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The Star Online > North
Friday November 18, 2011
Sarkies brothers ran a chain of prestigious hotels in Penang
By CHRISTINA CHIN and JEREMY TAN
[email protected]
Photos by ZAINUDDIN AHAD
THE Kardashian sisters may be the most famous Armenian family globally
but
in South East Asia, the Sarkies brothers are historical heroes
especially among hoteliers.
The Sarkies brothers, Martin, Tigran, Aviet and Arshak, were best
known for founding and managing a chain of luxury hotels throughout
South East Asia including E&O Hotel, and Crag Hotel on Penang Hill.
Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) secretary Clement Liang said the Armenian
community in Penang had made great contributions to the region
especially in Singapore and Penang.
`The Armenian community were a minority but their contributions were
significant especially in establishing and running a chain of
prestigious hotels in Penang.
`In George Town, you have Armenian Street and Aratoon Road.
`The latter was named after Arathoon Anthony who brought his family to
Penang in 1819. He was a trader and planter.
Distinguished man: Arshak Sarkies, one of the brothers who founded
the E&O Hotel
`The Armenian community in Penang used to worship at St Gregory's
Church which was located between Penang Street and King Street.
`Unfortunately, the Armenian community no longer live here. Most
migrated to the US, Australia and Singapore in the 1930s,' he said,
adding that there were some 40 Armenians buried in the state.
Descendants of the Sarkies brothers, Jessie Ripsie and Loretta Regina,
recalled how their late grandfather Arathoon Martin Sarkies (a cousin
of the brothers), died a broken man.
`He was known as `Tuan Besar' in the Riau Islands of Indonesia because
he was very wealthy and successful.
`Unfortunately, he lost our family inheritance because he trusted the
wrong man.
Elegant lady: Regina Sarkies, the grandma of sisters Loretta and
Jessie
`He had one son and three daughters but my father was too young to
take over the business.
`At the age of 71, he asked a boatman to take him out to sea and when
the boat stopped, he removed his gold Rolex and valuables, handed it
to the man and jumped into the sea.
`He was almost a bankrupt then,' Jessie told a press conference at the
E&O Hotel in George Town yesterday.
In rememberance: Loretta laying flowers at the grave of Arshak
Sarkies, while (from left) Jessie and husband Patrick Royston, and E&O
Hotel communications and PR manager Mazeta Hassan look on
She said their father, James Arathoon Martin Sarkies, died in 1977,
disappointed at how the family's legacy had been lost.
`I always used to tell him that at least we had a roof over our heads
although we did not have an inheritance,' she said.
Recalling happier times, the sisters spoke of their father's love for
cars.
`He would take us around, and point out different makes and models. We
had to learn it and know it!' Jessie said.
Talking about their childhood, Jessie recalled an incident during the
Japanese Occupation during World War II, when soldiers chased her
mother, Madelline May Didier, around, intent on hurting her and a
young Loretta who was in her arms.
`Those were terrible times. The trauma and sounds of bombs raining
from above, and the explosions that followed, stays with you,' Loretta
said.
© 1995-2011 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/11/18/north/9927221&sec=north
Friday November 18, 2011
Sarkies brothers ran a chain of prestigious hotels in Penang
By CHRISTINA CHIN and JEREMY TAN
[email protected]
Photos by ZAINUDDIN AHAD
THE Kardashian sisters may be the most famous Armenian family globally
but
in South East Asia, the Sarkies brothers are historical heroes
especially among hoteliers.
The Sarkies brothers, Martin, Tigran, Aviet and Arshak, were best
known for founding and managing a chain of luxury hotels throughout
South East Asia including E&O Hotel, and Crag Hotel on Penang Hill.
Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) secretary Clement Liang said the Armenian
community in Penang had made great contributions to the region
especially in Singapore and Penang.
`The Armenian community were a minority but their contributions were
significant especially in establishing and running a chain of
prestigious hotels in Penang.
`In George Town, you have Armenian Street and Aratoon Road.
`The latter was named after Arathoon Anthony who brought his family to
Penang in 1819. He was a trader and planter.
Distinguished man: Arshak Sarkies, one of the brothers who founded
the E&O Hotel
`The Armenian community in Penang used to worship at St Gregory's
Church which was located between Penang Street and King Street.
`Unfortunately, the Armenian community no longer live here. Most
migrated to the US, Australia and Singapore in the 1930s,' he said,
adding that there were some 40 Armenians buried in the state.
Descendants of the Sarkies brothers, Jessie Ripsie and Loretta Regina,
recalled how their late grandfather Arathoon Martin Sarkies (a cousin
of the brothers), died a broken man.
`He was known as `Tuan Besar' in the Riau Islands of Indonesia because
he was very wealthy and successful.
`Unfortunately, he lost our family inheritance because he trusted the
wrong man.
Elegant lady: Regina Sarkies, the grandma of sisters Loretta and
Jessie
`He had one son and three daughters but my father was too young to
take over the business.
`At the age of 71, he asked a boatman to take him out to sea and when
the boat stopped, he removed his gold Rolex and valuables, handed it
to the man and jumped into the sea.
`He was almost a bankrupt then,' Jessie told a press conference at the
E&O Hotel in George Town yesterday.
In rememberance: Loretta laying flowers at the grave of Arshak
Sarkies, while (from left) Jessie and husband Patrick Royston, and E&O
Hotel communications and PR manager Mazeta Hassan look on
She said their father, James Arathoon Martin Sarkies, died in 1977,
disappointed at how the family's legacy had been lost.
`I always used to tell him that at least we had a roof over our heads
although we did not have an inheritance,' she said.
Recalling happier times, the sisters spoke of their father's love for
cars.
`He would take us around, and point out different makes and models. We
had to learn it and know it!' Jessie said.
Talking about their childhood, Jessie recalled an incident during the
Japanese Occupation during World War II, when soldiers chased her
mother, Madelline May Didier, around, intent on hurting her and a
young Loretta who was in her arms.
`Those were terrible times. The trauma and sounds of bombs raining
from above, and the explosions that followed, stays with you,' Loretta
said.
© 1995-2011 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/11/18/north/9927221&sec=north