A Familiar Place…..?
This is one of the many mansions which belonged to one of Ipoh’s rich towkays. I’m sure some of you recognise it! The picture below shows what has become of the place in recent times….
….a club! Notice the changes, especially the windows and balcony. Anyone know WHEN the mansion was turned into a club?
May 24th, 2010 at 11:38 am
I remember the building - maybe Tambun Rd, Kampar Rd? The “renovations” seems to have totally destroyed its character. The majestic balconies have been replaced with crappy cheap looking bay windows. And the colour………ugh hideous! To totally complete its destruction they’ll just have to stick on of those fast food logos on top. You didn’t publish the complete photo (I’m glad you didn’t) - I suppose even the lawn is now a huge carpark. My uncle’s old house at Ashby road (just before the army camp) was also a grand house and the last I know its turned into a temple - totally destroying it.
May 24th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
It is located at Jalan Datoh. I have read somewhere that this was Lau Pak Khuan’s Mansion, I may be wrong.
May 25th, 2010 at 1:11 am
Hi Allan. The second picture (with the new renovations) was given to us, with only part of the house/club featured. Regarding your uncle’s former house, are you refering to the present Sikh temple just after the army camp?
KKFoong, thanks for the info - every bit helps.
May 25th, 2010 at 3:12 am
KK Foong is correct. This impressive mansion was once the home of the late mining tycoon Datuk Seri Lau Pak Khuan (1894 - 1971). Together with other stalwarts like Sir H.S. Lee, Tun Tan Cheng Lock and Tun Leong Yew Koh, he was one of the founder members of the Malayan Chinese Association and was the 1st Chairman of Perak MCA. Lau Pak Khuan was a staunch advocate of citizenship rights for Chinese nationals and strived tirelessly to safeguard the status of Chinese language in Malaysian society. When the ideals he sought for the Chinese community were not enshrined in the newly drafted Malayan Constitution, he broke ranks with MCA but remained an active and authoritative voice in Perak’s political arena. Internationally, he was a lifelong supporter of China’s Koumintang, and subsequently became a personal friend of Dr. Sun Yat Sen and General Chiang Kai Shek. Lau Pak Khuan was a notable member of the Hakka clan and he donated generously to charity. In recognition of his philanthropic deeds, King George V conferred him the title, “Order of the British Empire” in 1951. Converting this historic building into a seedy nightclub is a sacrilege in every sense of the word!
May 25th, 2010 at 8:33 am
thanks for the additional info Ken!
yes, it’s sad that such a place is now a club! injustice….
May 25th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
My uncle’s house was on the left hand side of Ashby road, going from GH and was excatly at the corner where you could turn left to go to Perak Stadium. He was a public servant and after he won the 2nd prize of the Social Welfare lottery (1st prize was $375,000, and I think 2nd prize was $125,000) he built that house and never ever worked again. When I was in Ipoh last year at least the large grey solid-looking house at Tiger lane was still there, intact. I remember my mother used to tell us the Stones Masons clan used to meet there in secret in the 1950s.
May 25th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Felicia, the local building codes must be hyper flexible to allow such renovations to proceed unabated. Quite a number of other mansions have met the same fate and changing gears to Penang, even the stately homes along the millionaire row in once prestigious Northam Road were not spared from the onslaught. Most of the alterations were done in poor taste and the finished products stick up like a sore thumb alongside other well-maintained properties.
May 26th, 2010 at 12:38 am
Hi Allan. would you happen to have any pictures of your uncle’s lovely house? maybe we could feature it in our blog….
Ken, not all is lost: we were told by someone who worked in the Taiping Municipal, that when they restore heritage buildings…they try to preserve the original structure while ‘fixing’ it. even the colour scheme is set as close as possible to the original! Ipoh could learn a thing or two from our Taiping friends….
July 5th, 2010 at 8:44 am
A disaster on this building!! I passed by yesterday & found the entire roof has been demolished. The car park is full of construction material, probably to rebuild the roof. Anyway, as we can see from these photos, the roof was featuring unique & beautiful pattern. I dont believe the new one will reflect the same.
July 5th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Hi Mashi74. demolishing the roof? well, there goes another heritage beauty……
July 20th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Yes that’s indeed a unique and beautiful building. There were also beautiful people living in it. Remember any one of them?