Yee Woo Tai Ngok, The Mysterious Mansion in Teluk Intan
For those who frequently visit Teluk Intan, you must have wondered about the large mansion located near Maybank Teluk Intan.
This house is considered mysterious by outsiders and even by the residents of Teluk Intan themselves. This time, Orang Perak would like to share the history of this large building, which is part of Teluk Intan's heritage. This mansion was the residence of the family of Taukey Woo Choy, who was of Cantonese descent. Woo Choy arrived and settled in Malaya from the Qing Empire of China before the Second World War.
He started a conglomerate in various business sectors, including as a rice merchant, a supplier of various goods such as medicinal herbs, shipping, and others. Taukey Woo also purchased a large plot of land along Batu 11 Changkat Road and operated a rubber plantation. He built a factory to process scrap rubber on his estate. The mansion, built in 1918, was called Yee Woh Tai Ngok by its owner. Situated on a 5-acre plot of land, it has a main entrance facing Jalan Speedy and a side entrance facing the start of Jalan Ah Cheong.
The mansion is protected by high concrete walls along Jalan Sekolah and Jalan Ah Cheong. On these two sections of the fence, there are concrete pillars topped with unicorn ornaments. The ironwork at the top features a very unique design, believed to have been imported from abroad. The main door to the building is 15 feet high and made of high-quality wood. The grille outside the side-sliding door is also made of high-quality hardwood bars, each with a diameter of 2 inches.
If you enter through the main door, you will find guest rooms on the left and right. It was also used as a space for children to play and study.
Furthermore, as you walk deeper into the house, you will find an open square courtyard measuring 40 square feet. On the left side, there is a door facing Jalan Ah Cheong. That door was also used by the servants and staff of the mansion.
There is a garage that can fit three to four cars not far from this entrance. The area facing Jalan Sekolah features a garden filled with potted plants. The pots were made by skilled craftsmen. Many unicorn, phoenix, and dragon statues can be found in this area. At the back of the compound, there are quarters for staff and domestic helpers.
There are several rooms to the right of the main entrance. There are also 2 staircases leading to the first floor, which served as the private living quarters for the Woo family.
The mansion was later occupied by Woo Choy's widow and several of his siblings. Most of them lived there until the end of their lives. One of his younger sisters, Dr. Phyllis Woo, once served at Teluk Anson Hospital before opening her own clinic on Jalan Raja. The news of Taukey Woo's death was published by The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser on August 29, 1931. The report is as follows,
"The death of Towkay Woo Choy took place at his residence, no. 9 Speedy Road, Teluk Anson, on Tuesday, Aug 11. The late Towkay was a very well-known and old resident of Teluk Anson, was proprietor of Messr. Yue Woo and Co., and one of the biggest landlords in Lower Perak. In his lifetime, he had done much beneficial work for his compatriots by organizing and financing the Teluk Anson Cantonese District Guild and giving some his land for use as a public burial ground. He had served on Lower Perak Sanitary Board for about 10 years".
