Simon Soon
A false charge was made by Khoo Thean Teik, head of Toh Peh Kong, that some White Flag and Ghee Hin members had stolen some cloth that, after being dyed, had been put out to to dry at 'Utan Mayat' [Forest of Corpse], by some Toh Peh Kong dyers. The commission of enquiry later determined that this charge was made to bring about a 'casus belli' for the ensuing confrontation.
Historically Utan Mayat was a Malay cemetery. The cemetery was part of the parcel of land granted to the Indian Muslim community for the building of Kapitan Keling Mosque. The land granted to the mosque was originally much bigger, though over time, the surrounding lands were slowly bought back by the Municipal government as Penang expanded. At some point Hutan Mayat became Carnavon street market. This probably happened in the late 19th century, as the riot report still names the area as Hutan Mayat.
By the mid-19th century, it seemed to serve as a dryer deck for dye-ing businesses.It is unclear if the cemetery existed at this point. In 1900, the Carnavon Street Market was rebuilt with a Victorian-style structure and renamed as Campbell Street Market.
NOTES:
A.E.H. Anson. 1920. About Others and Myself. London: J. Murray, 273.
https://www.penang-traveltips.com/campbell-street-market.htm
