99-Door Mansion owner ordered to restore after crane incident

The Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) has directed the owner of the historic 99-Door Mansion to restore the building to its original condition following damage caused by a fallen crane.

The Malay Mail Online reported, Jason H’ng Mooi Lye, chairman of the Local Government Committee, confirmed that the owner is obligated to repair the damage according to established heritage guidelines and procedures.

He acknowledged initial difficulties in accessing the site due to a surge in social media attention following the crane incident.

Accessing the damaged mansion

The crane, belonging to a film production company, reportedly fell on March 4th, damaging sections of the roof and walls.

The 99-Door Mansion, listed as a heritage building by MBSP, holds immense historical significance.

He said the authorities were unable to access the site after news spread on social media that the mansion was damaged after a crane fell and crashed into it.

“The police and MBSP did not receive any reports of the incident, and when we went to the site the day after the incident, on March 5, the gate was locked,” he said during a press conference in Komtar.

He said the mansion is privately owned and had been left vacant for many years.

“Since it is privately owned and the gate was locked, we cannot enter the premises to check on the condition of the building as it would be considered trespassing,” he said.

He said MBSP was then ordered to issue the notice to the building owner to restore the mansion.

“The mansion is listed as a heritage building by MBSP, but it was not gazetted under the National Heritage Act,” he said.

The history of the 99-Door Mansion

Constructed in the 1840s for the wealthy British Ramsden family, the mansion served as the centrepiece of a thriving sugar plantation. In the early 20th century, the estate transitioned to rubber production.

This imposing structure, featuring classical architectural elements like columns and porticos, boasted a unique layout.

A double-storey bungalow with a dance hall, balcony, and ten rooms, each equipped with multiple doors, earned the mansion its iconic nickname.

The Ramsden family’s success continued until World War II, when the Japanese army commandeered the mansion as their regional headquarters during the Malayan occupation.

After the war, John St Maur Ramsden, the eldest son and heir, returned home. However, tragedy struck in 1948 when he was fatally shot on the grand staircase.

The motives behind the murder remain shrouded in mystery, with theories ranging from post-war political violence to personal conflicts involving Ramsden’s local assistant and potential business rivals.

Despite arrests and court proceedings, the case remains unsolved.

Following Ramsden’s death, the plantation changed hands, with oil palm replacing rubber by the 1960s. However, the mansion itself was inexplicably abandoned. A mysterious fire further damaged the structure in July 2020.

Despite the damage and decay, the core structure of the 99-Door Mansion remains largely intact.

The once-grand building now bears the scars of time, with grime-covered walls and vegetation encroaching on its facade.

Calls for restoration have grown louder, but the current owner remains unidentified, adding another layer of mystery to the saga of the 99-Door Mansion.

The future of this unique piece of Malaysian heritage hangs in the balance, with the MBSP’s restoration order offering a glimmer of hope for its preservation.