There's even a "Islam
visitors centre".
After a quick visit there's also the Khoo Kongsi in
this neighbourhood.
Coming out of the mosque you'll go to the right. After 50 meters
starts Lebuh Cannon. Now you have to look for a sign board with "Khoo
Kongsi" on it.
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