Jalan Khoo Sian Ewe, George Town

Khoo Sian Ewe Road (25 November 2017)


Jalan Khoo Sian Ewe, formerly Khoo Sian Ewe Road, is a short road linking Phee Choon Road with Burmah Road (Jalan Burma) in George Town, Penang. It was built in the early 20th Century and was named after the philanthropic land proprietor Khoo Sian Ewe (1886-1964) who owned the land on both sides of Khoo Sian Ewe Road.

Khoo Sian Ewe was the second son of Kapitan China Khoo Cheow Teong from Sumatra. He was a student of the Penang Free School and later served as one of the first vice-presidents and second president (1924-38) of the Old Frees' Association.

After he took over his father's vast estates, he quickly rose to become a pillar in the Chinese community. He was the longest serving president of the Penang Chinese Town Hall, from 1927 to 1964. In addition, he was also the President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, from 1933 to 1941. A pillar of the early 20th century Penang society, he was made a Justice of the Peace in 1920 and Municipal Commissioner until the Japanese Occupation in 1941. He served on the board of the Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi and the Chung Hwa Confucian High School, among others. He was also a member of the Straits Settlements Legislative Council from 1934 until 1941. Khoo Sian Ewe was knighted the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1954.

Khoo Sian Ewe owns most of the land between Jalan Burma and Jalan Phee Choon. Indeed he was the biggest property owners in Penang before the Second World War. The Loke Thye Kee restaurant was established by two Hainanese brothers who once worked as Khoo Sian Ewe's cooks. He helped them realise their dream by helping them establish the restaurant. After the restaurant along Weld Quay was forced to relocated, Khoo provided the brothers a new premise to re-establish their restaurant, at the junction of Penang Road and Burmah Road.

Khoo Sian Ewe built the Majestic Theatre, which was the first cinema in Penang to screen Chinese talkies. The cinema opened in 1926, and became known among the Chinese as the Shanghai Sound Movie Theatre, although officially it is known as Khoo Sian Ewe Theatre. Other properties owned by Khoo Sian Ewe include his bungalow, The Great Wall, up in Penang Hill.

Map of Khoo Sian Ewe, Penang

Sights along Khoo Sian Ewe Road

Getting there

The nearest bus stop is along Transfer Road. It is served by Rapid Penang bus 10, 101, 103, 104, 201, 202, 203, 204, 206, 502 and CAT.

Khoo Sian Ewe Road (24 November 2008)

List of Streets in Penang and Streets in Malaysia