THE Kapitan Keling Mosque’s management has received RM200,000 in funds from Unesco through the George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) to repair and conserve the Unesco Category 1 heritage site.
Datuk Faruk Raja Mohamed, chairman of the Kapitan Keling Mosque, said the funds came just in time after roof damage caused discomfort for worshippers.
“During heavy rainfall lasting 45 minutes, water would seep into the main prayer hall, causing inconvenience for worshippers.
“As time passes, the damage worsens, with leaks affecting nine areas of the mosque’s roof.
“During today’s Friday prayers, mosque staff had to resort to using buckets and rolling up carpets to prevent them from becoming wet and damaged,” said Faruk.
According to Faruk, this marks the second time Unesco has provided funding to Kapitan Keling Mosque, the first being 15 years ago. The earlier grant was used to engage a contractor from Australia to repair the mosque’s dome.
He expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow for playing a pivotal role in securing support from GTWHI for the repair work.
“As this is one of Penang’s iconic sites, we aim to minimise disruptions to worshippers and other activities during the ongoing restoration works.
“We need to coordinate with the contractor to ensure a smooth repair process without significant disruptions.
“Furthermore, as a Category I heritage building, meticulous repairs are necessary due to specific material requirements. For instance, the original roof utilises sea sand and clay for optimum heat absorption, sourced specially from Kerala, India.
“To enhance the mosque’s functionality, new buildings are planned to replace the old ones in the surrounding areas,” shared Faruk, who also disclosed the estimated repair cost of approximately RM395,000.
Faruk emphasised that despite not holding heritage status themselves, the buildings in the mosque area require permission from authorities to avoid compromising the Category I heritage status.
“The project requires approval from the National Heritage Department, despite not being classified as ‘heritage,’ as it is situated within a heritage area.
“Our plans include building a multi-purpose hall, Islamic library, lecture room and other facilities to meet the current needs of the congregation,” he said.
Story by Nur Syakirah Mohd Basri
Pix by Siew Chia En