Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (MBRAS)

Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society

4B (2nd floor) Jalan Kemuja, off Jalan Bangsar,
59000 Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia
Tel: 603-2283-5345
Fax: 603-2282-2458
Email: mbras@tm.net.my
http://www.mbras.org.my/contact.php

Contact Us

http://www.mbras.org.my/contact.php

Monographs

http://www.mbras.org.my/monographs.html

House of Jamalullail

The clan name Jamalullail should strike us as a regal name in the Malay world. So far, I have managed to trace a few of the Jamalullail clan members in Malaysia. They are related directly to Prophet Muhammad SAW via his daughter, and via her sons.

They are domiciled in a few places in Malaysia:

1. Jelutong, Penang
2. Batu Uban, Penang
3. Kubang Kerian, Kelantan
4. Jitra, Kedah
5. Kuala Lumpur
6. Arau, Perlis

The Jamalullail doctors are Dr Syed Mahmood bin Syed Hussain Jamalullail (an early Malay doctor, deceased), Dr Syed Mohamed Noori Syed Hussain Jamalullail (youngest brother of Dr Syed Mahmood), and Prof Syed Mohsin bin Syed Sahil Jamalullail (deceased).

Genealogy of the Jamalullail clan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Jamalullail_(Perak)

Labels:
Dr Syed Mahmood bin Syed Hussain Jamalullail,
Dr Syed Mohamed Noori Syed Hussain Jamalullail,
Prof Syed Mohsin bin Syed Sahil Jamalullail,

Siak Sri Indrapura

THE SIAK SRI INDRAPURA EMPIRE OF INDONESIA
From: Penang: The Fourth Presidency of India, 1805-1830.
By: Marcus Langdon

I have just finished reading Marcus Langdon's latest book, Penang: The Fourth Presidency of India, 1805-1830. A few things in the book attracted me and I began to read the book, from Suffolk House near the back cover, and completed reading the other pages near the front cover. Now my longtime unanswered questions are answered in many pages of this book. One of them is about the existence of the Siak Sri Indrapura empire of Indonesia.

Siak Sri Indrapura is mentioned on page 113 in this book and it gives details of what happened in Siak history. There is mention of Malay names such as:

1. Tooun Pangaran @ Tunku Pangeran @ Tunku Pangeran Kusuma di-Laga @ Pangeran Perca @ Sayid Zain, 
2. Tunku Long Puteh, 
3. Sultan Siak, 
4. Sultan Ali Abdu'l Jalil Saif-ud-din, and
5. Paduka Suree Sultan Syed Shereff Abdul Gulel Safdeen of Siac @ Paduka Sri Sultan as-Sayyid as-Sharif Abdu'l Jalil Saif ud-din.

It so happens that the Siak people were efficient and had good knowledge of the timbers in the forest of Sumatra where they were domiciled. Mr Garling of Penang, had dealt with the Siak sultan for supply of timber for shipbuilding. Timber was also procured from Kuala Muda in Kedah, Pulau Jerejak off Penang island, and from Malacca. But the timber provided by Siak from Sumatera were prized for some reason. Somehow, on one occasion, smallpox had affected the people of Siak, including the queen of Siak, and the sultan could not supply timber on time to Mr Garling as agreed, as his men were afflicted by smallpox - there were not enough of the Siak men to go and search for the correct timber size (length and diameter) and shape as desired by Mr Garling. The sultan apologised in a long letter (translated into English) to Mr Garling. The word 'Friend' was used to address Mr Garling. Quite offended by the non delivery of the timber, Mr Garling then went to Malacca to find some timber for shipbuilding in Penang. The story goes on but this much information should suffice for readers.

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎) 

THE SIAK SULTANATE

I have posted about the Siak Sultanate earlier. Tan Sri Dr Raja Ahmad Noordin bin Raja Shahbuddin was the only early Malay doctor who was descended from the Siak Sultanate. His family tree was supplied by his nephew, Raja Adley Paris Ishkandar Shah bin Raja Baharuddin bin Raja Lope Zainuddin bin Raja Shahbuddin. 

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎) 

MAXWELL MANUSCRIPT 24 (D) HIKAYAT NEGERI JOHOR
Sir George E. Maxwell

The history of the Siak Sultanate is also detailed in Jawi script as the Maxwell Manuscript 24 (D) Hikayat Negeri Johor, collected by Sir George E Maxwell and stored in the British Library.

This reference was brought to my attention by Raja Adley Paris Ishkandar Shah bin Raja Baharuddin bin Raja Lope Zainuddin bin Raja Shahbuddin, a descendant of the Siak Sultanate.

It seems that the Siak Sri Indrapura is a large Malay empire, from Sumatera down to Riau.

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎) 

WIKIPEDIA ON THE SIAK SULTANATE

The Sultanate of Siak Sri Indrapura or often called Sultanate of Siak (Indonesian: Kesultanan Siak Sri Inderapura) was a kingdom that was located at Siak Regency, Riau from 1723-1946. It was founded by Raja Kecik from the Pagaruyung Kingdom (Sultan Abdul Jalil Rahmad Syah I), after he failed to seize the throne from the Sultanate of Johor. 

After the Proclamation of Independence on 17 August 1945, the last sultan of Siak, Sultan Syarif Kasim II declared his kingdom to join the Republic of Indonesia.

Wikipedia gives the names of 12 Sultans of the Siak Sultanate between 1725-1949.

1. Sultan Abdul Jalil Rahmad Syah I (1725–1746)
2. Sultan Abdul Jalil Rahmad Syah II (1746–1765)
3. Sultan Abdul Jalil Jalaluddin Syah (1765–1766)
4. Sultan Abdul Jalil Alamuddin Syah (1766–1780)
5. Sultan Muhammad Ali Abdul Jalil Muazzam Syah (1780–1782)
6. Sultan Yahya Abdul Jalil Muzaffar Syah (17821784)
7. Sultan Assaidis Asyarif Ali Abdul Jalil Syaifuddin Baalawi (1784–1810)
8. Sultan Asyaidis Syarif Ibrahim Abdul Jalil Khaliluddin (1810–1815)
9. Sultan Assyaidis Syarif Ismail Abdul Jalil Jalaluddin (1815–1854)
10. Sultan Assyaidis Syarif Kasyim Abdul Jalil Syaifuddin I (Syarif Kasyim I, 1864–1889)
11. Sultan Assyaidis Syarif Hasyim Abdul Jalil Syaifuddin (1889–1908)
12. Sultan Assyaidis Syarif Kasyim Abdul Jalif Syaifudin I (Syarif Kasyim II), (1915–1949)

There are Arab names or adjectives in the sultans' names: 

Muazzam = the best of aspirations

Assaidis = As Syed = Arabic title for a Syed male

Asyarif = As Syarif = the noble

Baalawai = Ba'Alawi from Hadramaut in Yemen; also Masjid Ba'Alawie in Singapore

Kaliluddin = Khalil-ud-Din = the friend of the light (the enlightened friend)

(٠‎ - ١‎ - ٢‎ - ٣‎ - ٤‎ - ٥‎ - ٦‎ - ٧‎ - ٨‎ - ٩‎) 

References for Siak Sri Indrapura
http://www.indonesia-tourism.com/riau/siak-sri-indrapura.html
http://indonesia-asia-holiday.com/riau/
http://tripholiday.net/ashserayah-hasyimiah-palace.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultanate_of_Siak

Ancient and Old Currencies

Gold ingots and slabs have been used for trade.

A golden necklace made with coins is displayed at Penang Museum.

Countries have use their own currencies - as paper notes and coins. Among the ancient and early currencies were Chinese, Spanish, Dutch, Kelantanese, British Malayan and British Hong Kong and Shanghai.

The Japanese used paper money during WWII in Malaya and Singapore.


PENANG MUSEUM
http://www.penangmuseum.gov.my/
http://www.penang-traveltips.com/penang-state-museum.htm

A golden necklace made with coins. Photo from Penang Museum.

DUTCH COINS
www.museum.wa.gov.au
I bought two replica Rijks Daalder Dutch coins for AUD$3.00 each from the Western Australian Museum Shop at the Shipwreck Museum in Fremantle on 11 February 2013 @11.19 am, from its operator named Michael (Rec# 3-01-043250).

Front surface shows a man with a sword and shield-soldier?
Text at periphery: CON FOE . FHL . GEL  +  MO . AKG . PRO.

Rear text: Pewter replica Rijks Daalder 1611. From the wreck of 'Batavia' 1629. W.A. Maritime Museum.

SPANISH COINS
www.museum.wa.gov.au
Spanish coins were preferred over other coinages as they contained higher silver content. Thus, Spanish coins dominated trade at the ports of call of the European merchant ships. Spanish dollars were mentioned in the Will (Wasiat) of the Indian Muslim headman, Cauder Mohideen of Masjid Kapitan Keling. The Spanish coins below were photographed at the Shipwreck Museum in Fremantle on 11 February 2013. They were used between 1754 and 1809. I bought a Spanish 8 real Segovia 1618 pewter coin replica from the wreck of the Gilt Dragon 1656 for AUD$3.00.

On museum display, Spanish silver dollars 1754-1809

Front view of the Spanish 8 real from Segovia 1618.
Text at periphery: HISPANIA . RVM . REX . 1618.

Rear view of the Spanish 8 real pewter coin. Rear text: Pewter replica, Spanish piece of eight, Segovia 1618. From the wreck of the Gilt Dragon 1656, W.A. Maritime Museum.

Left: Spanish 8 real coin of Segovia 1618 from the wreck of Gilt Dragon 1656.
Right: Dutch Rijks Daalder coin of 1611 from the wreck of Batavia 1629.

PITIS KELANTAN
Pitis Kelantan was used in the 1800s before the British ruled Kelantan and before the Indian Mercantile Bank was established in Kelantan.

I bought several pitis Kelantan (coins) long ago from a Malay lady at Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. They are replica coins and were made in Terengganu. They were brought to the main market in Kelantan to be sold as collectors' items. The pitis Kelantan costs RM5 each.

5 coins of the pitis Kelantan collection. One side of the coins has an old man (Prophet Noah/Nabi Nuh), a ship (bahtera Nabi Nuh/Noah's ark) or the Quranic text Yaasin repeated seven times.

The crow (front, top coin) and 7 Yaasin (back, lower coin) designs from the pitis Kelantan collection. This could be from Aesop's fables where the crow filled up the bottle with pebbles so the water level rose and it drank the water.

3 coins from the pitis Kelantan collection. Top row shows the front side of each coin. From left: a boy with 2 spears, an old man with a cane and Kaabah. Bottom row shows the opposite side of each coin above. From left: A big coin with 7 Yaasin, a smaller coin with 7 Yaasin, and a tin coin with a stack of 7 Yaasin.

3 coins from the pitis Kelantan collection. Top row shows the back side of each coin. From left: a sword, 7 Yaasin and a tin coin with stacked Yaasin. Bottom row shows the opposite side of each coin above. From left: a boy with 2 spears, an old man with a cane, and Kaabah.

Top: Two coins showing similar designs on the front - a boy holding 2 spears. Bottom: The rear shows one coin with a 7 Yaasin and the other shows a sword with Yaasin text beneath it.

3 coins of the pitis Kelantan collection. From left: Noah's ark and Prophet Noah on the last two coins.

5 coins of the pitis Kelantan collection. It is unknown why all the figures are either holding spears or a cane/walking stick.

BRITISH MALAYAN CURRENCY
When the British introduced their currency in Malaya, the Kelantan pitis was put out of use in Kelantan.

$1 note; front (top) and back (bottom)

$5 note

$10 note

BRITISH HONG KONG BANKING CURRENCY

A Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation $25 note in Penang.

Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank in Penang in the old days. Photo from Penang Museum.

The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) in Penang today.

JAPANESE MONEY
The Japanese money had no value after WWII in Malaya. As such it was called 'banana money'.

Banana money. Photo from Penang Museum.

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Suffolk House

I first saw a painting of Suffolk House at Penang Museum. In the painting, Suffolk House stood alone on a hillock and overlooked the sea. I had thought Suffolk House was in England and didn't have the urge to find out. In reality there is no sea, just a creek.

This was our first visit to Suffolk House in Penang. It is behind my old school, Methodist Boys' School (MBS) on Jalan Air Hitam (Ayer Itam), and I never knew. There are two routes to Suffolk House. We took the long route there since we didn't know there is also a shorter route. I think we must have gone so far and then came back along Jalan Masjid Negeri and the overhead pass, then we turned left at the Al-Mashoor School and then took another left at the signage for Suffolk House. We followed the narrow in-road passed the bright yellow brick bungalow on the right, passed some double-storeys on the left, swerved right and followed the road till we came to a large empty parking lot. Nobody was there. There was a bridge and we didn't see Suffolk House at all. We saw just a bridge to go to a set of high-rise flats.

I thought we were possibly lost and turned round to see where we were in this jungle green, and to my surprise, Suffolk House was in the opposite direction! It just stood there and we were amazed that such a beautiful structure exists in the midst of such peaceful green surroundings. It seemed so serene! We couldn't believe our eyes that we have at last arrived at the most beautiful piece of architecture on Penang island, apart from the picturesque Masjid Kapitan Keling.

You have to come to Suffolk House and see for yourself to believe that this amazing piece does exist in Penang. This mansion is so huge and so majestic, like the Parthenon. It has a granite gravel road (batu tiga-suku or batu 3/4) leading from the gate to the mansion. They probably used horse-drawn carriages here in the old days.

There's no porch at the mansion, just some ruins on the right side of the mansion. There's a long slender unplastered pillar on the ground, totally out of place - weird! There's a wooden boardwalk leading to the main entrance at right.

I didn't understand what the Indonesian guard at the gate told Affandi so I didn't enter the mansion but just explored only the exterior. Affandi probably understood the guard and he went inside and came back out, calling me to enter the mansion and see for myself. Notwithstanding curiosity, I entered the luxurious mansion!

Suffolk House may look big on the exterior but inside it was a bit small I think, much like a cowboy inn. There was a big hall and a dining area beyond the arches. The dining tables were set and some people were having late tea or early dinner.

We didn't know anyone there and I didn't know what we were allowed to do/not allowed to do. So I only took some photos of the interior for this post and for keepsake. Most of the photos were dark since I didn't use a flash.

There was some music playing, I think it was Nora Jones the Indian-White lady's CD playing. I have the CD - Affandi bought it in Australia for me.

I am still surprised that this venue is hardly used-there was no function when we visited it. I don't know if there are stories attached to the mansion but I feel it is alright and one should not expect any banshees. I keep looking upstairs to see what it would be like when Captain Francis Light lived here and how his lady Martinha Rozells would go upstairs to meet him. Did Captain Francis Light really live here at Suffolk House? Which staircase did she take? Which room is Light's room? Where is the main bedroom? Where is the toilet? Where is the kitchen? There must be a secret passage from the mansion to the harbour, as usually mansions this big have one, like in the Black Tulip.

Since there wasn't much to explore inside and we didn't go to see the museum upstairs as it was closed, we left Suffolk House at dusk, and the lights were always left on at Suffolk House (as history has it). We hope to return and visit the museum next.

Painting of Suffolk House in Penang Museum

Painting of Suffolk House in Penang Museum.

First view of Suffolk House from the parking lot. This image makes a lovely wallpaper.

Viewed from the front cast iron fence. The vast green front lawn is captivating. The MBS is the red roof in the right bkgr.

Viewed from the gravel road to the mansion. The box hedge is mentioned in the history of Suffolk House. It is missing a porch on the right - only an unplastered pillar remains standing.

Suffolk House viewed from the creek side. The ground was steep and uneven here and it was difficult trying to get a proper footage to get this shot without falling backwards (into the creek below). This shot was taken as I fell backwards!

Entrance to the grounds of Suffolk House, viewed from the boardwalk. Loose gravel fills the area where the old porch used to be - the remain is the unplastered pillar is the slender structure at left.  The entrance to the mansion is at right (not shown in this pic). The guardhouse is at the end of the gravel road, at left.

Foyer with terracotta floor tiles. A marble table with four black lacquered legs greets the visitor. 

Marble Hall with a soft pink glow and flowers to enliven the place. Bare painted wooden rafters for the ceiling can be seen. Checked black-and-white floor tiles (some were broken) fill the dancing hall. The government held several functions which ended with a ball (dancing) and dinner here. The best dinners on Penang island were also served here at Suffolk House. 

The MBS shares a common back wall with Suffolk House. A part of the land belonging to Suffolk House was given to build the ACS or now MBS. The MBS was formerly the ACS (Anglo-Chinese School). When Dr Che Lah bin Md Joonos attended school here it was called the ACS. When I attended school here, it was the MBS. A scouts photo of the ACS then is in Dr Che Lah's biography but I can't make out which big tree was in his photo of 1919. The tree is probably gone now.

Another view of the adjacent MBS classrooms viewed from Suffolk House.

E&O Hotel

After First Galleria in Taiping, Affandi drove around a bit to find Nawab Din's shophouse. Then we headed for Penang via Jalan Ong Saik and followed the signboards towards Kedah. We arrived at my sister house at 3 p.m., prayed and had lunch before heading to the E&O Hotel. We parked on the multi-level carpark - its entry is near the bowling place. Parking was for RM6.00.

We attended Areca Books's book launch for Marcus Langdon's book, Penang: The Fourth Presidency of India, 1805-1830. The book covered the British East India Company in Penang.

Then we met the others who were there. It was our first book launch as usually we could not make it to any. Among those we met were Dato' Anwar Fazal Mohamed and his sister Rashidah. Rashidah had retired as a librarian from USM. We also met Khoo Salma Nasution and her husband Lubis for the first time. We met Prof Brandon of PMC. We also talked to a couple - I don't remember the husband's name but the wife said her name is Suri, she's from Kedah and has daughters in New York and UK.

Abdur-Razzaq Lubis, Affandi, and myself talked about my book, Biography of the Early Malay Doctors. His wife Khoo Salma Nasution joined us much later. We discussed everything pertaining to my book. We hope to get another better book out by Areca Books, insyaAllah.

Lubis and Salma are the owners of Areca Books. Both are prolific authors http://www.mbras.org.my/monograph35.html. Areca Books produces professionally edited elegant books with attractive covers. Marcus Langdon's book is a good example. I will update if we come out with a new book. It will be many years before it will materialise.

Rashidah Mohamed, Affandi and Marcus Langdon 

Affandi and Dato Anwar Fazal Mohamed

Myself, Khoo Salma Nasution and Abdur-Razzaq Lubis

Affandi, myself and Khoo Salma Nasution

Classic cup and saucer of the E&O Hotel. I think this is British measure.

Affandi is pleased with Marcus Langdon's book

Suri and husband discussing with Affandi

Dato Anwar Fazal Mohamed gifted my books to Suri and husband

Dato Anwar Fazal gifted my books to Prof Brandon of Penang Medical College (PMC). PMC is on Sepoy Lines Road. He asked how many Malay doctors in my book obtained their postgraduate degrees from Ireland - he meant the Royal College of Surgeons. I couldn't answer him right away. I have to do my homework and check again before I can give him an answer. Off hand I think only a few obtained their memberships of the RCS.

The E&O Hotel in Penang in February 2013.

New jetty in front of the E&O Hotel, Penang. It looks more like the jetty at Barrack St in Perth. I didn't see any ferries.

Esplanade of the E&O Hotel, Penang.

North Beach viewed from the E&O Hotel, Penang. No swimming is allowed on this beach.