Noordin Street

Noordin Street is the second of George Town's Seven Streets Precint.

Noordin Street is a narrow two-way street within the George Town city centre. Located within the city's Seven Streets Precint (Chit Tiau Lor in Penang Hokkien), it is the second street from the north (after Magazine Road), linking Brick Kiln Road to its west with Bridge Street to the east.

As its name implies, it is the only street within the Seven Streets Precint to be named after a Muslim. Habib Merican Noordin, from which the street got its name, was one of the founders of the Kapitan Keling Mosque, the most historic mosque in the heart of George Town.

A bilingual Noordin Street sign.

However, the street only came into existence towards the end of the 19th. century, when the area was developed into an urban residential area known as the Seven Streets Precint. Double-storey Chinese Eclectic-style houses line the street to this day.

Etymology

Noordin Street was named after Habib Merican Noordin, an Indian Muslim merchant who arrived on Penang Island in the late 18th. century. Noordin, an alumni of Penang Free School, was one of the major benefactors of the Kapitan Keling Mosque, the oldest and most iconic mosque within George Town's UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition, he built the Noordin Family Tomb.

When Noordin Street was laid out, it was the second street south of the Prangin Canal after Magazine Road. As such, the Chinese call the street Jee33 Tiau3 Lor3, meaning 'the second street' in Penang Hokkien.

History

Double-storey Straits Chinese Eclectic-style terrace houses and a clan association building at Noordin Street.

Noordin Street came into existence in the late 19th. century, as George Town was expanding south past the Prangin Canal. Together with eight other parralel streets, the area south of the canal became known as the Seven Streets Precint (Chit Tiau Lor) and was earmarked for the development of an urban residential area.

Cititel Hotel

Between the late 19th. century to the 1930s, Straits Chinese Eclectic-style double storey terrace houses were built within the Precint, catering mostly to the middle-class Chinese.

These houses remain standing along Noordin Street to this day; some have been converted into cafes and budget hostels. There are also a number of clan associations based inside ornate Chinese buildings along the street.

After Noordin Street had been laid out, land reclamation off the eastern end of the street led to the creation of a seaward extension named Noordin Street Ghaut.

Tow Moo Keong Temple at Noordin Street

Hotel

• Cititel Hotel

Religion

• Tow Moo Keong Temple

Political Representation

Penang State Government

N.27 Pengkalan Kota State Assemblyman : Lau Keng Ee (Democratic Action Party)

Malaysian Federal Parliament

P.049 Tanjong Member of Parliament : Ng Wei Aik (Democratic Action Party)

References

1. Khoo S.N., 2007. Streets of George Town, Penang. Areca Books, Penang.
2. http://www.penang-traveltips.com/noordin-street.htm
3. http://wongchunwai.com/category/penang-history-my-story/page/5/