Stopping time in its tracks

In an age where most relics of bygone eras have been bulldozed to make way for modern edifices, 53, Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur stands proud as a marker of the good old days, thanks to Ng Sin Leong and Steven Yap. Though prominently perched at the corner of the famous street, passers-by may dismiss it as an abandoned building because of its rundown exterior. However, Ng and Yap, who have turned it into Mingle Hostel, have intentionally left the Chinatown icon with its original facade.

Built as the late tycoon Cheong Yoke Choy’s private club in the 1900s, scores of the rich and beautiful must have passed through its doors as he entertained his business partners and relaxed with his friends and family there. Cheong was the co-founder of Malaya’s first local bank, Kwong Yik Bank.

Over the years, different tenants have occupied the 2-storey shophouse. Then, it was vacant for a year before Ng and Yap rented it in October 2016 and decided to breathe new life into the 120-year-old building while retaining the elements of its former incarnations.

Meticulous restoration works

“We tried our best to maintain the original look of the building. So we didn’t repaint the walls, even the interior. Instead, we peeled out the newer layers of paint — which felt like peeling through layers of history — and the paint you’re seeing now is the very first layer of paint from the early 1900s,” Ng reveals.

According to him, the conscientious renovation works took about 6½ months, where he and his contractors sourced wood pieces and old metal grilles to upcycle into tables, chairs and window frames.

“The original ceiling, including the stone arches, had been covered by plaster ceiling [by previous tenants]. People’s concept of modernisation is to want everything new. In contrast, we didn’t really do much in terms of redesigning the building. It’s more of dismantling things that were covering up the original structures,” he recounts.

Another aspect Ng spoke of with pride is the building’s air-well, which most people tend to eliminate in favour of more space. “But the air-well was really important back then because there were no air-conditioners or even fans. I remember viewing this premises before I started the restoration. It was 2pm and supposed to be the hottest time of the day but it felt so cool in the building because of the air-well,” he recalls.

Unfortunately, the air-well structure was not sustainable because rainwater could enter and flood the building. As the next best thing, Ng covered it with transparent plastic sheets so they could still enjoy the natural light through it.

Other transformed areas are the five-foot way of the building, which used to be a haunt for drug addicts and the back of the building, which was inhabited by migrants and filled with knee-deep trash. Now, they feature the alfresco dining area and the kitchen area respectively, for the cafe operating on the ground floor.

For the flooring, Ng said he went all the way to Salak South to source for the original material. Coincidentally, the 70-year-old terrazzo tile factory owner used to frequent the reading room there in the 1950s.

“It was a very nostalgic moment for her as it brought back memories of her time as a teenager. In return, I got a discount for the tiles,” he laughs.

Playing catalyst to reviving Chinatown

Admitting that Chinatown has changed significantly over the years, where it has even been labelled “dodgy”, Yap says these so-called “dodgy” elements are what make Jalan Sultan charming.

“Yes, you sometimes have homeless people shouting at each other along the street but I think that’s the charm of this area — that’s what makes it real. This place is a living museum,” he enthuses.

Ng concurs, believing that the current generation is playing a part in resurrecting the old KL.

“There were discouragement from business owners in this area when they discovered we were starting a hostel business. But the emergence of Mingle Hostel has changed this entire corner, which used to be avoided by pedestrians due to its disquieting atmosphere. And on the same street, you have a new boutique hotel, while further down you have cafes such as Merchant’s Lane, Cho Cha Foodstore and others.

“Previously, there is no reason [for the younger generation] to come here. Only old people would come here for the food and wet market. But what would happen when these businesses retire? We need someone to take over and we are that generation [charged to do so]. So we hope that we are slowly changing this place. If someone else decides to come in and start another hostel business like we do, we would love that.

“We would like this place, Jalan Sultan, to be a destination. There will be choices for people to come and enjoy this place. And we have the joy of returning the old glory of this part of KL. So I’d like to think that this place is up and coming,” Ng expounds.

With an average occupancy rate of over 80% daily, Ng has decided to expand Mingle Hostel to the next building to ease occupancy to about 60%, which will offer greater comfort for its occupants and flexibility for casual reservations. With ongoing renovation works, it is expected to be ready by early 2018.

Bringing people together

Despite his great love for old buildings, Ng says the next Mingle Hostel does not necessarily need to be housed in a heritage building simply because Mingle is about bringing people together from all over the world, not so much about the building.

“Yes, the architecture is part of the draw but the emphasis is more on the community here. I’ve been a traveller and I have enjoyed staying in hostels and meeting other travellers. The friends I made during my trips 25 years ago are still in touch with me.

“It’s about the vibe of the place. That’s why we organise outings for our guests to places like Pulau Ketam or waterfalls. So really, it’s about the people and we are ready to replicate this concept in other cities of Malaysia. Mingle can be [either] a warehouse or a container home,” he says, adding that the expansion plan remains a top secret that is only shared among the co-founders.

Mingle Hostel:
53, Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur
Contact: (03) 2000 8888 / www.minglekl.com

This story first appeared in EdgeProp.my live! magazine. Download a FREE copy of live! magazine here.