Friday, February 5, 2016

Kulup Lembang Wakaf: Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 & 94

By

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Ever since January 18th 2016, the researcher has the golden opportunity to scrutinize copies of documents allegedly related to Datoh Kulup Lembang's mysterious waqf. The opportunity came after the researcher approached a distant first cousin twice removed last January. It was from the very same distant first cousin twice removed that the researcher has obtained a poor copy of the alleged Trust Deed of Datoh Kulup Lembang's mysterious waqf. The opportunity should have been granted many years ago and there is no reason whatsoever to keep them from the researcher's knowledge because the researcher is none other than Datoh Kulup Lembang's second great grandson.

The researcher is of course beyond shock! Words could not express his bewilderment at the moment. Why is this kept from his knowledge? Is this another clue indicating that the researcher is an illegitimate bastard that is born out of wedlock and has nothing to do with Datoh Kulup Lembang bin Mohamed Kassim?

For the record, the following documents are the copies that have been thoroughly scrutinized;

  1. Grant for land No. 15265 or Lot 87,
  2. Grant for land No. 15267 or Lot 89,
  3. Grant for land No. 15264 or Lot 86,
  4. Grant for land No. 15271 or Lot 93,
  5. Grant for land No. 15272 or Lot 94,
  6. Grant for land No. 15269 or Lot 91,
  7. Grant for land No. 15264 or Lot 85 and
  8. Grant for land No. 15266 or Lot 88.

History of Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 & 94

It is claimed that Datoh Kulup Lembang's mysterious waqf or religious endowment comes in the form of 10 undeveloped properties (Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 & 94) that are under the trusteeship of the Council of Religion and Malay Custom Perak.1

The actual history of Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 and 94 are not only intriguing but quite mysterious too. In July 1921, two months after Arthur Noel Kenion declared the existence of Datoh Kulup Lembang's mysterious waqf, it is believed that all 10 undeveloped properties (Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 & 94) were registered with special conditions, under the name of the former as Trustee at Taiping.

Arthur Noel Kenion, Trustee

Special Conditions

Once again, due to the poor copies of the documents in hand, the researcher will try his best to reproduce the textual content of the section marked as Special Conditions but the researcher will not guarantee its accuracy;

It is a condition of this grant that there shall be erected on the land hereby granted within five years from the date of the registration of the grant a first class shop house to the satisfaction of the Sanitary Board, Kinta and time is expressly declared to be of the essence of this condition so that if from any cause or circumstance whatsoever such shop house aforesaid be not erected within the period aforesaid on the land hereby granted a breach of this condition shall be thereby constituted not capable of being repaired or made good.
Special Conditions

It is highly possible that all 10 undeveloped properties (Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 & 94) were meant to be the means to provide a 'charitable fund' for maintaining the mosque that is mentioned in the alleged Trust Deed of Datoh Kulup Lembang's mysterious waqf.

Titles of Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 & 94 went missing!?

This is where it gets really puzzling.

In 1957, 12 years after the death of Arthur Noel Kenion, records from 'Pejabat Tanah dan Galian Ipoh' reportedly indicated that the titles for Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 and 94 had gone missing! 'Pejabat Tanah dan Galian Ipoh' also dispensed the Grants for the 10 undeveloped properties (Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 & 94) and handed over every single one to a new Trustee, the Council of Religion and Malay Custom Perak, on July 9th 1957.2

Council of Religion and Malay Custom Perak, Trustee

Questions regarding Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 & 94

The opportunity to scrutinize copies of documents allegedly related to Datoh Kulup Lembang's mysterious waqf gave the researcher a disturbing glimpse into the past. It does seems as if something had gone horribly wrong in the past, sometime between the 1940s to 1950s. At the end of this short research regarding the then 10 undeveloped properties linked to Datoh Kulup Lembang's mysterious waqf, the researcher couldn't help pondering upon the following questions;

  1. Datoh Kulup Lembang was a very successful mining landlord who left behind considerable wealth upon his death in 1915. His equally wealthy children shouldn't have any problem in meeting the requirements mentioned under the heading 'Special Conditions'. Unfortunately, his children had failed. It took his descendants, not his children, years, certainly more than 5 years before they finally fulfilled the requirements. What could possibly have hindered his wealthy children and his descendants from building the required shop houses within the specified time limit in the first place?

  2. Datoh Kulup Lembang left behind at least 27 mining properties3 and 55 unknown but common properties4 upon his death in 1915. A total of 25 of his common properties were complete, built-up shop houses located right in the heart of the township of Tambun, built by Datoh Kulup Lembang himself.5 There is a high probability that the then 10 undeveloped properties (Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 & 94) were originally part of the 55 unknown properties of Datoh Kulup Lembang. It is highly possible that the remaining 20 unknown properties of Datoh Kulup Lembang were also located in and around the township of Tambun, thus raising a rather disturbing question. What had happened to the remaining 20 unknown properties of Datoh Kulup Lembang?

  3. The then 10 undeveloped properties (Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 & 94) were handed over to the trusteeship of the Council of Religion and Malay Custom Perak in 1957. It is entirely possible that the Council of Religion and Malay Custom Perak was already well aware about the existence of the mosque mentioned in the alleged Trust Deed of Datoh Kulup Lembang's mysterious waqf as early as 1957.

    'Undang-Undang Pentadbiran Ugama Islam 1965' came to effect in May 1st 1966. Section 109 in a mind-boggling manner, stated that6;

    Dengan tiada menghiraukan apa2 sharat yang berlawanan di-dalam surat kuasa yang bertulis Majlis ini sahaja berhak menjadi pemegang amanah semua masjid di-dalam Negeri ini. Tiap2 masjid itu dengan harta-nya yang tiada boleh di-ubah di-tempat Masjid itu terdiri atau harta yang di-punyai-nya dan di-gunakan bagi Masjid itu, yang lain daripada tanah Kerajaan atau tanah yang di-simpan khas bagi faedah umum, hendak-Iah, apabila telah di-daftarkan mengikut Undang2 Tanah dan dengan tiada payah dengan surat tukar milek, beri dan tukar, terserah kapada Majlis mengikut tujuan2 Undang2 ini.

    'Enakmen Pentadbiran Agama Islam (Perak) 2004' on the other hand came to effect in June 1st 2005. Section 85 clearly stated7;

    (1) Walau apa pun apa-apa peruntukan yang berlawanan dalam mana-mana surat cara bertulis, Majlis hendaklah menjadi pemegang amanah tunggal bagi semua masjid di dalam Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan.
    2) Tiap-tiap masjid, bersama dengan tapak masjid itu dan mana-mana tanah yang berhubungan dengan dan digunakan bagi maksud-maksud masjid itu, selain tanah Kerajaan atau tanah yang dirizab bagi maksud awam, hendaklah, sebaik sahaja didaftarkan di bawah undang-undang bertulis yang berhubungan dengan tanah, dan tanpa apa-apa pemindahhakan, penyerahhakan atau pemindahan hakmilik, terletak hak pada Majlis bagi maksud-maksud Enakmen ini.

    If the unnamed mosque mentioned in the alleged Trust Deed of Datoh Kulup Lembang's mysterious waqf refers to the present-day Ihtidaiyah Mosque, then the mosque and the land where it stood for so many years should have complied with Section 109 at least by late 1966 or Section 85 at least by late 2005. Certified copies of certain records personally purchased by the researcher in February 6th 2015 however indicated that the then Lot 4440 but now Lot 510496 (the land where the Ihtidaiyah Mosque is located) is still under the trusteeships of Haji Abdul Wahid bin Kulup Lembang and Haji Abas bin Mohamed Kassim8 where both had passed away many, many years ago!

    The researcher couldn't help wondering, what had gone terribly wrong? What could possibly be the hindrances and obstacles?

  4. The exact date of completion could not be determined as of time of writing but 'Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Melayu Perak' reported the following in their 2011 Annual Report,9

    Dengan pertumbuhan ekonomi semasa, MAIPk telah mensasarkan beberapa pembangunan berdaya saing berbentuk komersial merangkumi pembangunan harta wakaf dan mal. Antara projek yang dibangunkan ialah pembinaan ruang niaga di Mukim Ulu Kinta, Pekan Tambun, Ipoh. Pembangunan ini terletak pada tanah yang diwakafkan oleh Allahyarham Toh Kulup Lembang. Pembangunan ini mengandungi 10 unit kedai pejabat dua tingkat dan kini telah disewa dengan pelbagai jenis perniagaan seperti kedai komputer, basikal, bunga, dobi, salon, cenderamata dan pejabat takaful dengan sewaan antara RM500 hingga RM1,200 sebulan.

    It is clear that the descendants of Datoh Kulup Lembang have finally fulfilled the requirements mentioned under the heading 'Special Conditions' only quite recently, either in or before 2011, thus raising a rather interesting question. Who holds the trusteeship (hopefully not privately owned!) of the 10 units of double storey shop-houses?

  5. The researcher is fortunate but not fortunate enough to see all 10 copies of documents allegedly related to Datoh Kulup Lembang's mysterious waqf but from what he has seen so far, it does seems as if all 10 undeveloped properties (Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 & 94) were registered at Taiping in July 1921, two months after Arthur Noel Kenion declared the existence of Datoh Kulup Lembang's mysterious waqf, as indicated from the content of the alleged Trust Deed. It is entirely possible that the strict instructions mentioned under the heading 'Special Conditions'; i.e. to build shop-houses on the then 10 undeveloped properties (Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 & 94) within 5 years, were the foundation behind the provision of a 'charitable fund' to maintain an unknown mosque at Tambun that was first mentioned in the alleged Trust Teed of Datoh Kulup Lembang's mysterious religious endowment. The researcher however finds it strange that the then 10 undeveloped properties (Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 & 94) are not mentioned specifically in the alleged Trust Deed. Does this ultimately strengthen the suspicion that the alleged Trust Teed of Datoh Kulup Lembang's mysterious religious endowment actually comes with a definitive list or some other pages that somehow in some mysterious ways had gone missing (hopefully not purposely hidden from the researcher's knowledge)?

Now, who could answer all these disturbing questions? Any volunteers?

1. Tambun Ahli Jawatankuasa Masjid Ihtidaiyah, Rancangan Pembangunan Tanah Wakaf Tok Kulup Lembang Untuk Masjid Ihtidaitah, Tambun (Tambun, 1994), 1-2.

2. Perak Pejabat Tanah dan Galian Ipoh, Dispensation of Grants 15263-15272 for Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 & 94 in the Township of Tambun. (Ipoh, 1957).

3. Kinta Land Office, Memorandum of Transfer & Mining Leases for Registration, 1916.

4. Administrators of the Estate of Kulup Lembang, “Reg: Pk: No. 182 of 1915,” 1915.

5. Kinta Land Office, The 25 Shop Houses at Tambun, 1916.

6. Jabatan Kehakiman Syariah Malaysia, “Undang-Undang Pentadbiran Ugama Islam 1965 (En. 11/65),” PNMB-LawNet, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www2.esyariah.gov.my/esyariah/mal/portalv1/enakmen2011/State_Enact_Ori.nsf/f831ccddd195843f48256fc600141e84/c51659af9b7b93db482575620014c477?OpenDocument.

7. Jabatan Kehakiman Syariah Malaysia, “Enakmen Pentadbiran Agama Islam (Perak) 2004 (En. 4/04),” PNMB-LawNet, accessed February 5, 2015, http://www2.esyariah.gov.my/esyariah/mal/portalv1/enakmen2011/State_Enact_Ori.nsf/100ae747c72508e748256faa00188094/542fae263e7f21a94825703f00076744?OpenDocument.

8. Pendaftar Hakmilik, “Pajakan Negeri 369139,” 2013.

9. Majlis Agama Islam & Adat Melayu Perak, Laporan Tahunan MAIPk Tahun 2011, 33.

Bibliography

Administrators of the Estate of Kulup Lembang. “Reg: Pk: No. 182 of 1915,” 1915.

Ahli Jawatankuasa Masjid Ihtidaiyah, Tambun. Rancangan Pembangunan Tanah Wakaf Tok Kulup Lembang Untuk Masjid Ihtidaitah, Tambun. Tambun, 1994.

Jabatan Kehakiman Syariah Malaysia. “Enakmen Pentadbiran Agama Islam (Perak) 2004 (En. 4/04).” PNMB-LawNet. Accessed February 5, 2015. http://www2.esyariah.gov.my/esyariah/mal/portalv1/enakmen2011/State_Enact_Ori.nsf/100ae747c72508e748256faa00188094/542fae263e7f21a94825703f00076744?OpenDocument.

———. “Undang-Undang Pentadbiran Ugama Islam 1965 (En. 11/65).” PNMB-LawNet. Accessed February 5, 2016. http://www2.esyariah.gov.my/esyariah/mal/portalv1/enakmen2011/State_Enact_Ori.nsf/f831ccddd195843f48256fc600141e84/c51659af9b7b93db482575620014c477?OpenDocument.

Kinta Land Office. Memorandum of Transfer & Mining Leases for Registration, 1916.

———. The 25 Shop Houses at Tambun, 1916.

Majlis Agama Islam & Adat Melayu Perak. Laporan Tahunan MAIPk Tahun 2011, 2011.

Pejabat Tanah dan Galian Ipoh, Perak. Dispensation of Grants 15263-15272 for Lots 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 & 94 in the Township of Tambun. Ipoh, 1957.

Pendaftar Hakmilik. “Pajakan Negeri 369139,” 2013.

A word of thanks to the National Archives of Malaysia and Google Maps for making this humble research possible.

جزاك اللهُ خيراً

Copyright © 2016 SAS, 4th Generation Descendant of Datoh Kulup Lembang.
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