Kampung Deli

Kampung Deli, George Town, Penang (13 February 2009)


Kampung Deli is a small lane off Penang Road. The lane is a side road beside the Kek Seng Coffee Shop. It widens into a proper road as it approaches Macalister Lane, where it ends.

As with so many other places in George Town that bears the name "kampung" (Kampung Kolam, Kampung Kaka and Kampung Malabar to name some), Kampung Deli does not look like a village. Well, not anymore. Originally it was a settlement of north Sumatrans from Deli, a kingdom with a history going back to the early 17th century. Deli was a kingdom ruled by a raja from 1630 to 1814, when it was part of the regency (kabupaten) of Siak. When it achieved independence from Siak in 1814, the Raja of Deli proclaimed himself Sultan.

Kampung Deli village house (23 June 2011)


Today Kampung Deli exists only by name, as there is no more traces of the village that existed there. Although the majority of the houses are modern in design, there is at least one house at Kampung Deli that must have stood the test of time, hailing back to the days when Kampung Deli was a true Sumatran village.

This would be house No. 19 of Kampung Deli. You can see it in an alley on the left side as you approach from Penang Road. It stands on columns. The house is built of wood with intricate carvings. Although it is occupied by Chinese tenants today, its design indicates that it was built for a Malay or probably Sumatran family.

Kampung Deli village house (23 June 2011)

Further Reading

If you are interested to view village houses within the city of George Town, read my article Village Houses in George Town, which has a map showing the village houses that I have identified in the city. These houses often pre-date the shophouses that line the streets.

Getting there

Take Rapid Penang Free Shuttle Bus, get down at Station No. 10 (Komtar Utara). Walk along Penang Road in the northeast directly, past Bertam Lane, and toward Kek Seng Coffee Shop. Kampung Deli is immediately beside Kek Seng.

Kampong Deli sign board (13 February 2009)

Location of Kampung Deli on the map

List of Streets in Penang and Streets in Malaysia