Rep donates land for temple in Kuala Penyu
KUALA PENYU: The famous Wong Tai Sin Temple will be built at Kuala Penyu as early as next year.
The temple will be erected on a five-acre land donated by Kuala Penyu Assemblyman Limus bin Jury with an initial estimated cost of up to RM5 million.
Upon completion, the Wong Tai Sin Temple here will be the third in the world to be built beyond Hong Kong with the blessing of the temple’s managing body.
The other two Wong Tai Sin Temples are located in Vancouver, Canada and Macau respectively.
Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Pang Yuk Ming said the Wong Tai Sin Temple to be built here would be of moderate size and gradually expanded in the future.
He said the construction costs would be around RM3 million to RM5 million for the first phase.
Pang is confident that the temple would attract up to 2,000 Chinese tourists daily during peak seasons when completed.
“Tourists from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong who come to see the proboscis monkeys in Kuala Penyu or heading to Beaufort will definitely stop by here (Wong Tai Sin Temple).
“The number of visitors will easily reach 1,000 to 2,000 daily during peak seasons,” he said.
Additionally, Pang said the Wong Tai Sin Temple would also lure investors to build more resorts in Kuala Penyu.
He said there were currently two to three companies who have submitted their development plans and are awaiting approval to build four to five-star resorts in the district.
Pang said Kuala Penyu has great tourism potential owing to its beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters that surpassed Bali, making it an ideal tourism destination.
“Mark my words, Kuala Penyu will be transformed in the next five years,” he said.
Pang said this in a press conference with Limus after showing the proposed site to build the temple to the delegation from the famous Wong Tai Sin Temple in Hong Kong, led by Lee Yiu Fai, the abbot of Sik Sik Yuen. Sik Sik Yuen is the managing body of Wong Tai Sin Temple.
After careful assessment, Lee finally gave nod to the location as well as offered advice as to which direction the temple should face.
Pang described yesterday as a historical moment for Sabah as we have successfully invited the renowned Wong Tai Sin Temple’s committee from Hong Kong to Kuala Penyu in order to evaluate the suitability of the site.
The Wong Tai Sin Temple in Hong Kong attracts 6 million visitors a year, or 20,000 worshippers daily on average, many of them famous public figures.
According to Pang, Wong Tai Sin Temple receives more than HKD500 million from donations and contributions a year, which it utilizes to carry out charitable programmes, such as the 13 elderly homes the temple operates in Hong Kong.
“That is one of the conditions stipulated (by Lee) in order to build the temple here, that the proceeds collected by the temple will be distributed to people in need, the poor, and the elderly,” continued Pang.
He said Kuala Penyu was unique in the sense that some bumiputeras here actually worship Taoism.
Pang said the project would be funded by contributions from the public.
“Since Limus is willing to donate his land, I believe the Chinese community in Sabah will contribute to the setting up of this famous temple,” he said.
He said the delegation would also call on Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang today (Sept 12), who oversees the State Government’s allocation for nonIslamic religious bodies, Chinese and mission schools, to discuss the matter.
Meanwhile, Limus thanked the delegation, especially Lee, for taking time out his packed schedule to visit the site in Kuala Penyu.
“I have donated the five-acre land so that the temple could be built here as early as next year,” said Limus.
He added that he would support and assist in securing funds for the construction of the temple as well.
The man who was instrumental in bringing Wong Tai Sin Temple to Kuala Penyu is Fred S.K. Lee, who is now the secretary-general of the preparatory committee for the project.
Also present were SUCCC deputy president Datuk Ling Tiong Chai, Beaufort Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Datuk Seri Panglima Chong Nyuk Yong, Ranau Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Datuk Jimmy Tham, SUCCC secretary general Lo Su Fui, Keningau Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Raymond Koh, Kuala Penyu Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Fung Tack Fui, Sipitang Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Yeo Boun Kiat, Kuala Penyu District Officer Abdul Rahim Yaakub and the Federation of Taoist Association of Sabah president Chang Kon Sin.