Trade in its twilight

A TRADITIONAL Chinese medical hall that has been operating for 214 years in Penang is moving out from its current premises on China Street in George Town.

This move has prompted calls for investors or traditional medicine practitioners to step in by setting up a traditional medical hall-cum-museum to preserve the ‘living heritage’ of the building.

Yin Oi Tong, was set up by Chinese immigrants who came to Malaya who manufactured, processed and distributed Chinese herbs and medicines in this region to Singapore, southern Thailand, Medan and Sumatera.

Unfortunately the tenant finds it difficult to sustain its business and they have decided to move out of the building which is owned by the Cheah Kongsi by June 30.

Yin Oi Tong, has occupied three the shoplots, each three storeys high, at 82A-C, China Street for the last 124 years.

Several non-governmental organisations such as the Cultural Heritage Advisory Team (CHAT), Penang Heritage Trust and heritage researcher Tan Yeow Wooi have now joined hands to try to preserve the building’s traditional usage as a medical hall.

Tan, who earlier gave a briefing on the history of Yin Oi Tong, is proposing that the building owner, tenant, state government and the private sector join forces to rehabilitate, refurbish and preserve the Early Straits Eclectic Style building as well as the conventional trade.

“The ground floor of the building can be maintained as a traditional medical hall but the second and third floor can be transformed into a museum or gallery to showcase the artifacts of the trade,” he suggested.

Yin Oi Tong managing director Chong Yit Leong said the company was willing to cooperate by staying on as the core tenant and help transform part of the buildings into a museum.

“We have harboured thoughts of moving out of the premises 15 years ago but we have tourists visiting the building from time to time. That is why we continued to hang on even though we could no longer make any profits.

“We’re willing to donate our artifacts to the museum,” he said.