STUBBORN HOUSE, KUALA LUMPUR

"Stubborn house" in Kuala Lumpur usually refers to Rumah Degil (which literally translates to "Stubborn House"). A historic 1920's Malay wooden house that became a symbol of cultural resilience in Kuala Lumpur. 

Located for nearly a century at No. 41 Jalan Chow Kit, it earned its nickname because it was the very last traditional Malay wooden house to remain standing in an area that had become completely overtaken by modern concrete shophouses and skyscrapers.

The History of Rumah Degil

• Origin: Built in 1926 by Haji Jaafar Sutan Sinombar, a descendant of Sutan Puasa (who many historians credit as the actual founder of Kuala Lumpur).
• The Name: It was nicknamed "The Stubborn House" because it survived the Japanese Occupation, the May 13 riots, and decades of intense urban development.
• The "Up" Connection: Many locals compared it to the house from the Disney-Pixar movie Up because it stood defiantly small and wooden, sandwiched between tall, modern buildings.
• The Last Occupant: The house was home to Normah Majawali (Haji Jaafar’s granddaughter), who was born there in 1932. She famously refused million-ringgit offers from developers for years, wanting to preserve her family legacy.

Where is it now?

In 2013, the family could no longer afford the high maintenance costs and was finally forced to sell the land. However, the house itself was saved:

• Dismantling (2015): A group of heritage lovers and architects carefully dismantled the house, piece by piece, labeling every plank of wood.
• Relocation (2018): It was reconstructed on the grounds of the National Art Gallery (Balai Seni Negara) on Jalan Tun Razak.
• Current Status: You can still visit it today at the National Art Gallery, where it serves as a permanent architectural exhibit.

The house gained fame for surviving significant historical events, including the Japanese occupation, the Communist insurgency, and the May 13 riots. Despite intense commercial pressure, its last resident, Norma Manjawali, lived there until 2013 before high maintenance costs forced a sale.

A dedicated team of architects and filmmakers, led by KC Tan and Fatulrahman Ghazali, spearheaded a private initiative to save the structure from demolition, eventually partnering with the National Heritage Department for its relocation.

3 January 2026: 11.53 p.m