Places where colonial names are very much in use
2010/03/21
Sharanjit Singh
sharanjit@nst.com.my
sharanjit@nst.com.my
A FIRST-TIME visitor to Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah in George Town would be perplexed to find how many names it has.
Reputed to be one of the nicest roads in the city, it was once known as "Millionaire's Row" because businessmen who made their fortunes at the turn of the century built their mansions there.
Kedah House, on the seafront facing the North Channel, is also found here.
The tree-lined promenade has officially been known as Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah since the early 1980s.
However, just like many other streets in Penang, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah is better known by its original name, Northam Road, among most locals and Ang-mo-lo among the Chinese-speaking residents.
Try telling a taxi driver that you want to go to Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah and you'll probably get a blank stare or a typical "where ah?" question. But say Northam Road and he'll get you there in the blink of an eye.
Kedah House, on the seafront facing the North Channel, is also found here.
The tree-lined promenade has officially been known as Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah since the early 1980s.
However, just like many other streets in Penang, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah is better known by its original name, Northam Road, among most locals and Ang-mo-lo among the Chinese-speaking residents.
Try telling a taxi driver that you want to go to Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah and you'll probably get a blank stare or a typical "where ah?" question. But say Northam Road and he'll get you there in the blink of an eye.
| A view of George Town from the 65th floor of Menara Komtar in 1984. — File picture |
It can be a long and infuriating search by car or taxi if one is looking for a particular street in Penang, especially if one does not know the road's original name.
As most streets in the city were built and named during the colonial era, the historic English names have remained in the psyche and are still used by most Penangites.
This is unlike many other cities in the country where colonial street names have been replaced.
However, even where street names have been officially changed, locals have largely continued to use the old names. This is where the confusion sets in for visitors.
Take the case of Jalan Masjid Negeri, which is better known as Green Lane among locals, or Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling which is more commonly referred to as Pitt Street.
Then, there is Jalan D.S. Ramanathan which was originally known as Scott Road.
Adding to the intrigue of these Mat Salleh road names, is how the local Chinese refer to the streets in Hokkien.
Macalister Road is known as Tiong-lo, Burma Road is Chhia-tsui-lo, Jalan Gurdwara or Brick Kiln Road is Hong-chhia-lo, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah or Northam Road is Ang-mo-lo, Jalan Bagan Jermal is Oan-to-lo and Jalan Residensi is Ji-ong-chhu-lo).
As most streets in the city were built and named during the colonial era, the historic English names have remained in the psyche and are still used by most Penangites.
This is unlike many other cities in the country where colonial street names have been replaced.
However, even where street names have been officially changed, locals have largely continued to use the old names. This is where the confusion sets in for visitors.
Take the case of Jalan Masjid Negeri, which is better known as Green Lane among locals, or Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling which is more commonly referred to as Pitt Street.
Then, there is Jalan D.S. Ramanathan which was originally known as Scott Road.
Adding to the intrigue of these Mat Salleh road names, is how the local Chinese refer to the streets in Hokkien.
Macalister Road is known as Tiong-lo, Burma Road is Chhia-tsui-lo, Jalan Gurdwara or Brick Kiln Road is Hong-chhia-lo, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah or Northam Road is Ang-mo-lo, Jalan Bagan Jermal is Oan-to-lo and Jalan Residensi is Ji-ong-chhu-lo).
Taxi driver H.S. Tee, who has been ferrying passengers since the early 1990s, said most Penangites were fond of using colonial street names compared with the official ones.
| Northam Tower bears the old name of Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah. In the foreground is the Shih Chung School. |
He said this was also the case for the older generation who preferred using the Hokkien names.
"That is why I find it easier taking passengers who refer to their guide books as they more often than not, refer to the colonial names of roads compared with Malaysians from outside Penang.
"Sometimes, I have to stop and think hard when passengers give me the official street name before I can figure out where they want to go."
While most may ask what's in a name in Penang, it looks like it certainly makes a difference between a short efficient ride to the destination or an agonising search through the streets of George Town.
"That is why I find it easier taking passengers who refer to their guide books as they more often than not, refer to the colonial names of roads compared with Malaysians from outside Penang.
"Sometimes, I have to stop and think hard when passengers give me the official street name before I can figure out where they want to go."
While most may ask what's in a name in Penang, it looks like it certainly makes a difference between a short efficient ride to the destination or an agonising search through the streets of George Town.
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