HSBC Building (Sungai Petani)
| HSBC Building | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Indo-Saracenic |
| Location | Ibrahim Road, Sungai Petani, Kuala Muda District, Kedah, Malaysia |
| Coordinates | 5°38′33″N 100°29′19″E / 5.64251°N 100.48871°E |
| Opened | 13 February 1922 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | David McLeod Craik (Swan & Maclaren) |
| Engineer | Hubert Courtney |
| Main contractor | Tang Chong Chiang |
The HSBC Building is a historical building in Sungai Petani within the Malaysian state of Kedah. Situated at Ibrahim Road within the city's central area, it once housed the Kedah branch of HSBC and reputed to be one of the first financial institutions in the state.[1][2]
History
[edit]In the early 20th century, the township of Sungai Petani had emerged as the commercial centre of the Kuala Muda District. Eyeing the prospects for the town, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) in 1920 decided to open a new premise there.[3]
The building housing the branch was completed and opened in 13 February 1922 by the Regent of Kedah Tunku Ibrahim and the British advisor to Kedah M.S.H. McArthur.[4] It became the second bank established in the state, after the Chartered Bank in Alor Setar. In the beginning, the bank was patronized mainly by European estate managers in the Kuala Muda District and also those from Baling and Kulim. Later, the bank's facilities were extended to Chinese towkays and other businessmen.[2]
When the European theater of World War II began, the branch contributed to war efforts by participating in the "Beat Hitler With Your Odd Cents" campaign.[5][6] During Japanese advancements in the Malayan campaign, the manager of the branch, Henry Willan, took his records and most of the cash, locked up the bank, left the keys with his compradore and evacuated after several unsuccessful attempts to call the head HSBC office in Singapore.[2] After the Sungai Petani branch was forced to close in 8 December 1941, affairs of the branch were handled by the Singapore office until the state also fell into Japanese hands.[7][8] During the Japanese occupation, all operations of HSBC were suspended. The building was used as headquarters by the local Japanese military administration, while the old Rest House beside it became the headquarters of the Kempeitai.[2]
HSBC reopened the Sungai Petani branch in mid-1946 after the war.[9] It was also used as a meeting ground by the Freemasons of Lodge Kedah between 1946 to 1947.[10] During the Konfrontasi, the bank was tightly guarded by police forces in fears of bombing attacks.[11] At around 2019, the HSBC branch relocated to a new premise at Lagenda Heights. The building was vacated and later put up for sale by tender in 2024.[12]
Description
[edit]
The HSBC Building was designed in the Indo-Saracenic style by David McLeod Craik of Swan & MacLaren. The ground floor, about 80 square feet (7.43 square metres), consists of the banking hall, two strong rooms, a large muniment room, and the sub-agent's office. The upper floor has quarters for the sub-agent and assistant drawing room, dining rooms, four bedrooms and bathrooms, verandahs with a central court and two stair cases and entrance halls from the street. The building also have an annex for outhouses and servants' quarters. The main feature of the building is the Mughal cupola and dome at the corner over the main entrance to the bank, engraved with the date of the building and the coat of arms of Kedah.[13]
Construction and materials
[edit]The building structure consists of brick and reinforced concrete, with teak used for the staircases, floors, doors and louvred windows and the floor covered in "Malkin" floor tiles. Construction was commenced by the contractor Tang Chong Cheang, of Penang and Sungai Petani and supervised by the engineering firm Hubert Courtney of Penang. The building's electric lighting was provided by Huttenbach, Lazarus and Sons. The interior was furnished with Jacobean style teak counter and furniture by Pritchard & Co. Ltd.[2][13]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Teh, Alan (25 May 2019). "Nostalgia on the streets of Sungai Petani". New Straits Times. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d e K. Nadaraja (2016). The Kuala Muda District - History of the Administrative Centres of Kota Kuala Muda & Sungai Petani, 1905-1957. UUM Press. ISBN 9789670876535.
- ^ "HERE AND THERE". Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle. 28 February 1920. p. 4. Retrieved 6 June 2025 – via National Library Board.
- ^ "HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK. Opening of Sungei Patani branch". Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle. 14 February 1922. p. 4. Retrieved 6 June 2025 – via National Library Board.
- ^ "BEAT HITLER WITH YOUR ODD CENTS!". Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle. 31 July 1940. p. 12. Retrieved 6 June 2025 – via National Library Board.
- ^ "NORTH MALAYA WAR FUND $1,413,790". Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle. 17 October 1940. p. 12. Retrieved 6 June 2025 – via National Library Board.
- ^ "Public Notice". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 23 December 1941. p. 3. Retrieved 6 June 2025 – via National Library Board.
- ^ "Our Darkest Hours: Conflict and Closure". HSBC. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ "Our Darkest Hours: The Bank Returns". HSBC. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ Teh, Alan (5 August 2018). "Unveiling the history of the highly secretive Freemasons in Malaysia". New Straits Times. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Bank on its guard". The Straits Times. 5 May 1965. p. 5. Retrieved 6 June 2025 – via National Library Board.
- ^ For Sale By Tender TWO (2) STOREY COMMERCIAL BUILDING @ SUNGAI PETANI, KEDAH (PDF), CBRE | WTW, 2024
- ^ a b "HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK. New Sungei Patani branch building". Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle. 6 February 1922. p. 4. Retrieved 6 June 2025 – via National Library Board.