Masjid Lama Kg Pelangai, Negeri Sembilan – 1910

"Put your mind and soul into even your smallest acts. This is secret of success..." - Swami Sivananda

(Masjid Lama Kg Pelangai)

GPS: 2.76981, 102.258616
02°46′11.32″N 102°15′31.02″E

From Masjid Pekan Juasseh we drove to Masjid Lama Kg Pelangai situated about 5.5 km away.

(The architectural design is elegant) 

(Visiting a traditional and historical mosque)

(Capturing the beauty of a forgotten mosque)

When we arrived at the site, we saw an old dilapidated mosque with a two-tiered pagoda-like roof. The mosque had no minaret. It is situated on a neatly cut lawn on a slightly higher ground than the road. Masjid Lama Kg Pelangai is still a handsome mosque despite of its aging condition.

(Photo to capture building from the past)

(Left abandoned for years) 

(Quite a scary site from this angle)

Masjid Lama Kg Pelangai was built in 1910. This mosque is fully constructed using wood. The architecture of the mosque uses old Malay designs and the influence of Demak architectural style originating from Indonesia, characterised by a multi-tiered roof. Each design has an implicit meaning. For example, the stone steps under the arch roof of the verandah are still sturdy to this day to reflect the strength of the knowledge taught. The five hanging pillars in the middle of the roof of the mosque also carry the meaning of the five Pillars of Islam. Next to the stone steps is a kolah that was used for ablution.

(The stone steps under the arch roof) 

(The stone steps are still strong)

(A cemented kolah for ablution)

Masjid Lama Kg Pelangai left unforgettable memories to the residents of Kampung Pelangai. The mosque was once a reform centre for the Communist Party of Malaya led by their prominent leader Shamsiah Fakeh around the 1930s. The 110-year-old mosque is also considered to have historical value because it existed around the time of the late Maulana Lebai Maadah Layang who was a famous religious scholar of Kuala Pilah during that period. He was the imam of the mosque and had built the Pelangai Islamic High School located next to the current Masjid Kariah Kg Pelangai.

(The main pillars standing strong)

(Some hanging pillars are still attached to the ceiling)

(Some missing wooden flooring)

(Termite infested old mosque)

(A two-tier zinc roof)

Masjid Lama Kg Pelangai which is more than a century old, is now abandoned, rotting and waiting for its time to fall to the ground. The mosque needs to be restored otherwise its historical value will be lost with the building.

(The big tree by the road side gave me goosebumps)

(Leaving the site for another old mosque)