Penang Islamic Museum

The Penang Islamic Museum houses an exhibition detailing the role and contribution of Malay leaders in the growth and spread of Islam in Penang and Malaysia. Set on Armenian Street, the gallery also provides details on key 19th and early 20th-century public figures and their cultural influence on Penang.

The Penang Islamic Museum also has a beautiful collection of 19th century furniture plus a life-sized diorama of a dock scene, which depicts a maritime-oriented haj (pilgrimage to Mecca). Also known as the Syed Alatas Mansion, the gallery is housed in a restored villa that was once the residence of powerful Acehnese pepper merchant, Syed Mohammed Al-Attas. Later, it was used as a recycling depot for Penang’s Indian Chettiar community.