The Museum that Tin Built

Old Ipoh currency on display at the museum

Next, we switched with the other group and go to the Hakka Mining Museum. The owner of the museum gave us a briefing about the history of the Hakka Mining Museum. The story of Han Chin Villa at no.3 Jalan Bijeh Timah, Ipoh starts on 5th May 1893 when mining Tow Kay Leong Fee formed the Han Chin Tin Miner’s Club in a double-story shophouse where the Villa stands today. The club membership was restricted to Hakka miners and it was a place where they could connect with their colleagues and friends from home, smoke opium and entertain “dancing girls”. They could also gamble legally with approval from the District Magistrate, Kinta. Lodging house facilities were also available for male relatives and Hakka friends. In 1927, the club bought the building from Leong’s son and in 1929 rebuilt it into the unique structure you see today. On the 5th May 1930, their 37th anniversary, they held a house-warming party to celebrate their new home.

Besides that, in the kitchen, there is a pond and many fish are in there. Lala and I enjoyed playing with the fish.

Nur Rofhafizah Atiqah (5Sc2)

Example of a form of gambling played at the time

All of us walked together to the Hakka Mining Museum. The story of this museum was since Towkay Leong Fee founded this Hakka Miners’ Club in 1893 it has always been a place of mystery whereby entry is restricted to everyone besides club members and their VIP guests. The clubs membership was further restricted to only Hakka miners and it was a place they could connect with their colleagues and friends from home, smoke opium and entertain ‘dancing girls’. They could also gamble.

At the museum, I saw a porcelain pillow. These types of pillows were famous because they were used when one smoked opium. Smokers would place their valuables inside their pillow for that they did not need to worry about their things being stolen will smoking.

Filzah Amani Bt Mat Arshad (5Sc1)

A mural of a Hakka woman cooking in the museum’s reproduction kitchen

HAKKA MINING MUSEUM — Opened on May 5th 1930 , the Hakka Miners Club was founded by Leong Fee, a wealthy miner at the time. Due to lack of membership , this historic building was later rented out to Ipoh world in 2013, where a work overhaul worked for over a year to make it into a museum.

TIN MINING — A former bedroom has been converted into a cinema screening and an 11-minute black and white documentary produced in Hollywood in the 1930’s, called ‘Tin from the Malayan Jungle’. It’s not an oscar-winner but it explains the various methods of tin timing and has pictures of a tin drege in action.

FOUR EVILS — The 4 evils which tempted tormented Hakka tin miners, both rich and poor, were: opium, gambling, prostitution and the triads (secrets societies).

HAKKA PEOPLE — On the top floor is a gallery dedicated to history and background of the Hakkas who are described as “ The Jews of Asia “, reflecting their history of mass migrations over the centuries as well as their pioneering spirit.

COLLECTABLES — Ipoh world has fitted-out Han Chin Pet Soo with a great collection of antiques, furniture, curiosities, collectibles and genuine artifacts from the period.

NUR SHAKIRAH (5Sc1)