Chung Thye Phin Villa – Relau

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Chung Thye Phin Villa – Relau

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Chung Thye Phin Villa – Relau

Chung Thye Phin (1879 – 1935) is the fourth son of the Hakka tin-miner Chung KengKwee. He received his education at St. Xavier’s Institution and he became a well-known miner and planter in Perak. He was made the last Chinese Kapitan of Perak and a member of the Perak State Council.

Chung Thye Phin Road in Ipoh was named after him.

According to his granddaughter Oola goes, “Chung Thye Phin had many residences, some of them mansions, in Penang, Ipoh and Taiping. … He built a summer house on a large estate near Relau and surrounded it with gardens, orchards and fish ponds. However its most striking feature was the fact that it was built around a swimming pool (the first in Penang) in the Roman tradition. This house still exists in its ruined state, now surrounded by high rise 21st century flats.”

Support our efforts – your voice can make a difference! We suggest this short message be sent to the relevant authorities:

“I urge the Penang State Government, local authorities and related agencies to urgently take action to save the Chung Thye Phin Villa (Relau). Its intrinsic value is famed for the architectural summer house built in a Roman tradition with swimming pool surrounding it. Regrettably the elegant villa, in its ruins, is surrounded by high rise flats which deteriorate its uniqueness.

I would like to register my concern for the need to safeguard Penang’s heritage and to keep alive the soul of our city. I believe that appropriate protection for heritage as well as development guided by respect for community, heritage and environment will improve our quality of life and prosper our local economy.”

Mailing addresses and fax numbers for the authorities are listed on the previous page. You can also email them directly here.

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