THE northern region’s first antique automotive gallery, the Penang State Museum Automotive Gallery, is now officially open to the public, marking a significant milestone in the preservation of the state’s transportation heritage.
Developed at a cost of RM6.1 million, the gallery is housed in the historic building at 57 Macalister Road.
Managed by the Penang State Museum Board (PSMB), the newly established facility features dedicated exhibition spaces highlighting Penang’s historical vehicles and modes of transportation.
The gallery showcases a distinctive collection of state-owned vehicles and horse-drawn carriages, offering visitors a journey through over a century of Malaysian history.
It also presents a wide range of transportation artefacts that reflect the evolution of mobility in Penang, including handcarts, bicycles, lanca, trishaws, horse-drawn carriages, motorcycles, motorcars, as well as the official vehicles of the Governor of Penang.
Enhancing the exhibition is a collection of historical photographs depicting vehicles once commonly used in Penang.
These images, accompanied by concise explanatory captions, include visuals of bullock carts, tricycles and bicycles fitted with sidecars, providing valuable historical context.
Visitors can also view two Penang Hill Funicular Railway carriages displayed in the outdoor area surrounding the gallery.
Among the gallery’s most notable exhibits are historically significant vehicles such as the Skamel Scarab, a lorry used for transporting tin ore from the 1950s to the 1970s.
The collection also features prestigious official state vehicles, including a Rolls-Royce of considerable historical value and a Cadillac Fleetwood 75, which was formerly used as the official vehicle of the Governor of Penang.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who officiated the opening ceremony today, said the establishment of the automotive gallery represents a long-term strategic investment by the Penang government in heritage preservation, education and socio-economic development.
“This gallery reflects the state government’s commitment to enriching Penang’s museum landscape and ensuring that the history and collective memory of the state continue to be preserved, documented and passed on to future generations,” he said.
Chow noted that transportation and mobility have played a crucial role in shaping Penang’s development, influencing urban growth, economic activity, social interaction and the formation of community identity.
“As such, this gallery carries a highly significant narrative, as it documents the evolution of transportation that has long connected people, ideas, trade and culture,” he added.
Also present at the ceremony were Deputy State Secretary (development) Mohamed Abdul Rahman, Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai, Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng, Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng Soon Siang, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk A. Rajendran and Penang Museum and Art Gallery (LMNPP) director Haryany Mohamad.
Chow further said the gallery contributes directly to Penang’s tourism development agenda by enriching its cultural tourism offerings and promoting knowledge-based, historical and educational tourism.
“Beyond that, the gallery has the potential to serve as a local economic catalyst by attracting both domestic and international visitors, creating employment opportunities and stimulating business activities around George Town,” he said.
He added that the gallery also plays an important role in nurturing interest among younger generations in history, science and technology, while fostering a deeper appreciation for Penang’s heritage and identity.
Chow stressed that the Penang government remains committed to supporting heritage conservation and digitalisation through inclusive and sustainable approaches, including the use of digital technology, virtual reality and interactive platforms, to ensure museums are more accessible to young people and the global community.
Meanwhile, Wong said the development of the Penang State Museum Automotive Gallery is one of the high-impact initiatives undertaken by the Penang government and PSMB.
“The project was conceived to provide a permanent exhibition space capable of housing, preserving and conserving the state government’s automotive collection in a more systematic, secure manner that adheres to international museum standards,” he said.
Wong added that, in line with the International Council of Museums (ICOM) definition, the gallery functions not merely as an exhibition space, but as an educational and research institution that serves society through the collection, conservation, interpretation and display of both tangible and intangible heritage.
“With a total floor area of nearly 1,907 square metres, the gallery has been comprehensively designed with public accessibility, visitor comfort, collection security and aesthetic value in mind, in keeping with George Town’s status as a Unesco World Heritage Site,” he said.
The Penang State Museum Automotive Gallery is open to the public daily from 9am to 5pm, except on Fridays and public holidays.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud