KHOO KONGSI

The Khoo Kongsi is a clan association of the Leong San Tong (Dragon Mountain Hall in

English) clan. The clan temple had retained its authentic historic setting up to today, which

included the clan house, an administrative building with a meeting hall and offices, a traditional

theatre and 62 units of the late 19th century houses and shophouses for its clan members,

which were all clustered around a granite-paved square. (Refer Figure 4)

The forefathers of the Khoo family who migrated from the Sin Kang clan village in the

Hokkien province, China, built it as a clan house for his family members in 1851. The building

was then struck by lightning and a scaled-down version was later built in 1902 and completed in

1906. In the 19th century, the clan complex resembled a miniature clan village, with its own self-

government as well as educational, financial, welfare and social organizations. Chinese opera is

still staged at the theatre during the seventh lunar month.

Figure 4: The Khoo Kongsi temple

Source: Field Study (2008)

Figure 5: The layout of the clustered Khoo Kongsi properties

Source: http://www2.malaysia-trulyasia.com (2008)

The pivotal building of the Khoo Kongsi, that is the gloriously ornate late Ch’ng dynasty

temple, Leong San Tong, was located at Cannon Square, hidden amidst terrace houses from

the late 1930s, faced with Shanghai plaster, and shophouses from the late 19th century. The

main entrance to the Khoo Kongsi was through an alley between the shophouses on Jalan

Masjid Kapitan Keling (Pitt Street). It is also accessible from Lebuh Pantai (in between

Armenian Street and Lebuh Aceh) and the rear entrance which was a decorative archway facing

Beach Street.

The temple is dedicated to the clan’s patron deities and also houses a collection of

ancestral tablets, and was embellished with intricate carvings and richly ornamented beams of

the finest wood bearing the mark of master craftsmen from China. (Refer Figure 6) For instance,

the carving of a flower vase resembles peace, a bamboo plant resembles longevity and a bat

resembles prosperity. (Refer Figure 7) Its red tiled roof was decorated with carvings of dragons,

phoenixes and other mythical creatures which were believed to bring good fortune to the family

members. (Refer Figure 8) The building was actually a blend of Southern Fujian and Anglo-

Indian architecture.

Figure 6: Examples of the carvings in the temple

Source: http://www2.malaysia-trulyasia.com (2008)

Figure 7: Carving of flower vases on the wall resembling peace

Source: Field Study (2008)

Figure 8: The roof structure portrays the Hokkien architectural style which applies the

montage technique

Source: Field Study (2008)

The Khoos were among the wealthiest Chinese traders of the 17th century in Malacca

and early Penang, and together with Cheah, Yeoh, Lim and Tan Kongsi (known as the Five Big

Clans or ‘Goh Tai She’), formed the backbone of the Hokkien community in early Penang. In the

olden days, it was usual for the kongsi to demarcate their territories with their own terrace

houses on three or four sides of the perimeters. The adjoining, closely-knit and defensive model

settlement, like a clan village in the colonial city, is a rare form of congregation practiced among

the migrant communities in Malaysia.

Figure 9: The heavily gold-plated elements of the temple testified the wealth of the Khoos

Source: Field Study, 19 August 2008.

The table below shows the chronological background of the Khoo Kongsi temple:

(Source: http://khookongsi.com.my/history_chronology.html)

1816

120 Dollars were donated in the name of the "Penang Tua Sai Yah Public

Fund" to the home village in China for the restoration of the Cheng Soon

Keong.

1835 528 Dollars were collected among the 102 clansmen to establish the Ee Kok

Tong.

1850 Purchased the present premise

1851 Converted the local bungalow into the clanhouse and named it as Leong

San Tong.

1860~1867 Khoo Thean Teik became the leader of Kean Teik Tong.

1863~1867 Collected donation from each branch to update The Genealogy of the Sin

Kang Khoo and Chan Clans.

1867

The alliance of the Kean Teik Tong (the Tua Pek Kong Hoey) and the Red

Flag fought against the alliance of the Ghee Hin Kongsi and the White Flag

in the Penang Riot which lasted for ten days (3/8~14/8).

1868 Khoo Thean Teik was arrested and sentenced to death but was released

seven years later.

1881 Together with the Cheah Kongsi and the Yeoh Kongsi they formed the Sam

Quaye Tong.

1884 Toon Boon Tong Khoo Kongsi was founded.

1894 Spent Ten Thousand Dollars for the rebuilding of Leong San Tong.

1901 The completed new building was razed by fire on Chinese New Year's Eve.

1902 Launched a four-year project to rebuild Leong San Tong.

1904 The emergence of English-educated trustees.

1906 The completion of the present Leong San Tong.

1907 The clan school, the "Two-Grade Elementary School of the Khoo Clan," was

set up in Leong San Tong.

1909 The Self-Protecting Society of the Khoo Clan was founded.

1910 The school borrowed classrooms from Chung Hwa Confucian School to

conduct classes.

1914 The school moved to Nos. 89, 91, 93 and 95 Victoria Street and adopted the

new name, Sin Kang School.

1914 Khoo Heng Kok graduated in law from Gray's Inn, University of London. He

was the first Khoo graduate from an overseas university.

1917/1919 The existing leadership system was abolished and a board consisting of 24

trustees was formed.

1920 Bought the 379-acre Thean Teik Estate from the descendant of Khoo Thean

Teik and allocated 17 acres of it for the clan cemetery.

1926 Refurbishing of Leong San Tong.

1941 The Pacific War. Khoo Kongsi and Sin Kang School stopped operating

during the Japanese Occupation.

1953 New building of Sin Kang School was built in Thean Teik Estate.

1954 Sin Kang School was opened to non-Khoo students.

1955 Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi was registered as an association. A

committee was set up for the restoration of Leong San Tong.

1956 Sin Kang Building was constructed at Weld Quay.

1958 Sin Kang School was nationalised.

1959 The first restoration celebration of Leong San Tong.

1965 Resumed the allocation of scholarship to clan children.

1969 Termination of the quasi-banking service.

1976 Changed from a registered Society to incorporation of "Trustees of Leong

San Tong Khoo Kongsi (Penang) Registered."

1983

Joint venture agreement signed between Trustees of Leong San Tong Khoo

Kongsi (Penang) Registered and Perumahan Falim (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. to

develop Thean Teik Estate.

1987 Repair of the roof of Leong San Tong.

1993 Demolished the old building of Sin Kang School and replaced it with a three-

storey block.

1995~1997 Donated a sum of RM2.5 million for the rebuilding of the Cheng Soon Keong

in Sin Aun, China.

1996 Sin Kang Building at Weld Quay was demolished and rebuilt as a ten-storey

block.

1996~1997 Repair of the Opera Stage.

1997~1999 Diversification of Kongsi's investment's into Estates Management.

1999 A columbarium complex was set up beside the Sin Kang Khoo Clan

Cemetery.

1999~2001 Second major restoration of Leong San Tong, costing more than RM4.2

million.