Two of the major hospitals in Penang were founded here, namely Lam Wah Ee Hospital in 1883 and the Penang Adventist Hospital in 1924. The original Lam Wah Ee Hospital building was destroyed during the Second World War, and was replaced with a later structure that is still standing today, until the hospital shifted to its present located along Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim. Nonetheless Muntri Street is still remembered by the locals as Lam Wah Ee Kay, or Lam Wah Ee Hospital Street.
Muntri Street, between Penang Road and Leith Street (15 December 2012)
The original building for Adventist Hospital is still standing today, at the junction of Muntri Street and Leith Street, and today houses Lum Fong Hotel.
Muntri Street was named after the 19th Century Menteri of Larut, Ngah Ibrahim. A number of trade guilds from the bygone era are still found here, among them the Penang & Province Wellesley Cafe Association formed by Hainanese coffeeshop owners, Penang Restaurants and Tea Shops Association, Penang Goldsmith Association, among others. The Cantonese district association Wooi Ning Wooi Koon is also located here, as is King Wan Association, a trade union for shopkeepers and clerks - the name "King Wan", which was chosen after the original association got banned, means "warning the stubborn".
Muntri Street, between Leith Street and Love Lane (24 November 2008)
75 Muntri Street was the home of famous 19th century Baba-Malay novelist Chan Kim Boon (1851-1920), who is better known by his pen name Batu Gantong. He earn his fame for translating Chinese classics into Baba Malay, a patois mixing market Malay with Hokkien, producing witty pieces that amused his local readership.
In Other Words ...
In Hokkien, Muntri Street used to be known as Lam3 Wah3 Ee3 Kay1 meaning "Lam Wah Ee Hospital Street", as the hospital used to be located there. It was also called Sin3 Hai1lam2 Kong3si1 Kay1, meaning "New Hainanese Clan Association Street".
Updates on Muntri Street
9 May, 2019 The Star Penang state executive member Zairil Khir Johari announced that the Bahasa Malaysia name for Muntri Street will be changed back from Jalan Muntri to the gazetted Lebuh Muntri. ref
Muntri Street junction with Love Lane (11 February 2013)
Muntri Street plaque (24 November 2008)
Getting there
Muntri Street is not served by buses. The nearest bus stop is on Penang Road. You can reach Muntri Street by taking the Rapid Penang Free Shuttle Bus to Station No. 7 (Lebuh Muntri) and walk a short distance from Penang Road to Muntri Street. Alternatively, Rapid Penang bus 10, 11, 101, 103, 104, 201, 202, 203, 204, 206, 301 and 302 are among those that pass through Penang Road.
Nyonya tiles at a house in Muntri Street (7 July 2008)
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About this website
Dear visitor, thank you so much for reading this page. My name is Timothy Tye and my hobby is to find out about places, write about them and share the information with you on this website. I have been writing this site since 5 January 2003. Originally (from 2003 until 2009, the site was called AsiaExplorers. I changed the name to Penang Travel Tips in 2009, even though I describe more than just Penang but everywhere I go (I often need to tell people that "Penang Travel Tips" is not just information about Penang, but information written in Penang), especially places in Malaysia and Singapore, and in all the years since 2003, I have described over 20,000 places.
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