GEORGE TOWN – It was fated that Malaysia’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman would make Penang his home when he retired in 1970, as he spent much of his golden years in a heritage bungalow he named Takhdir – the Malay word for fate.
The house is located in Jalan Ayer Rajah, now renamed Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, not far from Penang Youth Park.
In an excerpt published in Historical Personalities of Penang, Tunku had this to say: “I, myself have decided to make my home in Penang, and it happened by accident rather than by design.
“When I left Kuala Lumpur on the way to Kedah, I stopped over for the Alliance Party, and my good friend Mr Tan Kim Yeow told me he had been offered two houses and would like me to take one of them.
“Next day, I went and saw the two houses, Nos 14 and 16 Jalan Ayer Rajah (now Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman), and I took a liking to No.16. It was an old house built in 1929 with a semi-tropical architecture on 1.5 acres of land. I liked it and bought it and named the house Takhdir.”
The 9,867 sq ft bungalow has two bedrooms and three bathrooms, and sits on a 64,472 sq ft plot of land.
The property’s current owner, who prefers to remain anonymous, told The Vibes that he bought it from Tunku’s daughters on October 30, 2012.
He said walking into the home was akin to taking a trip back in time.
“I must say that you cannot get workmanship like the one you see in this house anymore.
“There is a pulley system where you can send food from the kitchen to the upper levels. It is not something you see in a modern house,” he said.
After the purchase, the owner had some repair work done to the property.
“I think she (one of Tunku’s daughters) decided to sell the place because it was too big for her. She was staying alone in such a big house.”
Now, the property is up for sale for RM62 million, or for rent for RM25,000 a month.
“Ultimately, we prefer people who can take it off us to make it into a nice museum, seeing that it will preserve the beauty of the place.
“It will be good if interested buyers know how to maintain the place or do something classy with it.”
Tunku’s granddaughter Tunku Munawirah Putra expressed surprise at the property’s valuation.
“It is rather expensive. The memorial in Kuala Lumpur was his official residence when he was the prime minister, and even that is not well looked after,” she said.
“They needed sponsorship as the government cannot seem to maintain it. So, I disagree (with the idea of turning it into a museum).”
Tunku Munawirah said there are two places in Alor Star that are well maintained, but have hardly any visitors.
Meanwhile, Penang Heritage Trust vice-president Khoo Salma Nasution hopes that the home will fall into the hands of one who will preserve its heritage.
“The state should try to find a good buyer who will preserve it. However, I don’t think the state should buy it because it will be expensive to maintain,” she told The Vibes.
However, the state’s PKR has urged the Penang government and the George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) to offer to buy the property.
PKR strategic planning director Sim Tze Tzin suggested that GTWHI purchase the property, with a crowdfunding effort that Malaysians can chip in for, so the property can return to the care of the state.
It was at this bungalow that Tunku showcased his prolific writing skills where he penned columns – Looking Back and As I See It – for The Star newspaper.
Sim suggested that the property be converted into a museum that showcases Tunku’s legacy.
He added that US presidents have presidential libraries, and the same should apply to the Malaysian prime ministers, especially Tunku. – The Vibes, March 12, 2021
Additional reporting by Ian McIntyre
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