Rumah Seri Banai and Rumah Tok Su @ Kampung Warisan Melayu

If you want to visit a sample of the traditional Malay house, you don't have to go to the kampungs in search of it since you can visit the Malay Heritage Village (Kampung Warisan Melayu) in Alor Setar City.

Muzium Negeri Kedah had preserved two traditional heritage houses Rumah Seri Banai and Rumah Tok Su and put on display at Jalan Lumba Kuda off Jalan Anak Bukit. 

Rumah Tok Su's original site was at Kampung Permatang Kerat Telunjuk in Bandar Baharu about 200 km south of Alor Setar City while Rumah Seri Banai from Kampung Banai, Mukim Pelubang in the district of Kubang Pasu. 

Rumah Seri Banai

Rumah Seri Banai is a sample of Rumah Kedah with elongated roof. The owner of the house was Tuan Hj Saad bin Taib, the headman of Mukim Pelubang who stayed with his wife Hajjah Saodah binti Ahmad. It was built by Tok Bakar, a local house builder and most of the timber used for building the house were of Meranti nd Temak wood. 

The house too has a history if its own whereby the ground level was formerly used as a Community school. The teacher was Cikgu Ahmad, who was a clerk of Tuan Haji Saad. This community school was later relocated to Kepala Batu and named as Sekolah Seri Banai. 

It was donated to Universiti Utara Malaysia when the temporary campus was at Tanah Merah near Jitra. The house was named Seri Banai after her original location.

Rumah Tok Su

The house covers an area of 1,700 square feet and has 34 pillars. It included six main halls comprising the varendah, the main hall called Rumah Ibu Berbumbung  Potongan Belanda dan Beranjung, the Middle Hall, Ruang Selang, the kitchen and the platform. 

The house was once the dwelling of the village headman, Encik Noor. The 100 years house was originally owned by Tuan Haji Mahmud, a local wealthy man who owned many properties in the village. Tuan Haji Mahmud is Encik Noor's father and Tok Su is his youngest child. 

When the Japanese surrendered in World War II, before the arrival of the British, the Communist took the opportunity to harass the villagers. The villagers then held a meeting in the house and decided to start an organization called "Barisan Pemuda " to counter the harassments.

Both houses has the the traditional masterpiece of Malay house decorated with Bunga Kerawang  unique of the Malay art of carvings implemented in the architectural decorations. 

The idea to relocate and preserve both houses was made by former Menteri Besar of Kedah Tan Sri Sanusi Junid (1995-1999) for future generations to witness the high carving skills and Malay architecture. 

Both houses also depicts the dwelling privacy in the Malay culture with different segments depicted in the layout compared to modern day houses. 

Since its opening, both house has been used as location settings for documentaries, film and dramas by local TV stations and and production house from local and abroad. 

Rumah Seri Banai and Rumah Tok Su also displays antiques that was once domestic items used by locals in their homes. 

How To Go

Driving from Alor Setar City Centre, take Lebuhraya Darulaman on the borthbound (Airport / Jitra / Kerpala Batas) direction. The houses is on the right next to Wisma Darulaman and before Kedah Medical Centre

The house is open to visitors everyday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.


Read more about the to house HERE and HERE

For further Details Contact;

Lembaga Muzium Negeri Kedah Darul Aman,
Lebuhraya Darul Aman,
Bakar Bata,
05100 Alor Setar,
Kedah Darul Aman.

Tel : 04-733 1162

Faks : 04-730 5100