[PHOTOS] 1st PM Tunku Abdul Rahman's Mansion In Penang Is Up For Sale At RM62 Million
Various parties have told the state and federal government to acquire the mansion and turn it into a gallery to honour the late prime minister.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 18 Mar 2021, 04:45 PM
The former mansion of the first prime minister of Malaysia is up for sale at RM62 million, which experts say is the most expensive landed residential property being sold in the market today
According to New Straits Times, the mansion sits on a 0.6ha freehold land between Jalan Park and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in George Town, Penang.
The latter street was initially called Ayer Rajah Road, before being named after Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj.
The late prime minister was said to have lived a quiet life in the residence until his passing in 1990.
The double-storey living quarters that sit on top of the vast grass field — which is about 85% the size of a football field — has a built-up area of 9,867sqft.
It is a six-bedroom detached residence that also comes with an annexed servants' quarters.
The current owner of the property has been trying to sell it for the past three years
The Star reported that family members of Tunku Abdul Rahman sold the property to a private company more than a decade ago.
Penang Malay Association (Pemenang) president Tan Sri Mohd Yussof Latiff said the property had termite problems in the past, and there were talks to turn it into a gallery.
However, the suggestion did not materialise.
The property is currently listed on PropertyGuru, Penang Property Angel, and other international property listing sites.
The property previously underwent renovation, but it is not specified when it had taken place.
A senior real estate consultant told New Straits Times that there is no record of who lived there since Tunku Abdul Rahman's passing and the property has been left empty for many years now.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow is urging the federal government to take note of the sale of the property as he said the residence is a national asset that should be preserved
Chow said the state government will look into the matter and gather more information.
His comments came after certain quarters requested that the state acquire the property for heritage purposes or turn it into a museum.
Mohd Yussof also added the same, calling on the federal government to convert it into a gallery dedicated to Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Meanwhile, heritage activist Khoo Salma Nasution said Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has the authority to protect the mansion by invoking Penang Heritage Enactment 2011.
According to her, the local council has the right to gazette the house as a heritage building.
For more information and photos of the property, visit PropertyGuru here or Penang Property Angel here.
