The Malay House at 41 Chow Kit Road

Photo collection of the house dwellers throughout the years. The family used to keep pigeons and other birds at the ground level. (Source: Nora Salleh Family Archives) Group photo with students of UTM after their measured drawings and a study exercise which were carried out on the house in 1990s. Batiah, a former house occupant, is in the middle together with her grandchildren. (Source: Nora Salleh Family Archives) 50 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

View of the house in the 1990s. (Source: Nora Salleh Family Archives) Batiah poses in front of the Malay house at No. 41, Chow Kit Road. (Source: Nora Salleh Family Archives) THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 51

Front view of the Malay house at its former location at No. 41, Chow Kit Road 52 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

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HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF KUALA LUMPUR & SELANGOR 1745: Sultan Salehuddin Shah, also known as 1857: 87 Chinese tin miners find rich sources Raja Lumu established the Sultanate of of tin around the area, sent by Raja Selangor. Abdullah. 1778: Sultan Ibrahim Shah ascended as the 1859: First export of tin from mines in second Sultan of Selangor. Ampang. 1818: Kuala Lumpur was established a place 1859: Hiu Siew was appointed as the First for tin collection. Chinese Kapitan of Kuala Lumpur by 1824: The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 was Sutan Puasa. signed by the United Kingdom and the 1862: Kuala Lumpur grew rapidly. New Netherlands to address issues regarding miners from various parts of the world trade rights in the Malay Archipelago. settled here, with many conflicts and This treaty led to the modern gang wars erupted as a result. demarcation of countries of Malaya, 1862: Hiu Siew passed away and Liu Ngim Singapore and Indonesia. Kong was elected as the second Chinese 1824: Kuala Lumpur was recorded by John Kapitan of Kuala Lumpur. Anderson as a tin mining out post. 1867: Outbreak of Klang War, Raja Mahadi 1826: Rule of the third Sultan of Selangor, challenged Raja Abdullah for authority Sultan Muhammad Shah. over Klang. 1840: Chinese tin miners began tin mining in 1869: Yap Ah Loy became the third Chinese Selangor River, north of Kuala Lumpur. Kapitan of Kuala Lumpur and 1850: Sutan Puasa and Raja Bilah collecting succeeded in establishing law and order taxes in Kuala Lumpur. in Kuala Lumpur in just a few years. 1857: Reign of the fourth Sultan of Selangor, 1873: Kuala Lumpur was recaptured by Yap Sultan Sir Abdul Samad. Ah Loy when Raja Mahdi forces were 54 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

defeated with the help of fighters from by uniting the Sultans of four states. Pahang. Kuala Lumpur become the capital of 1874: The Pangkor Treaty of 1874 signalled the Federated Malay States. The size of official British involvement in the Kuala Lumpur was 0.65 square policies of the Malay states, and the kilometres. establishment of British Malaya. 1903: Kuala Lumpur area was extended to 20 1875: First British Resident of Selangor, James square kilometres. Guthrie Davidson was appointed. 1914-18 : World War I. 1880: Kuala Lumpur becomes a modern town 1920: Population of Kuala Lumpur stood at when the British representative Frank 80,000 people. Swettenham developed the first city plan. 1926: Chow Kit Malay house was completed 1881: Kuala Lumpur was flooded following a 1941-45: Japanese conquest and occupation of fire that had destroyed the entire town Malaya. in January that year. 1946: Malayan Union scheme introduced but 1882: Frank Swettenham was appointed the was opposed. second British Resident of Selangor. 1946: Kuala Lumpur becomes capital of the 1884: Frank Swettenham ruled that all newly created Malayan Union. buildings in Kuala Lumpur must be 1948: Malayan Union scheme was abandoned; constructed of bricks and roof tiles. Federation of Malaya was inaugurated. 1886: A railway line between Kuala Lumpur 1948: Kuala Lumpur became a municipality and Klang was completed. with an area of 93 square kiometres. 1887: Kuala Lumpur becomes the capital of 1952: First municipal election of Kuala the state of Selangor. Lumpur. 1890: Formation of Kuala Lumpur Sanitary 1957: Completion of Merdeka Stadium, as the Board. venue for Independence Day 1895: The Federated Malay States is formed celebration. THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 55

1957: Malaya celebrates its Independence on 243 square kilometres. August 31 after 151 years of British rule. 1990: 100 years celebration of Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur becomes the capital of Local Council. The new federal Independent Federation of Malaya. territory Kuala Lumpur flag and anthem 1962: National Stadium was completed and were introduced. inaugurated. 1996: Kuala Lumpur Tower was completed 1963: British colonies of Sabah, Sarawak and and officially opened. Singapore joined the Federation of 1998: Petronas Twin Towers, part of the Malaya to form the Federation of urban project Kuala Lumpur City Malaysia. Centre (KLCC) was completed and 1963: Kuala Lumpur becomes capital of the officially opened. new federation of Malaysia. 1999: The federal administrative capital of 1963: National Musuem and Parliament Malaysia was moved to Putrajaya. House were completed and 2007: Malaysia celebrates its 50th year of officially opened. independence. 1965: Singapore succeeded from Malaysia, 2016: The 41 Chow Kit Road, Malay house states of Malaysia was reduced to dismantled. 13 states. 2018: The conservation and relocation of the 1965: Completion and inauguration of the 41, Chow Kit Road house to to the National Mosque. compound area of National Art Gallery, 1969: The 13 May Incident, an ethnic riot Kuala Lumpur began. between Malays and Chinese took place 2019: (January) The completion of the in Kuala Lumpur. conservation and relocation of the 41, 1974: Kuala Lumpur becomes a Federal Chow Kit Road house at National Art Territory (Wilayah Persekutuan) with its Gallery Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Tun own administration. The area grew to Razak. 56 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

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SUTAN MANGATAS, THE PROUD HOUSE OWNER THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 59

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SUTAN MANGATAS a.k.a HAJI JAAFAR SUTAN SINOMBA The first owner of the No. 41, Jalan Chow Kit, was Sutan Mangatas @ Haji Jaafar a nephew of Sutan Puasa who had migrated from Sumatera. Sutan Mangatas was the son of Sutan Sinomba or also known by his haj’s name, Haji Jaafar bin Sutan Sinomba. They both hailed from Kota Nopan in Mandailing Julu. He was brought to Malaya at very young age together with Janiah, the son of his brother Sutan Sinomba by his uncle, Sutan Puasa who had general business interests and Tin mining businesses in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. He was also a descendant of Lubis sect of the Mendailing clan originated from Western Sumatera. As he grew older, detached from his original homeland, he changed his name to Jaafar (later with a suffix Haji , after his pilgrimage to Makkah) to assimilate with the names of many Malays at the time. He was estimated to have been born in 1930s and migrated to Malaya at the estimated age of 8 years old. However, there is no recorded evidence to support this claim. He journeyed by the side of his uncle, Sutan Puasa, who later was said to the be the founder of Kuala Lumpur. Haji Jaafar must have witnessed the growth of Kuala Lumpur from its early beginnings to the time until it become a thriving and lively township. There were also no record that Sutan Puasa or Haji Raja had ever return to their hometown for a visit after they migrated to Malaya. Haji Jaafar @ Sutan Mangatas’s first marriage was to Maimunah and they had three sons namely Abd Talib, Adam and Abd Wahid. However, their marriage ended after Jaafar’s return from THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 61

his pilgrimage in Makkah. Soon after, Haji Jaafar a.k.a Sutan Mangatas married Hajah Bedah binti Hussein. They both raised 11 children throughout their marriage, (including children from his previous marriage) Initially, Haji Jaafar’s family had lived in a house on Pahang Road, which is located nearby. Later Haji Jaafar moved to the house at No 41, Chow Kit Road after it was completed in 1926. Haji Jaafar never really had to work as his income was obtained through the inheritance of Sutan Puasa estate which consisted of a considerable number of farms and land in and around Kuala Lumpur Haji Jaafar a.k.a Sutan Mangatas passed away on 14th March, 1949 when he was said to be approximately 111 years old, due to illness and old age. There is no records of the actual date of his age at the time of his death. We are also unsure if the age of Haji Jaafar at his death as the early history to verify his age is not available. He was also buried in Jalan Ampang Muslim Cemetery near Sutan Puasa’s graveyard. Like Sutan Puasa, there has never been a single photograph of Haji Jaafar and this was because of the superstitious belief of the Mandailing people at that time, which prohibit pictures of themselves to be taken and made into a photograph to represent them in life and in death. Any illustrated picture of photographs or individuals were also considered taboo. 62 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

FAMILY TREE OR TEROMBO MARGA LUBIS AT TOBANG BUSTAK, MANDAILING JULU. NAWADA SENDE TUA LUBIS (DATANG DARI MANANUSAN) SUTAN KEBENARAN SUTAN NAGA MARUNDING JAMALINTANG GARANG JAMAGOL SUTAN GUNUL JATOBANG JATINDIAN SUTAN NAGA ? RAJA IRO KOLING SUTAN SUTAN NAPOSO SUTAN KOMALA SINOMBO (SUTAN PUASA) PANTAS JANIAH HAJI JAAFAR (SUTAN MENGATAS) HAJI ADAM HAJI TALIB ABDULLAH ARIFF KHAIRUDDIN HAJI WAHID OSMAN ABU BAKAR ISHAK THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 63

FAMILY TREE OF HAJI JAAFAR NORAINI SHAMSUL BAHARI S+ARIAH JAAFAR +NORMAH N+ ORHAYATI NOOR ALYSSA MAJAWALI MOHD SALLEH AHMAD OMAR + OSMAN JAAFAR ABD WAHID EMIL ARIFF SUHAIMI ROZILAWATI SUTAN PUASA HAJI JAAFAR ABDULLAH JAAFAR (BAPA SAUDARA) (SUTAN MENGATAS) ARRIFIN JAAFAR + BATIAH JAAFAR HAJAH BEDAH HUSSEIN ABU BAKAR JAAFAR HAJAH JANIAH SUTAN SALMAH JAAFAR MOHD ARIF JAAFAR ISHAK JAAFAR KHAIRUDDIN JAAFAR 64 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

BEDAH BT HUSSEIN Form 6. Even though she was a descendant of Sutan Puasa, she went to school in a difficult Bedah bt Hussein is the second wife to Haji Jaafar situation. She almost stopped schooling due to and is the owner of both houses, the house at her financial difficulties. She was not given any Chow Kit Road and the former house at Pahang pocket money for school and was forced to go to Road. She was from Dusun Tua, near Hulu school against her will. Among her siblings, she Langat, Selangor, and was largely responsible was the only one who succeeded in furthering for cooking and managing the household of Haji her studies to an English school. Jaafar. Their grandchildren would often gather at 41 Chow Kit Road during lunch and dinner. She started her job at the Malayan Railways as a Machine Operator. At that time, her salary SARIAH BT HAJI JAAFAR was only $40 a month and with this income she had to provide for her siblings’ expenses. After Sariah was the eldest daughter of Haji Jaafar that, she became a stenographer in the same who had inherited the house at No. 41, Chow department until her retirement. She worked Kit Road from her mother and her name was approximately for 30 years. Batiah was never also stated on the land title grant. She was married for unknown personal reasons and had born on February 25th, 1913 in Dusun Tua, no heirs. Hulu Langat. Hulu Langat was also known as a Mandailing community settlement area After the independence in 1957, many of her in Selangor. Many Mandailing from Sumatra neighbours were eager to sell their lands to settled at Hulu Langat area or make a stop before private developers to earn substantial and quick moving to Kuala Lumpur to carry out tin mining income. Nevertheless, Batiah firmly withhold and other businesses. She married her cousin and defend her property that had been with named Majawali @ Majoali bin Sutan Salam, a the family for years, despite being offered one Mandailing descent from the Nasution clan. Her million Ringgit for the land, which was equivalent husband used to run a small vegetable stall at to approximately six milion Ringgit in 1990s. the Central Market, formerly the wet market of She did not want the Malays to be displaced Kuala Lumpur. and allowed other people to take over from the Malays, who were amongst the original settlers BATIAH HAJI JAAFAR of the Chow Kit Road area, and Kuala Lumpur. Batiah bt Haji Jaafar was born on 30th December, 1920 at the Pahang Road House and was the fifth child of eleven siblings. She was also the owner of the house and was living there for the past 60 years, ever since she was six years old. She received her early education at Kampung Baru Malay School, Kuala Lumpur. After studying up to Standard 6 or Primary 6, she continued her studies at Bukit Nanas Convent School until she graduated with a Senior Cambridge certificate, after completing her THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 65

HISTORY OF THE OWNERSHIP AND HOME CONSTRUTION STUDIES Ownership History The house was originally owned by Haji Jaafar Sutan Sinomba, or his real name Sutan Mangatas. The land on which the house was erected was bought by Haji Jaafar after the passing of Sutan Puasa’s. Haji Jaafar then hired a group of Chinese builders to build a new house on his land. The Chinese, which were migrants from China at that time were said to be very skilful in building Perakian traditional houses with Dutch gabled roof style. It was relatively easy to build. During the construction of the house, Haji Jaafar made a point to visit the house and occasionally he stayed at the construction site to guard the components and construction materials from being stolen. When the house was completed in 1926, Haji Jaafar moved almost immediately into the house with his large family. Before Haji Jaafar died, the house was put under the name of his wife, Bedah bt Hussein, his eldest daughter Sariah and his two daughters, Batiah and Salmah (held in trust by Bedah bt Hj Hussein on behalf of her daughters) as the owners of the house, where by the house was reserved for their daughters. The male siblings were given shophouses which were located nearby. After Haji Jaafar’s children succeeded in building their own lives, they soon began to leave the house and move to other places of their own with their families, probably in and around Kuala Lumpur. 66 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

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In conversation with which were also descendants were entered as a descendant of Sutan part owners, of the house. Mangatas, Puan Nora (Norhayati binti Salleh) Q: Who was the last owner? on 25th Sept 2018 at her A: It was under Bedah’s name, ½, as residence in Putrajaya trustee, ½ for the daughters. While for the sale transaction process, we had to re-name the land Q: Thank you for meeting with us today. title to include other beneficiaries’ names (the Since your mother is unwell, we would like to sons). Normah took her mother’s share, Sariah, carry on the interview with goodself? or what we fondly called as Wah Teh. A: Sure, go ahead. Q: Why was the house sold? Q: Can you tell us briefly about yourself? A: It was simply because no one lived there A: My name is Norhayati, aged 54 years anymore. Batiah passed away earlier in 2006. old, a retiree. I am married to Omar Abdullah Later, Normah lived alone. She lived there until Villamor and have two children. I have four 2009. In September 2009, she started to feel sick siblings, two brothers and two sisters. But now, and she was brought to live with us. But as early unfortunately I am the only one who is still alive, as Dec 2006, the idea of selling the land and the rest have unfortunately have passed away. house was proposed by the descendants, during the death of Batiah. Q: What is your mother’s full name and her age now? Q: When was the house was sold? A: Normah binti Majawali. She was born in A: The house was finally sold in 2013, after the year 1932, so she is 86 in 2018. She used many steps to sell the house was done, including to work as a postal clerk at Jalan Tuanku Abdul declaring of the old grant missing, and went to Rahman (Batu Road). the commissioner of oath, carried out inspection by the land office, which was part of the process Q: According to the report carried out by of applying for a new grant. During this time, UTM, Batiah was the main figure during their Osman’s son was in charge of finding the other study on the house in 1996? Who was she? beneficiaries of the land. It was said there was A: Batiah, is the aunt of Normah. Batiah, also a plan to build a seven storey office building Sariah and Salmah (deceased) were siblings, proposed by a developer, which was a buyer. and the house then belonged to the daughters, together with their mother Bedah, or what Q: Were there any comments by Normah we used to call her Nenek Bedah or Onyang. during the transaction? But after the faraid process, other beneficiaries A: No, my mother had no comments or when the house was being sold, as the ten other beneficiaries of the house also made the decision to sell. Q: So all of you are Mandailing by ancestry? A: Yes, I am, and both of my parents were proud Mandailing’s. 68 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

Q: Do you keep any records on Sutan Rahman Ghazali coined the term Rumah Degil. Mengatas, like any photographs or so on? We just called the house as Rumah Onyang or A: We do not have any records on Sutan Rumah Chow Kit. Mengatas or Haji Jaafar. It was a taboo for him to keep or take photographs or made pictures Q: How many people were living together of himself. We may have kept some of the old when you lived there? pictures, but we are unsure which one is him. A: About ten people were living there in the house when I was small, around the 1980s, Q: In terms of the context of the house, it including my mother, Normah and her four looks like it was located on a former kampung children, together with two unmarried uncles area? lived there, together with 14 cats. We had lots of A: Yes, this used to be a kampung area, cats and pet birds! because whenever people say KL, it refers to the downtown area, the Chinatown and its Q: How was the spatial usage of the house surrounding area. According to this sketch, the look alike? fourth house belonged to Haji Wahid. It is now A: When I was small, we all slept on where the Wisma Wahidah (Konsortium Bas) the pangkin, kelambu to protect us against building is located. The big house belonged mosquitoes. The house was full of furniture to Haji Talib, the brother of Batiah. One of and goods. Our grand uncles slept on the upper the shop houses on this road belonged to Haji floor. During my mother’s childhood, she used Adam. the front portion (anjung) as the Quranic learning (mengaji) area. The house was sited next to Haji Q: How long did you stay in this house? Talib’s house a traditional Malay house, in the A: I lived in the house since I was small. 1970s, the house was already belonged to a My mother and I initially lived in Batu 4, Jalan Chinese family, as the original owner had sold Ipoh. After my father passed away, when I his house. While across one lot from Chow Kit was in Standard 2, sometime in January 1972, House was a house that once belonged to my my mother moved into the Chow Kit House, uncle, Haji Wahid. During the mengaji time, which was her mother’s house. My father was they just shouted across the street to call all of a technician at Telekom. We rode on trishaws the kids living nearby to come for religious and to go to school at Batu Road Girls’ School, Quranic lessons. while my brothers went to the Batu Road Boys’ School. I lived there until 12 years old when I left Q: Any modifications have been done on for a boarding school at Sekolah Seri Puteri at the house? Jalan Kolam Ayer, KL. But during the weekend, A: Before the louvres windows were used, I went back home, since the school was quite the windows were of leaf type with stained glass nearby. Later on, I pursued my studies in the or coloured glass. Around 1970s, the windows US, and upon graduation. I returned to Malaysia were changed to glass louvres windows. The and starting working as a Assistant Landscape original colour was green/bluish, before the Architect. current ones which was of brownish colour. While zinc roofing was used in the 1970s, Q: How the term Rumah Degil came replacing the old roof tiles. We had electricity across? in the 1960s. During those days, there was no A: The documentary producer named Fatul pedestrian walkway on Jalan Chow Kit Road. It THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 69

was only during the PATA Conference in 1986, Q: What was your unforgettable memory of the road was raised for a pedestrian walkway the house? until it encroached to the front porch. A: We’ve had so many good memories of the house. As Nenek Bedah or Onyang was a Q: What were the main activities in and full-time housewife, together with Sariah, who around the house then? was also a housewife, we spent many activities A: Area around the house was particularly together when I was small, especially when active, especially during the time of Haji Wahid, Nenek was still alive, even though Batiah as he was the headman of Kg Baru. There were worked as a stenographer at the train station, lots of activities inside the house too, such as but after retirement, she always took care of the kenduri. The land behind the house was a play grandchildren during her free time. area and our badminton court. When you open the back door, it leads to the Capitol cinema area. Group pose picture after the interview session. From Left, En Muhamad When movie goers went out, we rushed back to Haziq, Ar. Azim, Mr. Omar Villamor and Pn Norhayati at their new the house. As more buildings were built around house in Putrajaya, picture taken in 25th September 2018. the surrounding area, we don’t have many activities any more due to space constraints. Inside the house, my uncle loves to keep pet birds, i.e. Serindit, Tekukur, Balam, Merbok, and others, so we literally had hundreds of bird chirping at one time. Q: So the plot size was reduced then? A: No actually. If you look at the plan, the roofline indicates the drain line, where the land boundary is. The land size is similar as it was. The old picture shows a big land area as it indicates the neighbour lots were still vacant. Q: Types of goods found in the house? A: Dinnerware, furniture, antiques, as this house was considered a big house, with 100 feet long. Plus, it was mainly inhabited by female occupants, who’d like to keep things. Q: What about the softscape of the house? A: Around the house, my ancestors had planted trees beside and behind the house. When the trees were old, all of the planted trees were removed and the grounds were cemented. When I was small, a Crinum tree was planted in front of the house, where lots of people/passers- by asked for the leaves as it has medicinal purposes. 70 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

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ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF NO.41, CHOW KIT ROAD MALAY HOUSE THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 73

0 0.5 1 Ground Floor Plan 24 0 0.5 1 Upper Floor Plan 24 74 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

0 0.5 1 Roof Structural Plan 24 Roof Plan 0 0.5 1 2 4 0 0.5 1 Floor Joist Layout 24 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 75

0 0.5 1 Left Elevation 24 0 0.5 1 Right Elevation 24 0 0.5 1 Section A-A 24 76 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

COLUMN CONNECTION DETAILS COLUMN CONNECTION DETAILS 1. 150mm x 150mm timber collumn 1. 150mm x 150mm timber collumn 2. 200mm x 150mm timber beam 2. 200mm x 150mm timber beam 3. m.s Angle with 12mm bolt and nut 3. 200mm x 150mm timber beam 4. 365mm x 365mm concrete collumn 4. 365mm x 365mm concrete collumn COLUMN - ROOF STRUCTURAL DETAILS ROOF CONNECTION DETAILS 1. 150mm x 100mm timber rafter 1. 150mm x 100mm timber rafter 2. 150mm x 125mm timber strut 2. 150mm x 125mm timber beam 3. 150mm x 125mm timber beam 3. 150mm x 125mm timber beam 4. Steel plate with 12mm bolt and nut 4. m.s Angle with 12mm bolt and nut COLUMN - ROOF STRUCTURAL DETAILS 1. 150mm x 100mm timber rafter 2. 150mm x 125mm timber beam 3. 150mm x 125mm timber beam 4. m.s Angle with 12mm bolt and nut 5. 150mm x 150mm timber column COLUMN CONNECTION DETAILS 1. 150mm x 100mm timber column 2. 200mm x 150mm timber beam 3. m.s Angle with 12mm bolt and nut 5. 365mm x 365mm concrete column THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 77

Front elevation of the house Close up view of the house in a kampung (village) setting 78 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

Left elevation view of the house The Malay house at Chow Kit Road, surrounded by landscape area THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 79

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View of the house in the farmer kampung setting. There were very few paved roads in 1926 and many residential areas rely on dirt roads THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 81

Chow Kit Malay house exhibits a modern traditional hybrid form of Malay architecture of the 1920s Staircase lends to the kitchen house on ground 82 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

Ground floor at the house was screened with timber lattice panels Interior view of the house THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 83

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Sketch of the front side of the house THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 85

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C O N SE RVAT IO N A N D RECONSTRUCTION OF NO.41, CHOW KIT MALAY HOUSE AT THE NATIONAL ART GALLERY KUALA LUMPUR (CONTRIBUTED BY ASST PROF DR. NURUL HAMIRUDDIN S A L L E H , K U L L I Y YA H OF A RC H I T E C T U R E A N D ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN, INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA) THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 87

FEBRUARY 2018 En. Mohd Risham Mohd Rawi, JWN officer conducted a site briefing to the potential contractors at National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) All existing building components of the Malay house at Chow Kit Road being transported to National Art Gallery in February 2018. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) 88 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

MAC 2018 The project conservator, Dr. Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh with contractor examined the building components of the Malay house. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) The new site of Malay house being prepared, photo taken in front of the Study of paint layers on the staircase balustrade. (Source: Nurul National Art Gallery entrance. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) Hamiruddin Salleh) Study of paint layers on the existing building components being conducted to identify the existing colour and other layers underneath it. 89 (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

APRIL 2018 Formworks being erected for the new concrete columns at the new site. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) The new concrete columns ready to receive the building components of Identification of timber species being conducted by the Malaysian Malay house at Chow Kit Road. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) Timber Industry Board (MTIB) team. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) Site meetings being conducted monthly to monitor the progress of the reconstruction project. (Source: JWN) 90 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

The workers removing paint on the existing chengal columns of Malay house at Chow Kit Road. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) Few existing components were damaged and shall require repairs. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) All damaged parts being recorded accordingly before undergoing repair works. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 91

MAY 2018 Bladed scarf timber joint with timber pegs being used to connect the existing column with the new timber. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) Wedged scarf timber joint with timber pegs being used to connect the existing beam with the new timber. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) 92 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

The Department of National Heritage (JWN)’s officers and the conservator inspecting the mock-up timber column and beam joints at the site. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) The existing timber beam being repair with the objective to maintain as much as possible the original materials. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 93

JUNE 2018 The restoring original timber beams being installed on the new concrete columns. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) The restored original beams being put into position. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) 94 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

After restoring, the top timber beams being put into position. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) The timber purlins being put above the roof trusses. (Source: Nurul The various mock-up sample of paint colours to be used as per the Hamiruddin Salleh) original color. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) The timber roof trusses being put into position as per the original layout. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 95

JULY 2018 The brown Onduline roof sheets were selected as the new roofing material for the Malay house at Chow Kit Road. The old roofing sheet were needed to be changed as it was old and to avoid future leaks. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) The existing wall panels being repaired on the site. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) 96 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

A visit to the site in the aftermath of the roof collapse incident by Ar. The structure of main house suddenly collapsed due to heavy wind and Azim, Ar. Zulqaisar and Ir. Jamil, accompanied by Dr.Sr.Robiah from the Department of National Heritage (JWN). A sudden heavy downpour storm on 23rd July 2018. The cross bracing was just removed to install and strong crosswind caused the collapse of the structure the wall panels when the heavy storm came. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) The existing timber floor boards have been put in place. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 97

AUGUST 2018 Bladed scarf joint method being used to connect the original chengal The damaged part of roof truss being replaced with the new chengal column of the kitchen house with new timber in order to maintain as timber. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) much as possible the original timber. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) A timber truss was lifted up using a chain tied to crane 98 THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD

Sketch of connection method for chengal column of kitchen house. The original timber staircase has been put in place to connect the main house (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) with the kitchen house located on ground. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) Workers installing the heavy timber trusses. (Source: Nurul Hamiruddin Salleh) THE MALAY HOUSE OF CHOW KIT ROAD 99