Malay Houses in Penang: Circa 1900
By Muhammad Amirul Naim Rosmi
February 2025 PHOTO ESSAY
*Images from Marcus Langdon Collection.MALAYS IN PENANG traditionally lived inland or along the coast, depending on their livelihoods. This had some bearing on how they built or located their dwellings. One common house style is the Bumbung Panjang Berserambi (long roof with veranda), known for its simple yet practical design. The roof has two slopes—an upper and a lower—and the structure allows easy extensions such as a gajah menyusu (side addition) and an anjung (raised porch).Such houses are divided into three main parts: the rumah ibu (core house), serambi...
Muhammad Amirul Naim Rosmi
holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Sciences from the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM). His areas of interest encompass social history, intellectual history and political thought.
