The jetties became the main point of arrival for new Chinese immigrants, and were gradually taken over by members of specific clans for the loading and unloading of cargo, as well as for sampan mooring.

The Ongs, Lims, Chews and Lees predominantly worked as boatmen, while the Tans, Yeohs and Koays were involved primarily in charcoal and firewood trading.

[1] Before Malaya attained independence, the British authorities had promised residents of the Clan Jetties legal recognition of their homes.

Following independence however, the residents were only provided with Temporary Occupation Licenses (TOL) that needed to be renewed annually, a status quo that remains to this day.

[1] The Clan Jetties were once considered “slums” in the face of "neoliberal urbanisation" policies that promoted the city's vertical growth.

The Barisan Nasional-led state government at the time sought to demolish the Clan Jetties and relocate its inhabitants to high-rise complexes.

[1] The UNESCO listing of the city centre as a World Heritage Site in 2008 prevented further redevelopment of the Clan Jetties, while simultaneously transforming the area into a tourist attraction.

The shift towards heritage tourism has since led to additional concerns about liveability and gentrification at the jetties, exacerbated by the ageing population of the area.

It is characterised by houses with zinc roofs that are segregated into two distinct areas, with a single row of wooden huts lining the seafront walkway.

It is the focal point of the annual Jade Emperor’s birthday celebrations falling on the ninth day of the Chinese New Year.

The Koays who migrated to Penang eventually assimilated with the wider Chinese community and distanced themselves from their original Muslim faith.