The First Qadhi of Penang House (1888)

Figure 1: Outer design of the house

The clock is ticking and it is 9.10am. We (Pn. Nazlina and I) walked down the street to Acheen Street Malay Mosque as our appointment with En. Mohamed Yahya or Cikgu Mat would be at 9.30am. Just a few minutes, we reach the mosque. The Ramzan’s Restaurant is just few blocks from the mosque.

Figure 2: Infront view

The 1st scenery I viewed was the row of old houses on the left and behind of the mosque. We just walked around and snap as many pictures as I could. We went to the no. 69 house which was the first Qadhi of Penang around 1888. While enjoy taking picture, a man came out from his house and heading to his car. Before went out from the mosque area, the man ask Pn Nazlina what we are doing around and if anything that he could help. Pn Nazlina introduced us and told our purpose going there. The man I mention is Tengku Syed Omar who is the ancestor of Tengku Syed Hussin Al-Aidid. En Syed call someone and then help us to meet Cikgu Mat easily. At that moment, we keep continue to take the picture of the outer side of the Rumah No.69. The architectural design of the building very beautiful. Later, Pn. Nazlina kept feeding me with lots of information about the house.

Figure 3: The Living Hall

Afterwards, we went up using the side staircase to the second level. Pn. Nazlina pushed the door bell and one old woman open the door. She pleased us inside and asked permission of going out as she willing to buy some grocery at the wet market. We waited for 20 minutes for Cikgu Mat. Then, he came out. We great each other and he delighted us to sit. Firstly, he start remind us. He told the story of the student came visiting the place and hold the old books and description started to get allergic when she/he (did not mention) went home. Sooner than, Cikgu Mat did not know and could not bother on how to handles old books. At this instant, Cikgu Mat also have the same experience of allergic. He visited many clinics including the best skin specialist at Aboo Siti Lane, Penang. However, the allergy seem did not heal. Then he advice us when we take or look on the old book or picture, we must always wash our hand. As if the ethic before eating. He shared with us quite lots of information. The best words that I really love to hear from Cikgu Mat is that “ I’m not an expert of historic or anyone special to tell all the past times story. I’m here to share the information that I know. Our meeting are more about discussing or changing information rather than just listen to my story”. He preferred the 2 way communication which is I feel this is good method of telling and sharing those precious moment.

Figure 4: Cikgu Mat

Cikgu Mat personality who is very friendly and down to earth, make that morning evens more appealing. He is good at cracking with interesting story. Giving us lots of advice and historical aspect of Acheen Street Malay Mosque, Cikgu Mat always answered us patiently any question we arose. Cikgu Mat gave us lots of information and some even not related to the Acheen Malay Street Mosque or the No. 69 House. However, his words can be used in your daily life. Basically no formal meeting between us and makes us very comfortable.

We ask permission to went back home. Once again the words came out from Cikgu Mat mouth has stopped us from doing so. “Please have some drink here.” While we answered “It is ok we can have our drink outside”. Then he replied “We are Malay who is full with our precious customary, so please have your drink here”. Cikgu Mat really cares about the visitors visit him. While having our drink the noon started to rain. They call it in Malay “hujan hambat mak mertua” which is translated to “The rain to chase mother in law”. This is because, once upon a time, where the daughter in laws always afraid of their mother in law who is usually fierce and very demanding. So the mother in laws will always visit their son’s house for a while and condemning the daughter in laws. Typically, anything that is being done by the daughter in law always done things wrongly. Therefore, they wish and very happy when there is the rain in that afternoon. Usually the rains in the noon just remain for a moment that pursues the mother in law to go back earlier. See, how we still used those words even in our modern era where most mothers in law are friendlier rather than the past mother in law. However, our customary still strong to be practice until now.

After the rain stop, we make our moves and went home. That is how the day ends.