Mar 4, 2010
Tan: State govt should help rebuild temple
PETALING JAYA: The Terengganu state government should extend financial help to restore the 209-year-old Ho Ann Kiong temple which was heavily damaged in a fire last month.
MCA religious bureau chief Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho said the party was disappointed with Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said’s recent remarks that there was no need for the state government to make a monetary contribution, because of the business community’s willingness to give financial aid.
Tan said contributing towards the repair of the temple should be viewed as preserving the structure’s history, heritage and art work.
“Rebuilding the temple is important as it is the oldest temple in the state, having been built in 1801,” he said in a press statement here yesterday.
“Ahmad’s remarks are insensitive to devotees who have lost a place of worship,” he added.
Tan said it was not a wise move for the state government to ignore the Ho Ann Kiong temple as it could be viewed as sidelining the needs of ethnic and religious minorities in the country, thus going against the spirit of 1Malaysia.
He said worshippers had contributed towards the local economy and the development of Terengganu.
“Hence, the state government should assist the temple in its time of need,” he said.
A large part of the temple in Kuala Terengganu was destroyed in a fire late last month. The temple, built to honour Ma Zu or the Goddess of the Sea, was constructed by early Hokkien settlers.
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