The Story of the 107-Year-Old Dilapidated Mosque in Kampung Teluk Memali, Perak
Recently, the orangperak.com web crew had the opportunity to track down the grave of J.W.W. Birch, the first British Resident of Perak, along with the graves of British soldiers who were killed during the start of the Perak War in Kampung Teluk Memali.
Also located along the same path is the tomb of the 19th Sultan of Perak, Paduka Seri Sultan Abdul Malik Mansur Shah, who ruled the state of Perak from 1806 to 1825. Our attention was drawn to the site of an old mosque located about 50 meters from the tomb of Sultan Abdul Malik. The mosque is known as the Old Mosque of Kampung Teluk Memali, which is over 107 years old.
The area where this mosque was built was formerly known as Bandar Baru, which served as the administrative center for Sultan Abdul Malik Mansur Shah. This area was later taken over and used as a British administrative center after the Pangkor Treaty was signed.
The Resident's house and a British defensive fort once stood here before being lost to time. The Old Mosque of Kampung Teluk Memali, located in Kampung Gajah, is likely one of the oldest places of worship in the Perak Tengah district. The mosque was built in 1910 on the site of a surau that had been established in 1900. The original surau, built on the banks of the Perak River, faced issues with riverbank erosion and was later relocated to a safer site by the villagers.
The Old Mosque of Kampung Teluk Memali features architecture and design that reflect the beautiful characteristics of traditional Malay houses. The mosque possesses a high level of artistry and craftsmanship, which can be seen in the mimbar (pulpit), handrails, and wall panels carved with intricate and delicate floral motifs. It was built in response to the hot and humid climate; it features a sloped roof to allow rainwater to run off quickly, stilts to raise the mosque above ground level to prevent flooding, plenty of space including small windows, and carved panels to allow for natural cross-ventilation.
However, as time passed, the settlement area around the Old Mosque of Kampung Teluk Memali began to be abandoned due to frequent flooding from the overflow of the Perak River, especially during the rainy season, which caused residents to move about 2 kilometers away to the current Kampung Teluk Memali settlement. The Old Mosque of Kampung Teluk Memali is believed to have been unused for nearly 40 years, left in a dilapidated state without any maintenance, with several items belonging to the mosque lost or damaged.
Out of awareness regarding its historical value and the importance of preserving this heritage building for future generations, this 107-year-old mosque was relocated to a new site to be redeveloped as a surau on a 0.5-acre plot in Taman Seri Bougainvillea, Bandar Seri Botani, Ipoh. This noble heritage conservation effort was carried out by ATSA Architects Sdn Bhd (ATSA Architects) in collaboration with the National Mosque architect, Datuk Dr. Baharuddin Abu Kassim, and Politeknik Ungku Omar.
This project also received approval and support from the Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council, the Perak State Mufti Department, the Ipoh City Council, and the original residents of Kampung Teluk Memali as trustees of the Old Mosque of Kampung Teluk Memali. The effort to move this mosque to Ipoh began with the work of dismantling the main structure and moving a wooden mimbar from the main prayer hall to a nearby community hall.
On June 22, the ablution pool (kolah) structure was lifted and moved out using a crane and then transported to the new site on the same day, in an effort that also involved a group of carpenters from Ipoh and was supervised by licensed conservators from Politeknik Ungku Omar. Once all wooden structural components were dismantled, they were marked before being transported by truck and then stored in an organized manner.
The restoration and carpentry work were carried out by local carpenters, Sohigh Enterprise, and all wood treatment work was conducted at their workshop in Chemor, Perak, before the results were brought to Taman Botani, Ipoh, Perak. Furthermore, to maintain the quality of the wood used in this project, ATSA Architects sought advice from the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) regarding suitable wood to use, and they obtained the best replacement timber from Kemaman, Terengganu, supplied by Pesama Timber Corporation.
The cost for the restoration of this mosque is estimated to reach RM500,000. The first phase of this project involved earthworks for the new site in Bandar Seri Botani, Ipoh, followed by the second phase, which detailed the process of dismantling and reassembling the components. The final phase will involve processes such as installing electricity and water supplies, including the construction of support spaces like an annex for female congregants and community activities, ablution areas, toilets, fencing, and roads. The mosque is expected to be available for use by the community around Bandar Botani, Ipoh, in the near future.
The noble effort to preserve national heritage by ATSA Architects is commendable and deserves recognition. It is hoped that more of us will strive to preserve our historical heritage so that it does not vanish in the currents of time. For any questions regarding the conservation and relocation project of this mosque, please contact the Chief Operating Officer of ATSA Architects, Syed Kamal Affendi Syed Mustapha, at 012-3292827 or Mohamad Haziq Zulkifli at 018-3973535, and email to masjid[at]memalimosque.com.my. You can also contribute to the Teluk Memali Mosque Relocation Fund account number 105280003201 (Affin Islamic Bank). For more information on the conservation efforts and the progress of this project, please visit the website at www.memalimosque.com.my, as well as the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KgTelukMemaliOldMosque
