A CROWDFUNDING effort to restore the meeting place for former Malay seafarers in Liverpool has been started by the remaining members of the clubhouse at No. 7 Jermyn Street, and their supporters.
The building, which was acquired in the 60s to provide a meeting place where seafarers from the Malay world met during their breaks working on British Merchant Navy ships, was left in derelict condition after problems with maintenance and finance.
Remaining members such as Md Nor Hamid, 85, who left his village in Tanjung Keling in Melaka, in 1952 to sail on the British Merchant Navy ship, as well as Jantan Lisot who was with the Malaysian Navy but now residing in Liverpool, have decided to restore the building and turn it into Malaysian House for the Malaysian community here and visitors to Liverpool.
When it was acquired, it was known as the Malaysia and Singapore Community Association and was registered as a charity organisation for use by the former sailors, their families and friends.
It received a grant from the local council to repair the exterior of the building, but it is the interior with its peeling wallpapers and damp walls, rundown staircases and neglected rooms that need much repair.
The recently formed trustee has re-registered the house as Malaysian House Limited (non-profit organisation) and has decided to restore this historic building to preserve a piece of Malaysian history abroad. A lot of work needs to be done and to do that would cost a lot more money.
According to the crowdfunding page, the house that holds many memories and untold stories has potential to be an activity centre for classes, cultural activities and even serve as cheap accommodation for visitors.
Their target for the repairs to be done before their aim is realised is £30,000 (RM159,100).
According to Jantan, who had been doing some repairs during his free time, including putting in the floorboards, there are still many major work to be done, such as installing in the boiler, heater and the electricity.
Jantan is now back in Malaysia to raise some funds and create awareness about the importance of restoring the building. So far, it has been quite encouraging as he has met people who had links with the old clubhouse.
Sailors from the Malay world have been known to ply the high seas working on board the British Merchant Navy ships since the early 20th century or may be even earlier.
With the spirit of adventure in them, that’s the only way to travel cheaply and see the world.
Their work took them to the North Pole, to the United States and more. Many came from Melaka and Terengganu and registered with the captains on board ships which docked in Singapore, to work as deckhands.
In between the voyages, they would return to the ports in the United Kingdom, such as Liverpool, Cardiff and London.
Many sailors made Liverpool their home and it was also in Liverpool that the first Kelab Melayu was established.
Md Nor is now appealing to former Malaysian students who studied in the universities nearby and naval officers who did their training in Liverpool who also frequented the clubhouse to chip in financially to help with the repair work.
The clubhouse was a place where members would meet for a taste of home cooked food and for Hari Raya celebrations.
It was the place where they would gather to listen to old sailors such as Pak Cik Arshad, Pak Cik Fadhil and Pak Cik Ngah Musa who have long left us, as they relived stories of their adventures at sea and about their travels in far away lands.
Md Nor still remembers the time he was swept out of his ship by a giant wave but was swept back in by another giant wave. He survived to tell the story.
Arwah Ngah Musa told about the first time he saw Times Square in New York.
Last year, there was renewed interest in the clubhouse when the movie Pulang was made by Primeworks Studios, about a son’s search for his seafarer father, that took the filming to the clubhouse in Liverpool.
The movie was based on sailor Othman Hj Alias, from Serkam, Melaka, who took his wife and 5-year-old son, Omar to Singapore. He found a job with the British Merchant Navy ship, sailed away and did not return.
Omar, the son he left behind, went searching for him in Liverpool, based on the information he gave in a postcard to Omar. His search took him to the clubhouse where he also met Md Nor.
Pulang started as an idea by Primeworks Studios chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Izham Omar, who happened to be the grandson of the old sailor.
The other known centre for the sailor community was at 100 Cricketfield, London. However, the building, which housed the Kelab Melayu London and was also acquired in the 60s, had to be returned to the owner after a long legal battle.
Now, remaining members and their families do not have a place where they usually gathered.
It is hoped that the same fate does not fall on No. 7 Jermyn Street.
To help, please visit: https:// www.gofundme.com/restoring-liverpool-malaysia-house