Kapitan Keling

Historically, a Kapitan Keling was a representative of the Indian community in a South East Asian city, similar to the more widespread office of the "Kapitan Cina" for the Chinese community. "Keling" is a Malay term for people of Indian origin, nowadays considered offensive but was not so regarded historically.

Cauder Mohideen was the first Kapitan Keling of Penang. In 1795 he -along with Kapitan Cina Koh Lay Huan and other prominent members of the newly founded Penang community - formed the first Committee of Assessors to decide on the municipal rates and collection of taxes.^[1]

The name of Kapitan Keling Mosque, founded by Indian Muslim traders in 1801 and still a prominent Penang landmark, preserves the memory of this office.

Notes

1. ↑ Recipe for rebellion: THE THIRD SPACE By NEIL KHOR and KHALDUN MALIK, The Sunday Star Sunday August 3, 2008