CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow officially reopened the Sun Yat Sen Museum Penang in a ceremony that was attended by several distinguished guests from China as well as the state at 120 Lebuh Armenian in George Town today.
The ceremony also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Soong Ching Ling Former Residence Management Centre, represented by Li An-Jin, deputy general manager of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, and Sun Yat Sen Museum Penang, represented by its director Khoo Salma.
Among the distinguished guests were Madam Li Bin, president of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and vice-chairperson of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC); Zhou Youbin, the consul-general of China in Penang; Zhang Jiming, secretary general of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, and Dr Sun’s great-grandniece Alexandra Sun.
The museum, which opened to visitors in 2001, had to close during the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.
Chow said from what he learned that although Dr Sun only stayed in Penang for a few months between July and December in 1910, he inspired a local movement among the Malaysian Chinese in education and social improvement.
Chow also remembered the 2007 Chinese historical movie Road to Dawn [夜。明] which depicted Dr Sun Yat Sen’s life in Penang during those several months in 1910. It was filmed in Penang and the whole vicinity of Armenian Street, including the house where he had stayed.
“I understand that this house is a popular site to visit by many VIPs from China due to its historical significance and connection to Dr Sun Yat Sen. So, it is most timely that this house is turned into a museum with proper conservation efforts to protect and care for this historic relic in the heart of George Town.
“Dr Sun’s supporters started schools such as Chung Ling and Peng Hua which are Penang’s most important Chinese schools today, as well as associations such as Hu Yew Seah, Min Sin Seah and Li Teik Seah, which have their own schools.
“But more than anything else, Dr Sun Yat Sen inspired patriotism and the need for one to be firm and to do the right thing against all forms of aggression. In fact, Dr Sun was at one time even banned from Penang due to his criticism against British colonial rule,” Chow said in his speech.
Chow credited Khoo Salma, director of the Sun Yat Sen Museum Penang, and her mother, Ch’ng Cheng Ee, for preserving this important house in the George Town World Heritage Site.
Chow also thanked Lim Gaik Siang, the president of the Penang Heritage Trust, and Khoo Salma for playing pivotal roles in getting George Town listed as a World Heritage Site.
“We hope there are more people like them in Malaysia who are truly committed to history and heritage.
“The George Town World Heritage Site has huge potential for cultural tourism, and people from all over the world will come here to see tropical architecture and sites with unique history and authenticity like this museum,” Chow added.
According to Khoo Salma, Dr Sun, the first president of modern China, lived in Penang for a few months and held an important meeting here in 1910 to plan the Second Guangzhou Uprising.
Another esteemed visitor was Prince (now King) Charles III of the United Kingdom in November 2017.
Khoo Salma admitted the house was quite a mess when Alexandra Sun visited her six weeks ago, but she took up her challenge to get it ready for its reopening this month.
“It was exactly 30 years ago, when as a young heritage advocate, I first restored this house on 120 Armenian Street. This is a happy day for me. I feel like I have a second chance at presenting this historical house to the public.
“When Dr Sun became the first president of post-monarchic China, everyone could see that Dr Sun, the virtuous leader, desired neither power nor money, but to free China of imperialists and to set China on a path to greatness,” Khoo Salma said.
She expressed her gratitude to the China Soong Ling Foundation for the generous gift of a replica of Dr Sun’s calligraphy of the Great Commonwealth.
Madam Li Bin said they were honoured to be part of the occasion, and the collaboration between China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and the Sun Yat Sen Museum Penang would further enhance China-Malaysia traditional friendship.
She said it was here that the planning by Dr Sun and his members led to the 1911 Revolution, ending the feudal rule that lasted several thousand years.
She is optimistic that with China and Malaysia celebrating 50 years of diplomatic ties next year and the visa-free travel between China and Malaysia from Dec 1, more tourists would be coming to Malaysia and Penang.
“We believe this place (museum) will become a more popular tourist spot or a must-visit spot,” Madam Li Bin concluded.
The museum plans to open five or six days a week, except on Sundays, from 9am to 5pm, with an entry fee of RM10 per ticket.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Siew Chia En
Video by Alissala Thian