Penang Islamic Department Building

Last updated
Penang Islamic Department Building
Bangunan Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Pulau Pinang (Malay)
Beach Street Penang Dec 2006 003.jpg
Penang Islamic Department Building
Former namesGovernment Offices (1907–1944)
General information
Architectural style Neoclassical
Address Beach Street, George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Town or city George Town
Country Malaysia
Coordinates 5°25′07″N100°20′37″E / 5.4185°N 100.3437°E / 5.4185; 100.3437
Current tenantsPenang Islamic Department
Construction started1907
Completed1909
Opened1909
Height
Top floor2
Technical details
Floor count2

The Penang Islamic Department Building is an office building in George Town within the Malaysian state of Penang. Completed in 1909, the building, situated at Downing Street within the city's Central Business District (CBD), was formerly part of the Government Offices, the administrative seat of Penang under the Straits Settlements. It now accommodates the Penang Islamic Department. [1]

History

Government Offices as seen from the Penang Strait c. 1892. Gezicht op het Gouvernementsgebouw en oude Pier te Penang aan het water Het Gouvernementsgebouw en de oude Pier te Penang (titel op object), RP-F-F01153-AJ.jpg
Government Offices as seen from the Penang Strait c. 1892.
Side view of the building, as seen from the Jubilee Clock Tower. In the background is the HSBC Building. Penang Islamic Council Building.jpg
Side view of the building, as seen from the Jubilee Clock Tower. In the background is the HSBC Building.

Between 1883 and 1889, land was reclaimed along George Town's eastern coast, creating what is now Weld Quay. [2] This newly created land enabled the Straits Settlements government to construct the U-shaped Government Offices along King Edward Place, Weld Quay and Beach Street. [2] [3]

Construction of the two-storey Neoclassical-style Government Offices occurred in several phases. [2] [3] The first wing along King Edward Place was built from 1884 to 1889. This was followed by an eastern extension along Weld Quay. The second phase included the construction of the Beach Street wing, which housed the Land Office, between 1890 and 1891. The Weld Quay wing was extended southward to Downing Street from 1901 to 1903. [3]

From 1907 to 1909, the Beach Street wing was also extended southward to Downing Street. [3] The local media at the time characterised the new extension as "abnormally hideous" and "abominations" built by "gallant but inartistic builders". [4] After its completion, the Government Offices became the seat of government in Penang, housing the Governor's office, the General Post Office (GPO) and various government departments. [3]

In 1944, the Government Offices were largely destroyed by Allied aerial bombardment, with only the last constructed section along Beach Street surviving. [3] [5] After the British retook Penang, government departments had to be temporarily relocated to nearby godowns and commercial structures. In 1962, the administrative seat of Penang was officially moved to the Tuanku Syed Putra Building. [5] The remaining section of the Government Offices currently houses the Penang Islamic Department, a state government agency responsible for Islamic affairs within Penang. [1] [2] [3]

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References 

  1. 1 2 "Home". Penang Islamic Department. Retrieved 27 Oct 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Khoo, Salma Nasution (2007). Streets of George Town, Penang . Penang, Malaysia: Areca Books. ISBN   9789839886009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Langdon, Marcus (2014). A Guide to George Town's Historic Commercial and Civic Precincts. George Town: George Town World Heritage Incorporated. p. 34.
  4. ↑ "Wednesday, 3rd Feb., 1909". Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle. 3 Feb 1909. p. 4. Retrieved 27 Oct 2024– via National Library Board.
  5. 1 2 Oh, Kee Tiang (30 Aug 1962). "A NEW HOME FOR BOMBED-OUT GOVT. OFFICES". The Straits Times . p. 13. Retrieved 15 Oct 2024– via National Library Board.
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