Bangunan Tuanku Syed Putra

Bangunan Tuanku Syed Putra, George Town, Penang (29 January 2005)


Bangunan Tuanku Syed Putra is a government office building along Downing Street, Penang. It is best known for housing the Penang General Post Office. Bangunan Tuanku Syed Putra was named after Tuanku Syed Putra, the Raja of Perlis, who was the third Yang di-Pertuan Agong of the country reigning from 21 September 1960 to 20 September 1965. During that period, the country changed its name from Malaya to Malaysia.

Bangunan Tuanku Syed Putra occupies the site on Downing Street that was previously occupied by the Town Club building, which also houses the Chamber of Commerce. The Town Club is a social club similar to the Penang Sports Club. It was established by Robert Yeats of the British trading firm Boustead & Co, which has its office next door on Weld Quay. The club was a watering hole for the European businessman.

Next to the Town Club, also along Downing Street, and next to the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank building, was a government building that housed the Education Department and Treasury Office. Town Club, the government building and the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank building were destroyed by Japanese bombing during the Second World War. The Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank building was replaced by the present HSBC building, while Bangunan Tuanku Syed Putra occupies the land of the Town Club and government building.

Bangunan Tuanku Syed Putra is the first major government building in Penang to be built after the country gain independence. The foundation stone was laid by the first prime minister of Malaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj in 1961. Built in the International architectural style, it was completed and opened in 1962 by Raja Tun Uda, the first Governor of Penang.

Bangunan Tuanku Syed Putra is on the Map of Lebuh Downing, Penang

Downing Street then (before 1941) and now (2013) (29 January 2005)


Bangunan Tuanku Syed Putra (11 April 2009)