The Masjid (Masyid) Kapitan Kling (Keling) is the oldest mosque in Penang, and was first built by the troops of the East India Company, towards the end of the 18th century. It is named after the headman (Kapitan) of the community of Indian (Keling) Muslim settlers, who had arranged the donation of an 18 acre plot of land from Sir George Leith, the then Lieutenant Governor of Penang, when the mosque wished to expand, in November 1801.

Consequently, a larger and more permanent mosque was built, though not all the land was utilized and as George Town grew, the government ceased to recognize all the land as part of the original grant and took or had to buy back parcels of it from the mosque, reducing it to a mere 8 acres.