GEORGE TOWN: The two-century-old Acheen Street mosque, also known as Masjid Jamek and Masjid Melayu, will be designated as a national heritage building, said tourism minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.
He said the old mosque with its exciting history and unique architecture would appeal to visitors who come to admire its beauty.
“I regard this mosque as very special and as we all know old mosques will certainly be an attraction. When a building is over 100 years old it is considered a heritage building,” he said when launching a festival and celebration in conjunction with the mosque’s 207th anniversary here yesterday.
Mohamed Nazri urged the Penang state government to submit a proposal to the ministry to designate the mosque as Penang state heritage.
He said it was important to restore the building to its original features and design, adding that the ministry would provide an allocation for the restoration work.
The mosque was built in 1808. According to historical data, construction of the mosque began in 1792 when Tengku Syed Hussain Al-Aidid, an Achinese royalty from Sumatra, began a Muslim settlement in the present-day Achinese Street area here.
Free Malaysia Today