 Bank Kerapu, Kota Bharu
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Bank Kerapu is a historical bank building in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. It was built in 1912, and originally housed the Merchantile Bank of India (the precursor of present-day Standard Chartered). It was the first bank to be opened in Kelantan.
Bank Kerapu, Kota Bharu
Author: © Zamwan
Bank Kerapu held the distinction of being the first brick building erected in Kelantan. It stands on a plot of land belonging to a local leader, Nik Yusoff Nik Abdul Majid.
The name Bank Kerapu means "bank with a rough surface". That's because the bank façade was originally finished with broken bricks, giving it a rough appearance.
The Bank Kerapu building was taken over by the Japanese during the Second World War, and turned into their headquarters. It was used for interrogation, incarceration and torture. After the Japanese surrender, the building reverted to its former use, however, it was now taken over by the Hongkong & Shanghai Bangking Corporation (precursor to present-day HSBC).
In 1981, the Bank Kerapu building was given a new lease of life, as the Kelantan State Art & Handicraft Gallery. Another facelift in 1992 turned it into the Second World War Memorial Museum, and it remains as such to this day.
Location of Bank Kerapu on Google Map
Click here to view the Google Map to Bank Kerapu.
World War II Museum, formerly Bank Kerapu (1 January 2007)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
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