Inside the ancestral home of MCA founder Tan Cheng Lock

The ancestral home of Tan Cheng Lock, the founder of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and a prominent Malayan statesman, is a cultural treasure located at 111 Jalan Tan Cheng Lock in Melaka. The house, which has been in the possession of Tan Cheng Lock's descendants since 1875, is a testament to the family's heritage and the legacy of the progressive leader.

Tan Cheng Lock, a firm believer in a united and multiracial Malaya, championed equal citizenship and cooperation among the country's diverse communities. His dedication to these values laid the foundation for the Malayan nation that would emerge. The ancestral home, originally purchased by Tan Cheng Lock's great-great-grandfather Tan Choon Bock in 1875, retains its historical significance due to the efforts of the family members who preserve it.

The house, a traditional Melaka shophouse, features two paper lanterns emblazoned with the Tan family name above its main entrance, each lantern conveying a message about the importance of educating both sons and daughters—a progressive view that aligns with Tan Cheng Lock's own progressive ideals. The home spans three courtyards and is anchored by a towering tree planted during his grandfather's time, which continues to flourish today.

The first hall of the ancestral home, Siok Choo's favorite part, encases family values and traditions. It houses an ornate altar dedicated to Guan Yu, a revered Chinese hero, and displays several statues of the warrior alongside the goddess Kuan Yin. The first hall also features reproductions of essays written by the famous Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo, emphasizing the family's appreciation for literature and culture.

The second hall, known as the Hall of Filial Remembrance, serves as a site for Confucian ancestor-remembrance rituals. Siok Choo, the granddaughter of Tan Cheng Lock, conducts these ceremonies and offers fruit and Peranakan food at the altar. She expressed concern that such ceremonies are becoming rare among Chinese families due to the decline of ancestral homes. The second hall also includes a bedroom where former Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman stayed during his visits to Tan Cheng Lock.

The rooms of the ancestral home are filled with photographs, documents, and personal mementos chronicling the Tan family's history. A rare photograph of Sultan Ibrahim Al-Masyhur of Johor, inscribed with Tan Cheng Lock's name and sent personally to him, hangs in the study where the statesman once wrote his speeches. The upper floor contains the bridal chamber and the bedroom where Tunku Abdul Rahman would stay when visiting Tan Cheng Lock, complete with a four-poster bed that, according to Tunku Abdul Rahman's memoirs, was uncomfortable to sleep in but was too kind-hearted for Tan Cheng Lock to mention.